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How do I properly store my firearms in a gun safe?

Home » Home Security » Gun Safes » How do I properly store my firearms in a gun safe?

Once you decide which gun safe you will purchase, the next question you should ask is, “Where should I put my gun safe?” If you have a small gun safe for pistols, you should hide it under a bed, in a drawer, or somewhere else that is both hidden and easily accessible. If you can, you should also try and bolt it down; otherwise, someone can simply pick up the safe, steal it, and worry later about breaking into it. If you have a large safe, you don’t have to worry about someone taking the entire safe, so you will simply need to decide where you have room in your home for the safe. In addition, large safes are difficult to move, so pick a spot you think you will be able to leave it for a long time.

Once you have placed your safe in your home, begin loading it. Put all your firearms in the safe securely; don’t balance items in such a way that they might fall to the ground or knock into each other every time someone walks by them. Again, you should carefully consider where to store your ammunition and only store it in your gun safe if there is a hidden locking compartment within the safe. Finally, consider what, if any, other items you want to store in your safe. If it is a fire-resistant safe, you may want to store important documents, such as wills, deeds, birth certificates, or passports. If it is burglar-resistant, you could put other valuables, such as jewelry, besides guns in the safe. You might even get an insurance discount for your valuables if you keep them in your safe, but be careful, you may not want to put all your eggs in one basket, or all your valuables in one safe.

Finally, decide who should know the combination or have the key to unlock your safe. It is not a good idea to tell children, even seemingly mature teenagers, how to access your gun safe. The fewer people who can access your guns the better, but perhaps someone else in your home should know the combination, in case you are not there during an emergency.

If there is an emergency, and you feel you need to access your guns, always call the police first and ask what you should do. The police are also good sources of information on storing your guns, so contact them and consult the owner’s guide to your safe with any questions you might have.

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