Choosing a product to store, secure and protect your firearm investment is as important of a decision as the firearm purchase itself. And with emerging technologies, there’s more from which to choose, making it easier than ever before for homeowners to tailor gun safety to meet their needs and lifestyle choices.
Get to know the National Shooting Sports Foundation's program designed to help gun owners keep guns safe when not in use.
“Nearly all firearm accidents in the home can be prevented when gun owners take simple precautions, and proper storage is the number one way to help prevent accidents” said Steve Sanetti, National Shooting Sports Foundation president and CEO. “Anyone who is going to own a firearm should respect it and secure it when not in use to help prevent firearm accidents and misuse.”
Project ChildSafe is a program of the NSSF that provides a platform for firearm owners to learn about keeping firearms secure when not in use. Their resources, which include 10 tips for firearms safety in your home, should be the first stop when bringing a firearm into a home, especially a home with young children.
Options for gun storage have traditionally fallen into one of these five types:
- Cable lock
- Gun case
- Lock box
- Electronic lock box
- Full-size and biometric gun safes
And it’s likely no surprise that the number of storage options within the electronic storage classification is enjoying arguably the most innovation. We've reviewed two, one from the gun lock category made by Identilock and another, a gun safe, manufactured by Hornady.
Identilock Fingerprint Safety Lock
Identilock is the world’s first fingerprint safety lock. This device secures the trigger area of a firearm and, with fingerprint identification, unlocks the device and allows use within three milliseconds.
Ease of access is at the heart of this product's core value.
“The problem with trigger locks in the past has always been that they take too long to access in a real situation,” said Steve Greenfield, a gun owner who purchased an Identilock product for his home. So you've only been left with a small bedside safe if you have kids.”
Greenfield said after enrolling his fingerprint to set up the lock’s recognition, he locked and opened the lock at least 100 times without a single misread. Re-locking is just as quick. And you can actually take the secured firearm with you, yet nobody can access the trigger.
Up to three fingerprint profiles can be stored on the device to allow multiple users access to the firearm. A master user can disable any or all of the other users if required. Plus if the electrical source fails, it can be opened with a key. A tough, NASA-researched metal alloy makes up the construction of the device and smartphone scanner technology operates the locking mechanism. The best news of all is that popular handgun models retail for under $240.
Hornady Rapid Safe
But what if you’d prefer to have your firearm locked in its entirety, yet ready for deployment at home? You might take a look at Hornady’s Rapid Safe. It’s manufactured to exceed the American Society for Testing Materials international performance standards for youth-
resistant firearm containers. Make sure your manufacturer meets this minimum. It ensures your safe provides the highest level of childproof safety, plus deters other undesirables from your firearms.
With all gun storage locks, boxes and safes, rugged construction is a must. The Rapid Safe is constructed of wrapped 16-gauge steel. It weighs a hefty 15 pounds and utilizes a 1/4-inch steel dual locking system. Hornady’s safe also features a security cable system. So a gun owner can attach the safe’s cable — rated at 1,500 pounds — to any immobile object to protect the safe from theft.
Handgun safes should also feature quick access with backup options like the Identilock. Hornady’s system allows you to choose between four options or have all four ready just in case things unravel fast. You can use a patent-pending Radio Frequency Identification or RFID bracelet for immediate access. The safe also opens with a key fob (like the smart keys purchased with automobiles), or a card provides access via an electronic reader.
Firearms can offer an immediate response when you or your family’s safety is jeopardized. In the meantime, you want to ensure those firearms stay at the ready, yet out of reach of those who don’t have permission for firearm access.
