| One of the founding principles of the United States | | | | Though you can find a small standard type safe that |
| of America, as found in the Second Amendment of | | | | has a combination lock, this is unusual in a safe that is |
| the Constitution is that the "right of the people to | | | | designed with a handgun in mind. If you need your |
| keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." Though | | | | handgun, you need it quickly and do not want to |
| the world has changed a lot since 1787, does that | | | | mess with a combo lock during a surge of adrenaline. |
| mean that our rights have changed? The nature of | | | | Most handgun safes come with one of three |
| man has not changed, there have always been good | | | | different options. |
| and bad people, those who wish us the best and | | | | The first is a key. This is a great option as long as |
| others who wish us the worst. There are a lot of | | | | you always know where the key is to be found. It |
| questions about how the 2nd Amendment is | | | | does no good if you have a burglar in your home to |
| interpreted regarding many things like automatic | | | | have your handgun safe close by and the key |
| weapons, but today I just want to take a look at | | | | downstairs on the kitchen table on your key ring. You |
| handguns, and how to keep your handgun safe if | | | | also don't want the key kept with the safe, or it is |
| you own one. | | | | easy for curious children to find and get in to. There |
| One of the great things about the beginning of | | | | is no set solution to this dilemma, you have to find |
| America, was that the people were excited to be | | | | what works best for you. |
| out from underneath the thumb of an oppressive | | | | Personally, I would rather not worry about a key, so |
| government. They wanted to be self ruled, and | | | | an electronic or mechanical lock is a good solution. A |
| under a structure of government, people were | | | | five button mechanical lock has 1081 possible |
| trusted to make the decisions that were best for | | | | combinations. Just punch in the combination, and you |
| them as long as it did not infringe upon others rights. | | | | have quick access to the contents inside. |
| A lot of that is missing today. We are not even | | | | But what if you have a brain cramp when under |
| trusted to be smart enough to decide if we should | | | | pressure? Remembering a five digit combo may not |
| wear a seat belt or not when we get in our car. So | | | | be best for you. Then, go with the latest and coolest |
| should it be a big surprise that handgun ownership is | | | | thing on the market, the biometric handgun safe. As |
| a hot topic? But in June of last year (2008), the US | | | | you've probably seen in TV shows and in the movies, |
| Supreme Court, in the case of District of Columbia v. | | | | these safes use basic fingerprint recognition to open |
| Heller, upheld the decision that Americans have the | | | | the safe. Depending upon the model and brand, most |
| right to keep and bear arms for self-defense. | | | | biometric safes will recognize anywhere from 5 to 30 |
| As reflected in the news, there are people who | | | | different fingerprints. It makes for quick and easy |
| violate the right to bear arms which results in the | | | | access, especially when you are under pressure. Just |
| injury and death of innocent bystanders. But these | | | | make sure that you heed any low battery warnings! |
| people are the exception, not the rule. Many are | | | | If you need your pistol quickly and you forgot to |
| concerned with accidents in the home with handguns | | | | replace the batteries to your handgun safe when |
| and children, but there are so many ways that | | | | warned, that is as bad as wondering where the key |
| individuals can keep a handgun safe from accident, | | | | is! Luckily, the battery life on a biometric safe is very |
| that there is little reason to fear. Owning a handgun | | | | long and some even have an external power supply |
| should bring a feeling of safety and confidence in the | | | | options, so this really is not much of a problem. |
| ability to protect ones family, not fear. | | | | If you choose to exercise your 2nd Amendment |
| If you can afford a handgun, you can afford a | | | | right by owning a gun, just keep it secure in a |
| handgun safe. They are not that expensive and | | | | handgun safe. That way you get security and peace |
| worth the peace of mind that it brings to your home. | | | | of mind. |