in other words
The Gun Doctor: Safe Storage of Firearms
By Wolfgang Rotbart
If you own firearms, safely storing them should
be a priority. Doing this runs the gamut from full-scale
home alarm/security systems and gun vaults to just
ensuring the firearms are unloaded and kept separate
from ammunition when not in use.
(Please refer to the “Resources” note in the last
paragraph for more in-depth information online for this
and other articles.)
Many people use full-size gun vaults/safes to
secure their firearms. “Vault” is the more correct term
as very few vaults can be considered “safes”; a true
safe is much more resistant to attack than virtually all
vaults.
There are two broad classifications for gun
vaults. The first is used merely for secure storage from
casual unauthorized use. This type is not intended
to thwart a determined attempt or protect from fire
damage. These usually start at under one hundred
dollars and go up to few hundred dollars.
Then there are true security vaults, which run
from several thousand to over ten thousand dollars.
The two main features to assess in security vaults are
attack resistance and fire protection.
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Fire protection ratings are problematic because
most companies conduct their own testing instead
of using an independent laboratory or Underwriters
Laboratories and so the results are somewhat unreliable
or misleading. Suffice it to say, true house fire protection
comes at a steep price.
Regarding attack-resistance, here are a few
general points one should consider and research before
buying. The smaller the gap between the door and the
frame, the less effective pry bars will be. Check the
weight of the actual steel used in construction, not just
the total weight. Many vaults have substantial “filler”
material that adds to the weight, but does not provide
any meaningful security for the contents. Most of
the reputable manufacturers have lifetime warranties
against fire or damage. Having an internal framework,
as opposed to just formed sheet metal, helps prevent
brute force attacks. “Made In America” is usually a
plus on several levels, including overall quality.
Many vault manufacturers offer a dehumidifier
or internal lighting as options. Most provide for some
sort of anchoring from within. This is important to
prevent the theft of the entire vault and its contents and
to make it more difficult to pry open. A vault laid on
its back allows the attacker to use his weight on the pry
bar; upright, he must supply all the force. However,
given the proper knowledge, tools, and enough time,
any vault can be breached.
There are numerous types of small vaults
just for handguns and they generally provide better
accessibility than full-size ones. However, they are more
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susceptible to theft, even if they are lagged securely.
The most common are key, combination, number pad,
electronic and biometrics locking mechanisms. Each
has its strengths and drawbacks, so ensure that you
weigh these before purchase. If you are considering
one of the electronic or biometric types, be sure there is
some way to gain access if the battery fails.
Lastly, there is a great array of devices to render
a firearm mechanically inoperable, but comparatively
accessible. The main types are those that lock the
trigger into position so it can’t be pulled, cover the
trigger area entirely and cable types which go through
the action so that a cartridge can’t be loaded. These
are mostly key operated with a few having combination
locks.
When firearms are being used for personal
defense, they present a special problem – accessibility
versus security. In general, the more secure a firearm
is, the less readily accessible it is. Criminals rarely
give notice of an attack and so one must have ready
access in order to be effective. However, especially
in the case of children in and around the home, having
unsecured firearms about is a recipe for tragedy. Each
gun owner must decide on the proper balance between
the two.
Follow-up information to topics in this and other
articles can be found on the “Resources” page on The
Gun Doctor home page (www.wolfgangthegundoctor.
com).
I welcome ideas for topics for these articles.
Please email them to:
Wolfgang@WolfgangTheGunDoctor.com or call me
at 503-429-7342 10:00 – 5:00 M – F
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Wolfgang Rotbart is an AGI-certified Master
Gunsmith and a NRA-certified Basic Pistol Course
stuff.
Instructor. He works as a gunsmith and as an Oregon
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2012
continued from front page
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