Safe Storage Solutions For Your Survival Weapon

Today’s Preppers have thought hard and spent a lot of money on all that is needed  to get through  a time of major crisis.

In today’s rough and crime filled world a firearm is also necessity of life. Those who do not believe  this can not comprehend what is really going on in the world around them. They just feel that being a victim could never happen to them.

Firearms are purchased to defend the stockpile and stop those who would murder, rape, torture your family, or do anything else that their sick little minds can think of.

If you do not secure your loaded firearms, but only hide them out of plain sight, this is a recipe for  disaster. In particular, your own child or some other person could find your gun and shoot you long before you need the gun for survival or stopping a crime.

Then, you just become another statistically irresponsible gun owner, and if you live, your grief and other problems will never end. This is why you must have safe, secured places to store loaded firearms and  keep them at the ready.

Here are a few things to consider to make your home safer and more defensible in a time of major crisis. These suggestions will also buy enough time to enable you to access stored and loaded weapons without as much danger to yourself and others.

Strengthen All Exterior Windows and Doors

The outer doors and windows are your first line of defense against home invasions, burglaries, robberies and other criminal behavior.

These areas must be reinforced and strengthened to with stand multiple hard kicks or strikes from a heavy battering ram. Windows must be made to withstand repeated attacks.

Here are some ways to strengthen the windows:

• Have double pane extra thick glass windows installed.
• Have the windows frames reinforced and anchored deeply into the outer wall.
• Have good window locks installed on the windows.

And here are some ways to strengthen the outer doors:

• Install steel heavy duty outer doors with heavy duty hinges.
• Install high quality lock sets to include dead bolts.
• Have the door frame reinforced and anchored extra deep in the outer wall.
• Install heavy duty storm doors with a heavy duty latching area.
• Install removable extra heavy duty bracing bars to give extra support to the door.
• Install door peep holes instead of door chains so you can see who is outside.

Teach Your Children Firearms Safety

It is the responsibility of the parents to teach their children firearm safety. Start with them young and explain it to them in a way that they can understand. Do it often so that they remember, but never assume that they or their friends are going to act responsibly in the presence of a gun.

Here are a few topics to talk with them about.

• What to do when they see a gun laying a round with no one else around: Stop, do not touch it, leave the area, and tell an adult immediately.
• The steps of “stop” and “do not touch it” are the two most important parts to teach children. It is a natural impulse for a child to touch a gun. Your children must totally understand these two steps and what might happen if they do not.
• In today’s world where adult supervision is lax or nonexistent, your children must be told why, and understand the reason why they must “leave the area”.
• To “tell an adult immediately” emphasizes that children should tell an adult that they trust if their their parents or guardian is not there.
• A gun is not a toy, and can cause great bodily injury or death no matter who is holding it.
• Always assume that a gun loaded.
• Never point a gun at another person.
• Never handle a gun.
• Never throw, drop, or horse play with a gun.
• If you carry regularly, secure the gun immediately when you get home and tell your children why.
• Teach your children not to be influenced by peer pressure and do what you told them to do.

Children Can Find Almost Anything or Do Anything When They Put Their Mind To It

Parents should never hide a gun thinking a child will never find it. They will find it.

You may have put it way up on the top shelf of a closet. Children will do unbelievable feats of climbing to get at what they want.

The only thing that will keep a child safe from firearms is education and a well built lockable container.

Hiding Places to Avoid and Why

Most states impose laws that define the firearm owner’s duties to deny access to firearms by children. One of the most used criminal charges placed on adults by police after a child finds, discharges, or shoots someone with a firearm is Child Endangerment or Child Neglect. Civil liability is the next nightmare that comes your way.

Here a plaintiff sues you for your actions of not properly securing a firearm, all damages, and putting a child’s life in danger or worse.

Even if you are single or married without children do not use the following hiding places. Your family or other visiting friends may have children visiting with them, and just as badly, any criminal entering your home may gain access to these guns long before you do.

Aside from that, if you aren’t feeling well, get drunk, sleepwalk, or forget there is a gun hidden in these places, you can easily put your own life at risk.

• In empty cereal boxes. Children would think that there is food in the box and would find the gun.
• Duck taping a gun under a table. Most children play in and around tables and would notice it.
• Kept in hollowed out books left around. Children are very interested in books and magazines and would open them and find the gun.
• Hiding rifles and shotguns under the couch. A lot of children play on the floor and would find them.
• Hiding a gun in a hollowed out space behind a picture. Children notice everything. Seeing a new framed picture or one that is hanging differently may interest a child to investigate why and find the gun.
• Hiding a gun inside a large vase. Children pick up and play with different types of pottery and will find the gun.
• In a closet hanging over the door. Children like to hide and play in closets. The gun will be noticed and the child will climb up to investigate. The child has found the gun.
• In a car, hiding a holstered gun inside the front passengers seat closed by Velcro. Children sitting in the back of the vehicle can see the change in the appearance of the front seat and will investigate and find the gun, not to mention you will spend a fortune on refurbishing if your vehicle is leased. Also if you do not have a concealed carry permit you might be charged for a hidden gun within the driver’s reach.
• Hiding a gun under a pile of towels in the bathroom. Children like to play in closets and will either feel the gun or see it.
• In a brown paper bag next to the refrigerator. Children are curious and love to play with paper bags almost as much as cats do!
• Hiding a small compact gun inside of a small CD wallet in your car or home. Children are curious and they will open the CD wallet when you are not looking and find the gun.
• Hiding a gun behind the heat pump or air return filter. Children are very curious and like to explore what is behind air vents or air grills and they will find the gun. Another thing to think about is what would happen if the gun became dislodged and fell into the air return system.
• Hiding a gun between the mattress and the box spring. A child playing on the bed could feel a hard lump and reach under the mattress and pull out the gun. Worse yet, if they decide to use the bed as a trampoline, they might cause the gun to fire.
• Hiding a gun on top of a book case. Most children love to climb and sooner or later they will find the gun.
• Hiding a gun behind a door.This is a no brainer, children will find the gun the next time they are in that room with the door closed.
• Hiding a gun under a pillow. Children will feel the lump and move the pillow aside and find the gun.
• Hiding a gun in the bedside table drawer. Easy for a child to find there. Just open the drawer and there it is.
• Hiding a gun in the toilet water tank. Hope it is in a water proof container or you will have water damage and corrosion to your gun and ammo. Also a child’s curiosity will cause them to lift the lid and see what is in there and find the gun.
• Wearing a gun 24/7. This is not practical at home. Even a small light handgun gets heavy by the end of the day, and people have other interests that make having a gun on at all times decidedly impossible. If you take off the gun you have created another gun safety problem. Wearing a concealed weapon outside without a permit can cause you a legal problem.

Safe Storage Places For Firearms

In the days following a major crisis the high crime rate and chance of home invasion also creates a real need for safe storage places for firearms and valuables.

Everyone’s needs will be different. Here are a few ideas to consider:

1. Use a standard manual combination lock for a gun safe.

When choosing a safe be sure that it does not have a electronic push pad system only. These safes need batteries to operate the lock, no power you can not open the lock.

These heavy well built safes are designed to withstand fairly long periods of time when being hammered on, trying to cut open with torches, or trying to manually rip them open.

Also they offer a decent protection time against fire or heat. These safes should be kept out of sight in safe rooms. Bolting these safes down on to the floor is a required precaution. A good floor safe can cost between $499.99 to $1299.99.

2. The handgun quick access safe.

These are small lockable metal safes that are designed to be bolted under desks, tables, inside cabinets, or closets. They use either a key or a palm finger push pad to unlock. The average price of these safes is between $90.00 to $199.99.

3. Rifle or shotgun quick access safe. These lockable metal safes are designed to be bolted down in closets or behind large couches. They use either a key or a palm finger pad to unlock. The average price of these safes is between $100.00 to $300.00.

4. A 50 caliber ammo can that can be locked with a padlock. This lockable handgun container should be placed out of plain sight and secured to the floor behind light furniture, in cabinets, or in closets. The average price of the 50 caliber ammo can is about $25.00.

During the time of a major crisis there will be a need to have firearms to protect your family and your stockpile. Your best and first form of defense is to have reinforced exterior doors and windows.

This will stop or slow down those individuals that are trying to break in and give you time to retrieve your weapons and set into action the home defense plan.

Keeping loaded weapons in a secured location protects you and your family from disaster. Use a combination floor safe to store unloaded firearms and valuables.

Always use quick access lockable safes when hiding loaded weapons for quick accessing in times of extreme danger. If you do not have a quick access safe, use a 50 caliber ammo can that can be locked and secured to the floor.

This article has been written by Fred Tyrell for Survivopedia, pictures – Dance’s Sporting Goods.