Properly Storing A Firearm - homegunsafety

Homegunsafety.com Volume 1, Issue 8

Properly Storing a Firearm in the Home

What do you mean? Not only do I have cleaning supplies in your home. It can use the trigger lock on an unloaded
to know how to use a firearm, but also take a life if you’re not careful and firearm.
need to store it properly? You’ve got to guess what? It’s your firearm registered Cable locks differ in length and size and
be kidding! Well, yes you do have to in your name if you are a law-abiding are keyed. The firearm that you are
know how to store a firearm properly, citizen! Again I tell you that people need trying to use it on may be unique in
and for a number of different reasons. to be responsible with their firearms. It’s nature and may be able to be used with
One of the rules always taught in a the lack of being responsible that one cable lock or not another. You can
Firearm Safety Course should be to causes us to read about news events use cable locks on most handguns and
“Always store your firearm so it in not related to firearms. rifles. An important factor is to ensure
accessible to unauthorized persons.” that the locked cable lock can’t be
Tamper Resistant Mechanical removed if you are able to disassemble
What do you consider to be an Locking Devices the firearm. This many times is the case
unauthorized person? Some people will with fixed barrel semi automatics when
think it’s their children. Some people Many people use a tamper resistant the slide does not encompass the entire
might think it’s their elderly parents and locking devices like a trigger lock, cable top of the firearm as it does with a
yes, some people might thing it’s their lock or mogul that encases the trigger floating barrel semi automatic.
spouses. Some people might think it’s assembly. Trigger locks come in either
someone who is not properly trained in key or combination options.
the use and safe handling of a firearm.
All of the previously mentioned people
are good answers. If we were to try to
create a more generic or global choice,
the answer would be that an
unauthorized person is anyone who you
don’t want to have access to your
firearm.

It’s Your Firearm

Why might that be? You are You’ll notice that the trigger lock is flat Mogul Life Jacket locks are constructed
responsible for your firearm, no matter on one side and round on the other. of a strong, durable polycarbonate with
who is allowed to use it. If you don’t You’ll also note that the trigger lock has a soft padded interior, solid steel
properly store a firearm, someone you a serrated post that is off center with a double-pinned hinge, and a steel
care about might gain access to the receiving end to catch the post and lock reinforced perimeter that totally
firearm and hurt himself or herself or it in place. This is to allow the trigger encases the action of your firearm.
someone else. How many times have lock to be generic in nature and fit They are available for rifles and
we heard about a young child finding an securely on as many firearms as handguns.
unsecured loaded handgun in a possible.
nightstand drawer or in a closet? How
many times have you heard about a
child getting suspended from school
because they brought a firearm to
school? How many times do we need to
hear about a child getting killed
because they found a loaded firearm?
All you need to do is search Gun
Accidents on the Internet. People need
to be responsible with their firearms.

With great power comes great You should never use a trigger lock on Can your gun be stolen?
responsibility. a loaded firearm since the firearm might
discharge when you attempt to remove Another reason to properly store a
One of the sayings I always use during the trigger lock. Another reason is if you firearm is to prevent the theft of the
the classes I teach is “With great power didn’t place the trigger lock securely on firearm. Just because you use a cable
comes great responsibility.” I borrowed the trigger. If you place the lock on the lock or trigger lock doesn’t make the
that line from Toby McGuire in the trigger, but the lock can move, it might firearm theft proof. We all hear about
Spiderman Movies because it is so be possible for someone to pull the lock how we hear that stolen guns were
applicable. What do you think a firearm assembly into the trigger and discharge used in a homicide or armed robbery.
is: A play toy? The firearm is just like a the firearm. Obviously this is not a good Well, someone had to make the guns
piece of construction equipment, a car thing, so that’s why you always want to
or truck, your kitchen carving knife,
drugs in you home medicine cabinet or

Copyright 2006 www.homegunsafety.com. No part of this information may be reproduced without the express written permission of Mike
Burchman, Mass State Certified Firearms Instructor.

Page 1 of 3

Homegunsafety.com Volume 1, Issue 8

Properly Storing a Firearm in the Home - Continued

available to be stolen. Most of the your trunk since you’ll have easier resistant as a gun vault. These are
times, it’s an individual and not a Gun access. sometimes made with out of sheet
Dealer. Gun dealer security is usually metal, like the metal file cabinet or of
pretty good; almost like Fort Knox so Firearms should always be kept wood, usually with a glass window so
the risk of having a firearm stolen from unloaded until they are ready to be that you can see the firearms through
them is slim to none. used unless you are going to use it the glass. The sheet metal gun cabinets
for personal protection. can usually be bolted to the floor or a
Locking Storage Containers wall, but the wood ones are usually
Properly storing a number of firearms freestanding. The other unwanted trait
People will use different types of with a good amount of protection can of the wood gun cabinet is that the
locking containers to secure their be obtained by using an actual gun glass can be broken by someone who
firearms. The appropriate container to vault. Gun Vaults range in size and really wants a gun and the gun
be used would be determined by the weight and can be bolted down to any retrieved that much easier than the
number of firearms needing to be floor, including concrete. These gun sheet metal gun cabinet. The glass
secured and if firearms need to be vaults are fireproof, made of thick steel, window is great for show, but terrible for
retrieved quickly for personal and can be used to store other theft resistance.
protection. valuables. They have large bolts that
come out of the door on all four sides of
A locking pistol safe would be the the door that lock the door in place
appropriate locking container to use if when the handle is turned so that the
you needed quick retrieval of your door locks. The combination locks are
firearm for personal protection in the usually dial in nature, like the pad locks
home. These containers can usually be we all had in school, but can be
bolted down to a flat surface, either purchase with optional electronic digital
horizontal or vertical. They can also be locks. These are sometimes easier to
used in the truck of your vehicle to open since you’re punching in your
secure the firearm. electronic combination instead of
turning the dial a number of times.

Some of the locking containers open
with a door to the front. Others open
toward the top with the firearm being
accessed in a drawer.

The location of the locking container Gun cabinets are also used to store If you have state statutes requiring the
needs to be considered since a locking firearms, but they are not as tamper safe storage of firearms, you want to
container with a drawer that opens up take it very seriously. This applies
to the top would not necessarily be a whether you are home or not. Let me
good fit between shelves if there is not tell you something that happened to
a lot of space between the shelves. me.
The locking container that opens to the
front might be the best fit for that
situation. Likewise, the locking
container with the drawer that opens up
might be the best fit for a location in

Copyright 2006 www.homegunsafety.com. No part of this information may be reproduced without the express written permission of Mike
Burchman, Mass State Certified Firearms Instructor.

Page 2 of 3

Homegunsafety.com Volume 1, Issue 8

Properly Storing a Firearm in the Home – Continued

I was the only one home today asked him to confirm that a call was firearms in accordance with
working around the house while my made from my number. He called Massachusetts State Regulations!
wife took the kids on a field trip. I dispatch on his radio and I heard that it
needed something at Lowe’s (like the was for myself. Then he asked me to Limit Access to your Secured
Home Depot) so I locked my home and check if a phone was off of the hook Firearms
left. I came back 45 minutes later to find because sometimes phones off the
a local Police Officer in my driveway. All hook or crossed phone lines will It’s so crucial that you store your
types of things were racing through my generate an open call that is interpreted firearms so that unauthorized persons
mind. ”Did something happen to my as a 911 call. I told the Police Officer can’t get them and to prevent their theft.
wife and kids? Did they get into an that Verizon was in a few weeks earlier Let me ask you a pointed and maybe
accident?” I quickly though to myself, looking for a problem with a hum in my uncomfortable question: How would
“No, that can’t be.” line and they couldn’t find it since it was you feel if one or your firearms was
an intermittent problem. used to cause a statistic? You must
If an accident did occur, then a State limit the access to your firearms only to
Trooper would have been in the So I asked the Police Officer to see if those you would trust with your life,
driveway and not a local Police Officer. the 911 call was a voice report or just since the firearm can take a life. Legally
So then I thought, “Well, did I upset a an open line. The dispatcher indicated possessed firearms should be
neighbor?” Again, I quickly though to that it was just an open line with no registered in your name and you need
myself, “No, that can’t be.” So what the voice. So I then checked my line and to be the person responsible for them.
heck was that local Police Officer there guess what? There was no dial tone,
for? just a hum. I let the Police Officer hear Unless you really know what goes on
it for himself since I didn’t want to be in the mind of your spouse, son, or
As I parked my car and approached charged with a false 911 call. The daughter you might or might not let
the police officer, he got out of the car Police Officer proceeded to tell me that them have access to your firearms.
and said “Mr. Burchman?” Needless to although this is the first time this There are some gun related incidents
say, there were a lot of things running happened to me, this isn’t the first time such as the one in Red Lake,
through my head at that time. I asked if this has happened to many Police Minnesota where a teen took a firearm
I could help him. He proceeded to tell Departments, so I shouldn’t feel bad. from his grandfather, who I believe was
me that a 911 call originated from my Crossed phone lines whether in the a retired police chief, and he killed his
home. home or on the street can cause the grandfather, his girlfriend, 5 students, a
hum or call initiation. After he left, I teacher and a security guard before
Just about then, the local Fire called Verizon from my cell phone, killing himself. Surely the grandfather
Department Rescue Truck showed up explained what happened, and was told secured his firearm appropriately or so
with an ambulance in tow, light bars that it happens quite a lot. As a matter one would think. Assuming he did, how
flashing and sirens wailing. The Police of fact, mine was the 5th call of that did his grandson gain access to the
Officer was glad I came home because type that the repair supervisor handled firearm used in the homicides? No one
he was just getting ready to break into today. knows for sure, but do you want you or
my home and find the 911 Emergency. someone you care about to be a
He had done an exterior perimeter Just think. If I didn’t get home when I statistic?
search of my home and found no open did, the Police Officer would have
access to the home and couldn’t see in broken into my home for a false alarm. Make a difference. Be and stay
with the blinds shut. He would have looked around, and I responsible for your firearm.
mean all around looking for something
I proceeded to tell the Police Officer or someone who could have made the Remember, with great power comes
that no one was home, or at least no call, probably even in closets! Lucky for great responsibility.
one should have been home unless my me, I store my firearms correctly and I
wife and kids returned while I was out. got home in the nick of time or else I About the author: Mike Burchman is a
We went in to the house to see if would have had some more home Massachusetts State Certified Firearms
anyone was there and true to my word, repairs to do at my expense, and I Instructor and NRA Certified Instructor
no one was. He asked if I had a didn’t even cause the problem! and Range Safety Officer. If you’re a
computer, because sometimes the Massachusetts Resident and would like
computer would malfunction or be Just think, this event added a whole more information on firearms safety
hacked and initiate a 911 call. I said I new spin on fire, medical or fire courses or instructions on how to use a
had a computer, but it was off. He emergencies and when someone might firearm, please contact Mike Burchman
asked me to check and confirm that enter a firearms owner’s home, whether at 508-361-4554 or visit
they were. I went to where the you’re home or not! All the more reason www.homegunsafety.com.
computer was and returned to validate for firearm’s owners to store their
that the computer was in fact off. I

Copyright 2006 www.homegunsafety.com. No part of this information may be reproduced without the express written permission of Mike
Burchman, Mass State Certified Firearms Instructor.

Page 3 of 3