Many American homes contain firearms used for sporting and self-defense. It is understandable that citizens want to have some means of protection for themselves and their families, when there are many criminals who possess guns. However, owning guns without securing them can be even more dangerous than any criminal. Unfortunately, there is plenty of statistical proof that unsecured weapons in homes and businesses can be lethal. Curious children, unwanted intruders, and other unauthorized visitors need to be kept away from firearms. That is why responsible gun owners should have a strong, reliable gun safe.
Other methods of firearm storage such as gun cabinets or gun racks are available, but not only do these methods provide less security than a gun safe, they also fail to hide the weapons from prying eyes. Guns that are clearly visible make a tempting target for any burglar. Furthermore, laws in many states require that deadly weapons be stored securely. And also can be easily installed, even a single locksmith can install it.
There are many sizes of gun safes available. The largest are about the size of a refrigerator, and the smallest are roughly the size of a briefcase. Sentry safes are used for storing several long guns or rifles and handgun safes hold pistols and revolvers. To be safe, guns and their ammunition should be stored separately.
The features and lock types available on gun safes are varied. Each consumer needs to choose the style that best fits his need. Safes with key locks are the most basic type and provide good security. However, care must be taken to ensure that the key is not lost or stolen or the protection of the safe will be instantly compromised.
Safes with combination locks do not require a key, however, research has shown that intruders who have found the owner’s combination written in some obvious spot, can often illegally open such safes. It is safest for the owner to memorize his combination and keep a record of it only in a totally unexpected location.
Safes equipped with electronic locks add another layer of protection for the gun owner. Such safes have combinations, which can be altered at any time, or whenever there is reason to suspect that the combination has been discovered.
Gun safes are also available that protect firearms from water, fire and impact damage and each owner will have to determine how much safety he desires. Since firearms can often represent a large monetary investment, their protection from all types of damage is frequently desirable.