Let’s face it, those days when you could walk around freely without having to fear for your safety and that of your loved ones are long gone now. The sad reality of today is that you are no longer safe, not even in the comfort of your own home. Even amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, the number of gun crimes in the US keeps increasing at an alarming rate. 2020 alone was named “the deadliest gun violence year” and 2023 could be even worse. Some might think that this is directly proportional to the seemingly growing number of citizens purchasing firearms. Others think it’s because of the Pandemic. Still, according to a recent study published in the Injury Epidemiology scientific journal, there is no clear evidence associating the two. Given the circumstances, having safe gun storage at home nowadays became a necessity nowadays.
Now, it’s only natural for you to think that this will require a considerable investment, but who says you need to buy a safe in order to store a gun at home? Unfortunately, not many people out there can afford the luxury of purchasing an expensive safe for this particular use alone. So, in the article ahead, we will show you the best way to store guns without a safe and within a reasonable budget.
Is it Legal to Store Guns without a Safe?
But first things first, before going into the best way to store guns without a safe, it’s essential to determine if such a thing would be legal in the first place. The fact is that there are numerous countries all over the world where it’s perfectly legal to own firearms and store them at home. Moreover, many encourage and even demand to properly store the weapon.
But other than that, the actual issue here is not the legal aspect of a safe gun storage at home, but how to keep gun safe but accessible at the same time.
What to Consider When Securing Your Gun?
As previously mentioned, there are some other essential factors to consider when storing gun inside your home. For the purpose of self-defense against unwanted intruders and perpetrators, the guns need to be within close reach. But, at the same time, you also don’t want any of your family members to access them easily, as this could lead to tragic accidents.
So here are some long-term gun storage tips, to help you keep your gun secure and people around you safe:
Location
If you’re living with your family, and especially if you have kids, you will have to think of extra safe gun storage at home. You can’t just leave firearms sitting in easily accessible places such as your desk, a drawer, or a cupboard. Location is crucial for your family’s safety, and for this, we would recommend thinking of unique hiding spots that are hard for kiddos to find. For instance, you could store the gun inside your dehumidifier, behind the ventilation system, or in a gunlock box. The latter will require an extra investment, and there are some other attractive DIY alternatives, which can be achieved within the same price range, if not lower. We’re talking about creating a fake wall, a secret hiding space behind picture frames, or even a false floor compartment.
Children
Children’s curiosity knows no limits, and this is something that you will have to seriously think about before choosing your gun case storage. It’s crucial to avoid obvious places where a kid would most likely check first. In fact, forget about the obvious, you need to think of places that aren’t visible at all. The suggestions above are all worth considering, and another good idea would be to store the guns and the ammo separately.
Neighborhood
The neighborhood you live in also plays an important part. If you have friendly neighbors dropping over all the time, you don’t want to scare them away by keeping guns in plain sight. This is yet another reason for which you should consider one of the long-term gun storage tips, such as creating a false wall or floor chamber.
Best Way to Store Guns Without a Safe
Now, with all this being said, it’s time to give you some clear examples of storing gun ideas that will make everything safe for both you and your family. Here are our top suggestions on how to store guns long term:
Gun Storage Bag
These are unique bags, designed to store guns and keep them from damaging. They come in different shapes and sizes, and the one you choose should be fitting for the type of gun you own. We recommend going for a model that comes with firm padding on both its interior and exterior. This is probably not the best way to store guns safely, but it will protect them from external factors such as moisture that can lead to rust.
Trigger-lock
When it comes to preventive measures, the trigger lock is an excellent solution that can avoid unwanted accidents. So if you’re still wondering how to store guns in a 100% secure manner, try incorporating a trigger lock into a firearm. That way you will be adding that extra layer of protection, that can protect your family from tragic accidents.
False Wall/Ventilation
As previously mentioned, creating a fake wall or a false floor compartment is a perfect example of how to store guns long-term in a highly efficient manner. Only you will know about the secret hideout, so the chances of another family member accidentally finding the gun drop considerably. The same goes for storing guns inside the ventilation system or a dehumidifier, but these places are a bit more accessible.
Lock Box
Albeit a bit more costly and a lot more obvious, a lockbox is also a storing gun option you could consider. It’s ideal for small handguns, and it’s also straightforward and quick to open, in case of an emergency.
Gun Cabinet
Some consider a gun cabinet the second-best way to store guns at home. While a lot more obvious and on display, this option can come in quite handy if you own a collection of rifles and other firearms, for example. In addition, most models available on the market come with extra safe locks and highly resilient glass so that unwanted household members cannot easily break into them.
What You Need to Avoid When Storing Guns Without a Gun Safe?
By now, you should have a pretty good idea on the best way to store guns without a safe and, more importantly, on what to avoid.
- For starters, you should never store loaded guns inside at home. It is highly recommended that you keep the firearms separately from the ammo.
- Then you must never leave guns sitting around in places that are accessible to other family members.
- Lastly, you should choose the gun case storage based on the type of gun you own and also your available budget.
Conclusion
As you can probably tell by now, safe gun storage at home is essential to protect you and your loved ones from accidents. And when you can’t get a special safe to store your gun in, there are plenty of secure alternatives: false walls, lockboxes, gun storage bags, and so many more!
Or perhaps you also can think of or know the best way to store guns without a safe? Then feel free to share your ideas in the comments below!