An important part of responsible firearm ownership is safe gun storage. Every person who owns a firearm is responsible for its safety, regardless of whether it is in the home, a vehicle, or anywhere else.

Safe Firearm Storage Strategies

Fortunately, many companies specialize in making products to help gun owners keep their firearms safe and secure. But before we discuss some options, let’s briefly discuss safe gun storage, what it means, and how to achieve it.

If you Google “safe gun storage,” most of the first handful of links you’ll find lead to anti-gun groups like so-called Everytown for Gun Safety, Johns Hopkins, and even whitehouse.gov. Don’t take their advice. They would have you render your firearm so inaccessible that you could never access it in a self-defense situation.

In fact, safe gun storage is a personal thing. If you have lots of kids around the house, you definitely need to have firearms completely inaccessible to them. But if you live alone or with just a spouse who knows how to handle and use firearms safely, you might not want to have them quite so “secure.”

One note, however: Some states have specific safe storage laws that must be followed to avoid criminal charges. Check your state regulations before choosing a safe storage method.

Note that this is just a brief overview of some available safe storage methods. Individual research will be necessary to make an informed decision for your situation.

Cable Locks

The simplest and most inexpensive solution is the lock that comes with your firearm. These locks typically have a cable that runs through the firearm’s action or action and barrel and is then locked, rendering the gun inoperable.

Note that they won’t keep someone from stealing your firearm (one important reason to lock it up). But they should keep an unauthorized person from being able to fire the gun.

Until you can decide what kind of storage unit you plan to use in the long run, these will keep your guns secured.

Conventional Gun Safes

Conventional gun safes are large, heavy, and, above all, very secure. They also tend to be somewhat expensive. But what price can you put on safety? Here are a few things to consider when shopping for a conventional gun safe.

Choosing the right size of safe is vitally important. While you might just have a gun or two now, there’s a good chance you’ll likely add to your collection in the future. I know numerous people who bought too small on their first safe and ended up having to purchase another one a few years down the road. Most safe descriptions will tell you the gauge of metal used in construction.

The securityof the safe is also important. Shop for safes made of quality materials by well-known manufacturers. One thing that determines the security of a safe is the number and size of the locking bolts that extend to hold the safe closed. The bigger the diameter and larger the number, the more secure a safe will be.

Fire rating is also important. Not only because you want to protect your guns, but you’ll likely be storing other valuable things in the safe. As the fire rating goes up, so does the price. Use your best judgment to determine what fire rating will be best for you.

Another factor is the type of lock. Locks can be mechanical, electronic, or even biometric. Do some research and choose the one that best fits your style.

Note that if you move often, you probably won’t want to get a big gun safe. They are very heavy, and many have to be moved by professional movers who specialize in moving gun safes.

Some top conventional gun safe makers include Liberty, Browning, Fort Knox, and Winchester.

Modular Safes

Newer-style modular safes are becoming increasingly popular these days. They are lighter and can typically be moved by the owner. They can also be configured differently to meet the needs of different gun owners.

One company that specializes in modular safes is Secureit, which makes lightweight safes of all sizes and configurations. The company’s safes, gun cabinets and gun walls can be configured to meet just about anyone’s safe storage needs.

Smaller Storage Options

Many companies now make small handgun safes that use combination or biometric locks. Hornady makes a great one called the Rapid Safe, which can be accessed by RFID tag, keypad combination, or key.

Also, Valutek’s LifePod series gives users a way to store—and even transport—a handgun or two safely without breaking the bank.

Whichever storage method you choose, remember this: Safety is always the most important consideration in firearms-related matters.