The right to bear arms is a fundamental right of every US citizen, and owning a gun for self-defense is practically a necessity in the modern world. Storing guns in the home when you have young children can be a difficult situation as you need to strike a balance between keeping the gun accessible at a moment’s notice whilst also making it impossible for small fingers to accidentally stumble across a loaded weapon. Most gun experts advise that the safest way to store a gun is to keep it unloaded and locked up in a separate safe from the ammunition. However, attempting to locate both gun and ammunition from different safes while intruders are kicking down your door wastes valuable time and will most likely end with you losing possession of your firearm. Finding a safe yet secure place for your weapon is an essential part of home defense and could possible save you and your family’s lives.
Quick Access Safes
Gun safes that offer biometric technology are an ideal way to keep your firearm safely locked up yet accessible at a moment’s notice. They can be bolted to the wall or floor to protect them from theft and are secure enough to be stored in your child’s nursery so you can head straight there in the event of an emergency. Fumbling around in the dark with combination locks or keys could waste valuable seconds, but with biometric systems the safe springs open at the touch of your hand. They use fingerprint technology to ensure you are the only person with access to the safe and feature deep grooves in the casing to guide your fingers in the dark.
Life Jackets
Life jackets provide extra protection by covering the action part of your firearm allowing you to transport it securely or store it outside of a safe without having to worry about accidents. The jackets come in many different sizes and Guns America carries a wide range that caters to every type of weapon. Many people use them in addition to a gun safe to provide extra security, but this will make it more difficult to access your firearm in a hurry.
Holsters
If you decide that the safest way to store your gun in the house is to keep it on you at all times, then a secure holster is probably going to be the best option for you. Secure holsters keep your weapon locked inside the holster which is then firmly attached to your body and cannot be drawn by attackers or anyone else without first releasing it using a series of buttons and levers. They may seem complicated at first, but once you are comfortable with the method of release it will soon become second nature.
To carry a concealed weapon you will first need to apply for a concealed weapons permit, and make sure you familiarize yourself with the gun laws in your state. A firearm is one of the most effective ways to provide protection for your family in the event of a home invasion, but your weapon is only effective if you are able to reach it quickly.
Milton Zane is passionate about safety. He frequently writes about realistic concerns and gun protection and safety.