| Why bother? | | | | protection from theft or unauthorized use and fires. |
| With the decision to own a firearm of any type | | | | Mechanical or Electronic? |
| should also be the decision to own a gun safe | | | | Another differentiating characteristic among all gun |
| Firearms whether intended for sport or self defense | | | | safes is how the locking mechanism works. There are |
| must be kept securely away from the possibility of | | | | two basic categories mechanical and electronic, with |
| theft or the possibility that someone other than the | | | | two sub categories under each. |
| owner could happen across the weapon and | | | | Mechanical locking devices include both the classic |
| intentionally or unintentionally use it to hurt someone. | | | | locks with keys and the classic combination dials. |
| Criminals that use firearms typically do not walk into a | | | | These are typically the least expensive gun safes |
| sporting goods retailer and ask which guns are best | | | | and offer the most basic functionality. |
| to use for bank robberies or stick ups, the guns they | | | | Electronic locking devices use either a key pad or |
| use are from the streets, stolen guns that were | | | | fingerprint scanner. These will cost significantly more |
| once purchased by law biding citizens. Children of any | | | | but offer the most convenient method of access no |
| age should never under any circumstance have | | | | fumbling with keys or combinations simply type in a |
| unsupervised access to a firearm. The use of gun | | | | multiple digit code similar to an ATM or press your |
| safes weather at home or work is one of the best | | | | fingertip over an illuminated scanner. |
| measures a gun owner can take to prevent these | | | | How they rate? |
| tragedies. This article will provide basic information on | | | | No matter what size or type of locking mechanism all |
| what types of gun safes are available and how they | | | | guns safes are measured by two standards; how |
| differ from one another: by size, how they work, | | | | well do they resist theft known as the burglary rating |
| and how well they work. | | | | and how well do they resist fire, the fireproof rating. |
| Large or Small? | | | | Burglary rating is measured in minutes and identifies |
| There are generally speaking two types of gun safes | | | | how long it would take an experienced locksmith with |
| based on the overall size and quantity of firearms | | | | locksmithing tools to gain access to the contents of |
| they will be used for. | | | | the safe, it would take most common thieves much |
| Large gun safes used for long barreled firearms such | | | | longer. |
| as rifles or shot guns these are usually designed to | | | | The fireproof rating is also based on time, and |
| stand vertically and have racks inside to hold the | | | | indicates how long the unit could be exposed to the |
| guns side by side without leaning onto one another, | | | | extreme heat of a fire and still maintain and internal |
| some have interior shelves to accommodate | | | | temperature safe enough to prevent damage to its' |
| ammunition or smaller handguns. | | | | contents. |
| Smaller safes used for hand guns, revolvers or | | | | If you have guns you need to keep them safe. |
| semi-automatics are usually designed to hold only one | | | | What types of guns and how many you have, will |
| or possibly two guns. These must somehow be able | | | | determine exactly what size safe you need. You |
| to be secured to either a wall, a strong secure shelf | | | | need to consider how you want to access the |
| or the floor, this is in order to prevent a would be | | | | firearms in the safe and what level of security you |
| thief from trying to abscond with it and its' contents. | | | | either require or desire. |
| Regardless of size all gun safes need to provide | | | | |