Safe Gun Storage Tips

Basic tips for protecting both people and guns

Safe gun storage involves two different kinds of protection: the protection of guns and the protection of people. Here are some tips on how to do both.

Protecting People

One of the foremost reasons for owning a gun safe is the protection of children and teens. Multiple studies have shown not only that hundreds of children die each year from unintended gunshot wounds, but also that a large percentage of gun-owning parents are unaware or neglectful of the need to practice safe firearm storage. Studies have also discovered that teens who commit suicide frequently use guns from within the home.

According to the medical journal Pediatrics, about 1.7 million U.S. children live in homes with loaded and unlocked guns. If you own or intend to purchase a gun, talk to the members of your household about gun safety and/or have them enroll in a gun safety course. Don't store guns and ammunition together in a gun cabinet. A 2005 study by the University of Washington found that storing ammunition and unloaded guns in separate locked gun safes causes an enormous decline in firearm injuries in homes with children and teens.

Gun and handgun safes are also an important theft deterrent. If thieves break into your home, you'll feel a lot better knowing that you prevented or did your best to prevent them from stealing your guns and using them to perpetrate further crimes. If you require a loaded gun for defensive use, a gun box or handgun safe with a combination lock would provide safer yet still accessible storage.