In the United States, firearms are now the leading cause of death for children. As such, it’s crucial that adults understand how to safely store their firearms, both at home and on the go.
“Everyone has a part to play in the discussion about safe gun storage, whether they own guns themselves or simply know others who do,” says Scott Bonvissuto, co-founder of Console Vault. “The only way to keep guns out of the hands of minors is to keep them locked up and advocate for others to do the same.”
How to store guns safely at home
When firearms are kept unloaded, locked, and isolated from ammunition, everyone benefits. One study indicated that among children and teens, the risk of firearm injury was reduced by 78% in households that locked away weapons, and 81% in households that kept both firearms and ammunition under lock and key.
Over half of all gun owners — 54%, in fact — admit to not properly securing all of their firearms. Unfortunately, this means that 4.6 million children in the US live in a home with at least one unlocked and loaded firearm, resulting in 350 children accidentally shooting themselves or someone else every year. What’s more, the US Secret Service reveals that 76% of the firearms used in school shootings were obtained from a parent or close relative’s house.
“The bottom line is that responsible adults should never leave a firearm unattended where a child could access it,” observes Bonvissuto. “No matter how many times parents tell kids not to touch something, they might go ahead and do it anyway. Owners of firearms have a duty to keep them securely locked up and unloaded, far away from live ammo.”
In a home, closets and locked bedroom doors do not constitute safe storage, as any firearm merely concealed from sight is not stored safely. A properly stored firearm is empty and locked, with ammunition maintained in a separate place.
“This is the only way to deny access to children or others in danger of injuring themselves or others,” Bonvissuto says. The best way to store firearms in a home is in a gun safe designed specifically for the purpose. These special safes come in many different sizes, shapes, and configurations. Some models are bolted down or anchored to walls, while others can be mounted on the wall with screws or brackets.
“At Console Vault, we first ensure that our home and vehicle gun security solutions utilize built-in anti-theft protection,” Bonvissuto remarks. “We also offer our customers the benefits of customizable storage, along with discreet and secure installation options.”
Some gun owners complain that safes and other storage options negate the purpose of having firearms by making it more difficult to access the weapons. In reality, there is a wide variety of low-cost choices for securing firearms, all of which allow owners rapid access to their weapons, while blocking access to minors and others with a higher propensity for violence.
How to store firearms safely in cars and other vehicles
When people take their firearms on the go, safe storage is just as critical. Statistics reveal that gun owners are three times more likely to have a gun stolen if they carry it, and that between 200,000 and 500,000 firearms are stolen annually, with many ending up on the black market. Some stolen weapons are later linked to crimes and violent acts.
“People take their firearms everywhere,” Bonvissuto says. “They bring them to the range and on hunting trips, and they keep them close as a matter of personal protection.” As a result, people often encounter occasions that require them to leave their firearms in their vehicles.
“This poses a predicament that requires serious thought,” Bonvissuto remarks. “You certainly don’t want your pistol stolen and put to criminal use. Furthermore, failure to safely store firearms results in criminal penalties and monetary fines in some jurisdictions.”
Additionally, simply locking the doors of a vehicle is not secure handgun storage. Even if they are lockable, glove boxes or center consoles of cars and trucks are not secure locations for firearms either, since both of these storage compartments may be opened with relative ease.
Instead, the best option for safely transporting a firearm is a locked gun case or lockbox. Luckily, the market offers a wide variety of styles and pricing to choose from.
The heavy-gauge steel and drill-resistant locks on in-vehicle safes from Console Vault give gun owners the freedom to transport firearms with peace of mind. Console Vault’s in-vehicle safes incorporate state-of-the-art features like keyless entry and biometric access to ensure that gun owners can quickly access firearms in emergencies.
At the same time, anti-pry technology, childproof, and tamper-resistant features ensure that these gun owners are the only ones who can gain access. These affordable safes are designed for easy installation in virtually every brand of car, truck, and motorcycle.
“Safe gun storage protects people of all ages from unintended shootings, suicide, and theft,” concludes Bonvissuto. “By keeping firearms secured at all times, you protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community from harm.”
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