Gun storage is one of the most important considerations that gun owners will take, as their guns will likely spend most of their time in storage. Whether you keep firearms for protection or for recreation, it’s important that you find a way to safely store them and prevent them from being taken or misused. If you have young family members at home, this responsibility becomes doubly important.
The Safe Depot is dedicated to educating gun owners about proper gun storage and providing them with the tools to achieve it. We believe the best option for protecting your gun is a gun safe or vault that is designed specifically for firearms. We stock only the highest quality gun safes, and they come in a range of prices and sizes to fit the needs of all of our customers. We put together a list of some of our best tips for gun safety to help you make informed decisions about the way you store your firearms.
1. Store Your Guns Separately From Your Ammo
When you put your hunting rifles away for the season, remove any remaining ammunition and store it in a place separate from your firearms. Keep your ammunition in a safe place, locked and out of reach of young children. This adds another layer of protection from both children’s hands and criminal’s, as it is much less likely that someone will be able to procure both in a timely manner.
If your gun is to be used for self protection, it may not be an option for you to keep it unloaded. It is important that you keep these weapons secure and out of the way. The best place for a weapon like this is in the bedroom, in a vault attached under your bed or in your nightstand. The Safe Depot stocks incredibly secure, conveniently sized safes for just this purpose.
If you’re looking for a secure way to store your personal handgun while keeping it close at hand, check out our 9G Multi Print Biometric Safe. This safe is equipped with biometric technology, which allows you to open the safe quickly with your fingerprint. A child will not be able to guess the combination, because there is none, and its rugged steel construction is secure against tampering. For security against theft, make sure that you mount it to a secure surface.
2. Location is Key
Like any other safe, it is important that you keep your gun safe in a location where visitors, criminals, and young family members are unlikely to be passing it regularly. If your gun is for protection, the bedroom is the best location for your weapon so that it is out of the way yet accessible. If you can fit your full size gun safe in your bedroom, this could also be a good location for your recreational guns. A garage, basement, or personal office can be a good space as well, provided your family and guests do not use these rooms often.
If your safe does not sit on the floor, try to store it in a place that is out of reach of young children and above eye level for adults. This will further discourage prying and curiosity, and makes it so that it’s not as easy of a target for a thief who is trying to get through your home quickly. Safes that are fitted into cabinets and closets can add an extra layer of camouflage and may be more convenient for a smaller home or apartment.
The Safe Depot stocks quality gun safes in a variety of styles and sizes to accommodate any location in your home. If you need a safe that will fit within a closet or cabinet, consider our Liberty LH05 safe. If you need a gun safe large enough to store your recreational rifles, take a look at some of our full size safes, like the stylish Lincoln or the affordable Centurion. Make sure you measure the area you have chosen for your safe before beginning your search,and as always, feel free to talk to our expert staff at our North Florida location if you’d like help selecting the perfect safe for you!
3. Educate Your Family on Gun Safety
Your children are naturally curious about your guns. It is this curiosity that tempts children to get into their family’s guns and play with them. Instead of fighting your children’s natural curiosity, teach them respect and reverence for firearms and the potential dangers they pose.
It is important that all of the members of your family understand basic gun safety. It is especially important for them to know that guns are only to be used by trained adults for specific purposes.
4. Choose a Secure Safe
This is one of the most important things you can do to protect your family. A gun safe will not be much help if your children or a potential thief is able to break into it. Be sure that you purchase a high quality gun safe made of sturdy material, and ensure the lock and door mechanisms on the safe are not easily broken. Keep your safe locked at all times, and store the keys or written combinations away from the safe and out of reach of children.
It is important to have confidence in the retailer you purchase your safe from and the quality of the safes they sell. At The Safe Depot, we understand that when you purchase a gun safe from us you are trusting us with your safety, and we take this responsibility seriously. We want to earn your trust and help you find a great safe that will maintain your peace of mind and protect your family. Check out our testimonials page to hear from our satisfied customers, and talk to our expert staff in store or over the phone at 904.387.0042. If you’re looking for a quality gun safe, start with us.