3 Safe Gun Storage Options
3 Safe Gun Storage Options
style="font-size: 20px; text-align: center;">Aug 6, 2019 11:20:58 PMIf you own a firearm, it's imperative that you know how to store a gun for home defense.
For many parents, the idea of keeping a gun in the house is scary. However, not having a self defense strategy in place in case of a home invasion can invite just as much concern.
The ultimate goal in both scenarios is to keep every member of the household safe.
So how do you keep a safe gun for a safe home? How do you make sure that your gun is an asset instead of a liability?
Educate Your Kids
If your kids have ever been exposed to the media, chances are they know what a gun is. If they see a firearm in the house, they're naturally going to be curious about it. The less they know, the more questions they'll have, and the more likely they'll want to explore this unfamiliar weapon.
That's why it's essential to have a conversation with your children about firearms. Impart the seriousness of a gun, and relay that a gun is not a toy. Teach your kids the basics of gun safety:
- Treat all guns as if they are loaded
- Keep Muzzle pointed in a safe direction at all times
- Never point the firearm at anything you aren't willing to destroy
- Always be aware of your target and what's behind it
Having this conversation will mitigate future accidents. If your kids ever do get their hands on a firearm, they will know what to do and what not to do.
Additionally, if your kids are old enough, it can also be beneficial to teach them how to properly load, unload, and shoot a gun. If they're ever in a situation where they need to protect themselves, they'll be prepared. Countless accidents could have been prevented if the child had been given proper instruction on gun safety.
Make The Gun Safety Conversation Consistent
If you only have one conversation about gun safety when your kids are younger, and you never revisit the topic, the message you're attempting to instill won't be as clear or effective. Make it a point to consistently revisit the topic. Once a month is not too much.
Keep a Happy Medium
Home defense weapon storage can be tricky. You need to ensure your gun doesn't end up in the hands of the bad guy, or your kids, but you also need to be able to access the gun quickly in case someone breaks into your house.
So how do you accomplish both?
Implement Necessary Safety Precautions
No matter how you choose to store the gun, the following precautions always need to be in place:
- A loaded gun should only be stored in a holster
- A round should not be chambered if the gun isn't protected by a holster
- The barrel of a loaded gun should never point towards a person
If a round is chambered, the trigger guard needs to be protected. Safely retained in a holster with full trigger guard coverage, you can pull your gun outside of storage and make a smooth transition to concealed carry. If you prefer to store your gun without the holster, there should not be a round chambered. If your gun is ready to fire and the trigger isn't protected, accidents can happen easily.
About "Best Practices"
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the safest way to store a gun is unloaded, locked and separate from ammunition. However, in a close encounter self defense situation, how effective will it be to keep your ammunition separately stored when you have seconds between you and the bad guy?
While your ammunition and your firearm do need to be inaccessible for your kids, it's possible to safely store a loaded gun. Let's look at how to safely store a gun at home so you can have the quick access you need.
Keypad Door Knob Safe
A closet can be a viable option for firearm storage. However, who's to say your kids won't get into the closet? Even if your firearm is stored up high and covered up, you still pose a safety risk. You will need a locking device.
A keypad door knob offers maximum security. The only people who are able to open the door are the people who know the security code. Unless you choose to share this code with your kids, they won't be able to get in the closet. Also, keypad door knobs are sold widely, and they are budget friendly.
Biometric Safe
One of the smartest locations to store your gun is by your bedside. If someone breaks into your house at night, chances are you'll be asleep. So how do you store your gun safely by your bed? Don't tuck your gun into the side of your bed, or simply throw it in your nightstand. Your gun needs to be stored in a safe that can be locked.
A biometric safe offers an excellent solution. It opens quickly to a pre-programmed fingerprint, so it's impossible for your children to open it. This safe is compact enough to keep right beside you on your nightstand or coffee table, giving you fast access.
A Combination Safe
If you're looking for a safe that's more budget friendly than a biometric safe, a combination safe is also a great option. If you choose, only you will know the combination, and you won't have to fumble around for keys in a high stress situation.
So, if you've always wanted to carry a gun, but you are nervous to store firearms in your house, storage solutions are available for defensive firearms that will prevent unauthorized access.
Gun safety always starts with you. Make sure that you know how to handle your gun properly, and that you never leave your gun out of your sight.
If you conceal carry, the second you get home put your gun in a safely locked location. This is especially important to remember if you have a concealed carry purse. If you want to keep your gun in your purse, make sure that the purse is placed in a safely locked location.
If you follow these guidelines, you'll be properly prepared to protect yourself, and confident that no accidents will happen.