Aiming for Safe Storage of Guns

Back in the days when lunch regularly hopped or flew past the front door, storing a firearm was as easy as leaning the flintlock against a nearby wall.

It was what might be called a primitive grocery shopping tool, and it caused about as much comment and commanded about as much notice as a shovel.

Today, that all seems pretty quaint. As the use--and misuse--of firearms has evolved, so have attitudes toward their presence in the home. While the knowledge that there is a gun in the house can cause not a single eye blink in some circles, in others it is a source of real unease.

Regardless of personal reaction, however, no responsible person today will advocate storing a gun in the same way Americans did when it was usual to lean a loaded musket against the doorjamb. Today, utility is not the byword; safety is.

In storing firearms, “safety” can take on more than one meaning. The most obvious reason for secure storage is to keep guns and ammunition away from young, curious, inexperienced or unauthorized hands. However, a gun collection containing even a few valuable or rare items--highly prized English Purdy shotguns, for instance--can represent an investment of several thousand dollars, making it just as desirable to a thief with an eye for a quick buck as to one with the idea of using it as a weapon.

There’s still another compelling reason for proper storage: possible liability. While responsibility of gun owners for any crimes or accidents that occur when a gun is used by an unauthorized person are usually determined on a case-by-case basis, the specter of liability is always present. When both weapons and ammunition are locked away, the risk is hugely reduced.

With the proliferation of improved security technology, there are several choices for the firearm owner who wants anything from a large cabinet to a small lockable case.

“The most expensive way and the safest way are usually synonymous,” said Tim Holbrook, a sales representative for the Costa Mesa Gun Shop. “That usually means a home safe.”

There are at least two advantages in owning a gun safe, said Holbrook: the good ones are made from heavy-gauge steel and are secured with a combination lock, making it terrifically difficult to crack. And, because they can weigh anywhere from 500 to 1,200 pounds, nobody is going to blithely cart the thing away--particularly the heaviest models, which feature lag bolts than can be sunk into concrete flooring from the bottom of the safe.

The better safes, said Holbrook, can cost between $500 and $2,000. Paul Goodell, a sales representative for the Grant Boys, a gun dealer in Costa Mesa, said cheaper “cabinet” models can be had for around $150. These are floor-standing cabinets made from thinner 16-gauge steel, and they have the capability of being fastened securely to a wall, said Goodell.

The less expensive safes can be fairly Spartan, but the high-end ones offer various shelf and rack configurations to accommodate rifles, shotguns and handguns as well as various shooting accessories. The interiors are often lined in thick carpet and dehumidifiers (to guard against oxidation of metal parts and deterioration of wood) can be fitted into the inside.

One characteristic inherent in a conventional metal safe is purely cosmetic: once the door shuts, the guns can’t be seen. Back in the shoot-your-own-dinner days, this wouldn’t have been a consideration, but today the person who owns a collection of antique guns may want to display them. The finer weapons are often intricately etched and carved and are examples of the gun-maker’s skill.

A handful of manufacturers now offer display case/safes with windows--in effect, pieces of furniture that nobody’s going to break into.

Typical of these are the cabinets offered by Hardworks. They look like nothing so much as vertical wood china cabinets, stately and tasteful. However, they’re lined with heavy-gauge steel, the gun racks inside are fitted with cross bars to lock the firearms into place, and the lower cabinets feature a lock box. The glass is hardened and there are an array of optional electronic security gizmos such as an external key pad locking system, an alarm horn and motion detectors. And, the entire apparatus bolts to the wall. The Hardworks model recently on display at the Grant Boys carried a retail price of $5,000.

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The truly avid collector who owns a lot of guns--a small roomful, say--might choose a safe door rather than a cabinet. Some firearms manufacturers offer heavy-gauge doors that can be custom fitted to most conventional door dimensions, effectively turning a room into one big safe.

A word on transporting guns: Current California law says that rifles and shotguns can be carried openly or concealed in a vehicle as long as they are not loaded. Handguns, however, must not only be unloaded, but also must be locked in the trunk, or in a locked container other than the utility or glove compartment. There are several brands of locking handgun cases on the market, some with electronic locks. Prices can range from around $10 to $150.

The range of storage devices available reflect changing attitudes about how guns are stored and displayed. Fewer and fewer gun shops are offering the previously familiar, and exposed, wall-mounted gun rack, said Holbrook.

Security has become paramount: The more benign flintlock days are gone forever.