So, you’ve decided you want to obtain a firearm. If you have done so in the past, you know the ramifications of this decision and can probably skip down a couple of paragraphs to concentrate on security tips. If not, you might want some information on the repercussions of your decision, some good, and some bad.

The first question is: Why are you getting the weapon in the first place? Now, this isn’t a 2^nd Amendment argument, and the answer shouldn’t be “I’m ‘Mercan and it’s my right!”, because that isn’t my meaning at all. The question is probably better phrased as: what is the intended use of the firearm, and is important in determining how to secure the firearm safely.

If you are going into sport shooting, i.e. skeet, trap, hunting, target shooting, competition, etc. then we treat the security measures for the firearm and ammunition very differently than we would if you are buying a weapon for home or personal defense. The worst thing you can do is go into the purchase without knowing the possible security ramifications of having a firearm around the house, thus creating new problems.

Please note, this is not a commentary on what to buy. You can get that in one of a thousand other blogs… with a thousand different opinions of the “best” gun for whatever application. My only advice here is do your research. This is also not a dissertation on weapon safety or the safe handling of firearms. That is better taught in a hands-on environment. Here we are simply going to talk about the decision itself, security for the firearm, and how it might fit into your overall security plan.

Financial effects:

The first thing you need to realize is you are not just purchasing the firearm itself. You will need sights, ammunition, cases, cleaning kits, holsters, and devices to secure the gun. Most firearms are required to be sold with a trigger lock. If it didn’t come with one, trigger locks can usually be obtained for free from local law enforcement offices. Remember that the trigger lock only stops someone from loading the gun or pulling the trigger, but this is no defense from someone walking off with the thing. You’ll probably want some kind of safe. We’ll discuss physical security in a bit.

Another financial factor is lessons and range time. If you have never worked with a firearm (and even if you have) take some lessons. They are well worth the time. One of the worst things you can do to yourself and your family is own a weapon you don’t know how to use. This is just a catastrophe waiting to happen. Shooting is a perishable skill, so after you take the lessons practice. All of this costs money, quite a bit in the long run, but good shooting skills come with time and practice, and lots of ammunition put into targets.

The point is, if you are looking at a firearm as part of your security plan, it will be an expensive part. If it isn’t part of your security plan, you will still see an increase in your security expenditures.

Standard firearm security:

So let’s say the purpose of your firearm is recreational shooting or hunting. Now that you have it you have to secure the weapon against unauthorized access. This means keeping it out of the hands of not just criminal intruders, but also from family members, such as children, to whom the weapon may pose a danger. In this case, with sporting arms, this isn’t difficult. Get yourself a good gun safe that fits the particular firearm, and have it properly mounted into the position where you will be storing the firearm. Most safes come with holes for bolts or other mounting hardware to insure someone can’t just pick up the safe and move it. Don’t just rely on a trigger lock or locking gun safe. Get something you can bolt down. Also don’t rely on the mounting hardware which comes with the safe (I’ve dealt with some which was obviously insufficient for the task). If it seems inadequate for the job, replace it with something that will work better. You want something that will discourage a burglar and take time and effort to remove. Drywall is easy to break and drywall anchors pull right out. Lag bolts into floor and wall studs or beams are much harder to break.

Safes can be fairly expensive, so if you are thinking of obtaining more firearms in the future, get one big enough to hold possible future purchases. Luckily most gun safes (with the exception of those made specifically for pistols) hold at least a couple rifles or shotguns.

In the case of sporting arms. Store them unloaded with the ammunition in a locking box separate from the firearm itself. This is a further obstacle to the possibility of an accidental discharge if an unauthorized person gets ahold of the weapon. Store ammunition in a dry place out of the magazine. Over time the magazine spring can lose tension if ammunition is stored in it for long periods leading to a weapon failing to function.

I prefer to keep the safe, ammunition, and any shooting accessories out of the view of visitors, contractors, and strangers. Firearms are high-value items and are always a target for theft. The fewer who know about them, the less of a target you will be. This falls into my general principal of limiting knowledge of your belongings to those who actually need to know.

Firearms for home and self-defense:

The first thing you need to do, before purchasing a weapon designated for home or personal defense, is to sit down and do a little soul searching. Think long and hard about if, given a situation where deadly force is necessary, you would actually be willing to take a life. If the answer is “no,” then don’t buy the gun. Pulling a gun and pointing it without the intent to use it will get you into serious trouble. Once your bluff is called the gun will be taken from you and probably used on you and your family. If not, it is now in the hands of a criminal who will use it on someone else or sell it to a third person who will use it. If you have to pull it, you cannot allow it to be taken. If you can’t use it, it’s better to not have it in the first place.

A weapon for home or self-defense adds new challenges into the security situation. They have to be stored in a manner that fulfills the above requirements of safety and keeping it out of the hands of unauthorized or unwanted persons, but also must be stored in a “ready” condition. This is to say with immediately accessible ammunition and quickly accessible to the user. Weapon maintenance will increase and magazine springs or magazines will have to be checked and replaced more often. Weapon awareness or weapon “discipline” must be constantly practiced.

Luckily there are many smaller gun safes and lockboxes on the market specifically made for home defense weapons. Again, I recommend they be mounted out of sight and make sure they are bolted down. Don’t advertise where they are. Small gun safes come with four primary types of locking mechanisms: key, combination, electronic buttons, and biometric. Of these I prefer the electronic buttons. With a key lock you will need the key close by, which can be found by children or unwanted intruders. A combination lock will be difficult to work in the dark, and takes time and light to access the gun. Biometric locks are quick and work in the dark, but are more expensive and past reviews of home defense situations have shown some altercations take place prior to the defender getting to the weapon, with the defender injured in some way. Blood on the hands and fingers could easily obscure your fingerprints and deny access to your weapon when you need it most. The electronic push button locks, in my experience, worked the best, and are much less expensive than the biometric locks for the same amount of security.

Remember to check the batteries in the safes on a regular basis. I’ve had some last for years, and some that only last about six months. Some have an audible indicator of when the battery gets low, but typically the only time you know they need a new battery is when they don’t have the energy to unlock.

Whatever you do, don’t rely on concealment alone to protect the firearm. Family members will probably know where it is, and most thieves who have been about their business for a substantial time know all the typical (and a-typical) places your valuables may be found. You might think your hiding place is unique and imaginative, but they have seen it all before. Almost every residential burglary has had the mattresses on the bed flipped. The victims are confused as to why this is. I simply say the thief was looking for the gun (whether or not there was one hidden there is immaterial). Why are the sugar and flower bins smashed on the floor? Because somebody started telling people to hide their extra keys there. The refrigerator is open and food is everywhere because some news station has recommended, as a security tip, you hide valuables in there (burglars pay attention to those tips too). Drawers will be pulled all the way out and dumped to check behind them, flat surfaces and shelves emptied, and book cases and furniture flipped. The intruder will know the hiding places. Make it hard to get the firearm even after they find the hiding place. The key here, as with everything else, is make it difficult and time consuming.

Your car can be equipped with a lockbox too. Many of the small boxes can be mounted in the automobile with bolts or cables, and here combination or key locks work just as well and are much less expensive. Make sure you check the appropriate laws regarding storage inside the vehicle, and keep it out of sight to avoid temptation of any would-be thieves. Why might you need a lockbox inside your car? Many who possess a concealed carry license will come across locations which do not allow weapons and have to leave them in their vehicles. You still have to maintain security over the weapon even if you are forced to leave it behind. It’s also a great place for your iPod or GPS while you’re gone.

Training with a weapon intended for home or self-defense is a must. Not only do you need to train to be able to use the firearm quickly and effectively, and under adverse conditions (such as in the dark with a flashlight… or not) but you must get some legal training as to when the use of deadly force is both legal and appropriate. Again, don’t rely on hearsay, seek out a professional instructor and take the time to get trained.

I recommend, if you obtain a weapon for self-defense, you take the steps to obtain a concealed carry license, even if you don’t intend to carry a weapon. Don’t buy into the hype that if you have a license you have a moral obligation to carry at all times to protect the public. You are under no obligation to carry at any time or ever if that is your desire, but the license does a couple things for you. The first (if an actual course is required in your state) is it gives you the training discussed above regarding legality and appropriateness. The second thing it does is level the legal terrain for carrying a firearm. Many jurisdictions within a state (city, county, highway, parks, etc.) will have different laws regarding the legal transportation of a weapon and ammunition. One might have no problem with a gun near ammunition within the cab of the vehicle, another might require the firearm be locked in the trunk with ammunition separated from the firearm or magazine. It is very easy to be perfectly legal driving down the road, cross a county or city line, and suddenly be committing a major felony. With a concealed carry license, most of this problem goes away and you are in a much more stable legal situation. You still have to be careful on federal land, and know those venues where you cannot take a firearm at all, but the possibility of getting arrested for violating a local ordinance goes way down. Many Concealed carry licenses have what is called reciprocity with other states, so you level the legal playing field when traveling as well.

The upshot here is know what you are getting into if you decide to obtain a firearm. Know what the purpose of the gun is before you start, and do your research. Pre-plan how to secure the weapon before you actually obtain it, because security will be an obligation as soon as it leaves the store. Get proper training in its use, and continue training to build skills. Lastly, expect the necessary financial outlay for accessories, ammunition, training, and security.

Owning a firearm, for those who have not owned one before, is a life changing event. Hopefully this little article will give you some insight into what you can expect. If at this point you re-think your plans, no problem. If you decide to continue with your purchase, all I can say is, “See you at the range.”