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Storing guns safely is one of the most crucial responsibilities of all gun owners. In the U.S., owning a gun safe was not mandatory until 2005 when the Federal Government made it illegal for all licensed gun dealers, manufacturers or importers to transfer or sell a gun unless the buyer has or purchases a secure locking device. This law was meant to guarantee that all new gun owners buy a gun safe, and it was one of the first major steps the federal government took towards mitigating the risk of unsecured firearms.
However, out of the fifty American states, only eleven have laws concerning gun locking devices. Most states have stricter rules regarding swimming pool fences than firearm safes. Out of the eleven states with gun safe storage laws, only Massachusetts requires all guns to be locked in a safe. New York, California, and Connecticut only require guns to be stored in a safe under certain circumstances.
The other eight states, including Rhode Island, Ohio, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Maryland, and Illinois, only have laws concerning handguns. Texas has a law that penalizes any parent who makes his or her firearm accessible. Therefore, to avoid being penalized, it's advisable to purchase a safe for your firearm. So, here are five different types of gun safes for you to choose from:
A biometric safe is one of the world's most secured gun locking devices. Unlike the traditional safes which used combinations or passcodes, you can only open biometric safes with your fingerprint. This high-quality gun vault only opens when an authorized user places his or her finger on the scanner.
Popular biometric gun safes: Barska bio-safe, Viking security safe, and Vaultex VT20I pistol safe.
Most firearm safes are made from steel, which is relatively fireproof. Steel can only melt when the temperature exceeds 2,750 degrees Fahrenheit. It cannot melt in case of a normal house fire. However, what you should be worried about is the heat penetrating inside and damaging your expensive guns. Therefore, look for a safe that is both water and fireproof.
Popular fireproof gun safes: Gunvault MV500 Microvault safe and SentrySafe Pistol safe.
In-wall gun safes are usually installed inside the wall. Therefore, stealing in-wall safes can be quite tricky. These safes are available in different sizes, and they can protect a wide range of valuables and important documents.
Popular In-wall gun safes: Protex PWS-1814E wall safe and Barska AX12038 wall safe.
Hidden gun safes are safes that allow you to hide your firearms in plain sight. Normally, hidden safes mimic other objects in the house, such as shelves, mirrors, and picture frames. In fact, people can walk in your home without noticing them.
Common hidden safes: Stealth Defense Vault DV652 and V-line Hide-Away keyless security systems.
Even though car safes are not as secured as in-wall safes, putting your gun in a car safe is safer than in your glove box. Car safes have a reliable steel cable that you can use to attach to a part of your car. Most Car safes are small in size and are meant to hide only one handgun.
Gun storage laws promote responsible firearm owning practices. These laws require every gun owner to keep his or her weapon locked and unloaded when unattended. Safe storage laws can help prevent unauthorized gun users from accessing these weapons. These laws can reduce tragedies due to gun theft, unintentional discharges, and suicide. In the U.S. alone, this law can help reduce the number of firearms stolen every year from the current average of about 380,000 guns. So, to be on the safe side, make sure you always keep your guns locked.