Do you own a firearm? Or are you looking to get your first handgun? As a responsible gun owner, it is paramount that you learn about gun safety.
Studies reveal that a third of homes in the United States with children have at least one firearm. Knowing how exploratory children can be, there is always the risk of them finding your gun and playing with it.
Some children may think that guns are toys. If they accidentally pull the trigger, disastrous things can happen. Thus, you need to be on top of your firearm storage game.
But how exactly do you keep your guns safely at home? What are the best ways or the right spots for storing your firearms?
Continue reading below go a comprehensive guide on proper gun storage.
A Safe is Your Best Friend
Having a license to carry is not enough. You should also be knowledgeable when it comes to safe firearm storage at home.
And when we talk about gun storage, a gun safe is one of the best investments you can ever spend on. A safe is the most popular option for safely storing a gun at home. The good thing about a gun safe is that it protects both the gun and the people inside the house from accessing the gun easily.
For starters, a good gun safe is theft-proof and fire-proof. It can withstand most power tools in case burglars attempt to steal your gun.
Another good thing about gun safes is that they come in different shapes and sizes. The basic ones can fit most standard handguns. But if you want to up the ante, you can go for the more expensive ones that feature top-notch security technology.
These safes feature biometrics that allows access only through the owner’s fingerprints. Some safes use radio frequency identification (RFID). Here, you need to use a card, sticker, or key fob to open the safe.
Away From a Child’s Reach
As we mentioned earlier, your children have a knack for exploring. Thus, if you don’t have a gun safe at home, make sure to store your firearm in a place that is out of your child’s reach.
According to statistics, 6% of firearm deaths involving children are unintentional. These incidents normally happen when children discover the gun inside their parents’ closet.
The key is to hide your gun or a safe containing your gun in hard-to-reach locations. A good place is up on a shelf or in the back of a heavy drawer. Though children cannot reach these areas, you can easily access them in case of an emergency.
The biggest problem concerning gun accidents involving children is that parents tend to underestimate their kids. A recent study revealed that 39% of parents undermine their children’s ability to know where they store their firearms.
Hence, the need for storing your gun the safest way possible. Apart from keeping your firearm out of reach, you need to unload and uncock it before storing it. Never store your firearm under your bed or bedroom drawer.
A Spot Away from Plain Sight
If you have no money to buy a reliable gun safe, you can temporarily hide your gun in key areas. The rule of thumb is to hide your firearm in plain sight.
Consider keeping it in a clever spot like behind your clocks and mirrors. To do this, you need to perform a little bit of tweaking on your walls.
You need to customize a small compartment on your wall and cover it with a clock or mirror. Alternatively, you can hide your gun behind bookshelves and other furniture that come with secret concealment.
Take note, however, that these options are only wise if you don’t have children at home. If you have kids, your best bet is to store your weapon in a place that they cannot reach.
Firearm Storage for Tactical Advantage
But what if you live in an area where cases of burglary are high? What if you want to gain a tactical advantage against possible break-ins? If you still don’t have any kids, you may keep your firearm close to you.
The master bedroom is one of the areas where you can keep your firearm. Invest in a Fast Box or gun safe and keep it under your bed. This will give you easy access to your weapon in case somebody tries to break in especially at night.
Another sensible place to store your gun is in the kitchen pantry. Keep a small gun cabinet in your pantry for quick access in case a home invasion occurs during the daytime. Burglars tend to target the master bedroom first instead of the kitchen.
And if you own an extra gun, keep one in a closet near your front door. This becomes useful in case somebody tries to pick your main door lock or refuses to respond after asking who they are.
Don’t Forget Your Ammos
Last but not least, responsible ownership involves proper ammo and firearm magazine storage. The general rule of thumb for ammo storage is to keep them high and dry. This means store your bullets high above the floor and away from moisture.
Ammos are sensitive to impact. Thus, invest in some ammo cans and put some rubber seals to keep moisture at bay.
Also, store your bullets in a cool and dry place. Ideally, you want to keep the temperature below 150 Fahrenheit. Going beyond this will equate to humidity.
Last but not least, organize your ammo. Put labels on the ammo cans to distinguish the ones for training and the ones for emergency use. Additionally, follow the “first in, first out” rule.
This will help ensure the freshness of your bullets.
Start Improving Your Marksmanship
Now that you know the fundamentals of firearm storage, you can keep your guns safe and secure. You will have no worries about your child playing with your firearms. You can also get hold of your gun faster during emergencies.
But if you wish to win a gunfight, you need to work on your marksmanship. Call us up today and schedule a visit to our shooting range. We offer training courses that will help you become a better and more responsible gun owner.
