A Guide to Safe Gun Storage For Home Defense

September 01, 2022 6 min read

In 2019, nearly 7 million property crimes resulted in almost $16 billion lost. That is 20,000 crimes a day in the U.S., and 30% of burglaries occur during the day when someone is at home.

One way to protect yourself during these defense scenarios is to have defensive firearms in accessible locations. However, just because they’re easily accessible doesn’t mean you should forgo safe storage. Keeping your family safe is always the priority, especially if you have children in your home.

Spartan Blog: Storing Guns and Firearms: Everything You Need to Know 

Why You Need a Home Defense Plan

Having a home defense plan is crucial since even a break-in can lead to more violent crime. The U.S. Department of Justice reported that 38% of assaults and 60% of rapes happen during home invasions.

Having a plan to follow and quick access to a defense weapon in home defense situations can reduce your chances of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Crime Rates Are Rising

The number of homicides and assaults has risen in recent years. Criminologists estimated that guns are used for self-defense around 2.5 million times each year. If you find yourself in a dangerous situation, having a weapon can make a difference in the outcome.

It's Not Enough to Know Where the Guns Are

There is more to gun safety than knowing the location of your guns. It’s estimated that 4.6 million children live in homes with loaded, unlocked guns. Firearms are a valuable part of home defense, but they require proper storage to keep children safe.

 

Gun Storage Options for Safety and Accessibility

As a gun owner, you must prioritize the everyday safety of the people in your home over having a defense firearm accessible in case of a break-in. Storing guns safely and out of sight is the best way to keep your family safe, and you don’t have to sacrifice accessibility to achieve it.

Spartan Blog: How to Store a Gun for Quick Access

Trigger Locks

Trigger locks are a mechanism that fits over the trigger guard on your gun. They prevent access to the trigger, which keeps the gun from being fired. A key or combination is required to remove the lock and expose the trigger guard.

Biometric Gun Safes

Biometric gun safe

A biometric home defense safe gives you quick access to your defensive firearms while keeping them out of reach of children. You simply touch your fingers to the safe’s sensor to open it.

Use caution when purchasing a biometric safe. Many cheaper models are known to be unreliable.

Gun Mounts

Rifles on Spartan mounts

Gun mounts are an option for unloaded firearms, though you shouldn’t keep your loaded defense weapon mounted within sight. However, you can use shotgun mounts or rifle mounts within a secure gun room to keep your weapons accessible only to you.

 

Where to Keep a Gun for Home Defense

Being prepared for a home invasion means storing guns in various places throughout your home, so no matter where you are when a break-in occurs, you have access to a defense firearm.

Master Bedroom

Since you spend nearly one-third of each day in the bedroom, it is wise to have some means of defense close at hand. Keep one or two weapons in a quick-access safe under your bed.

The Kitchen Pantry

The kitchen is a room where household members tend to spend time and thieves don’t. Many homes also have an exit in or near the kitchen, making it easy to arm yourself and escape quickly.

Near Entrances and Exits

Closets near outer doors, particularly the front door, are another location for gun storage at home. If someone tries to get through that door without permission, you have fast access to a means of defense.

 

How to Store a Home Defense Firearm

Deciding on proper storage of your defense firearms requires thinking through scenarios and developing a plan for home defense.

Step 1: Assess Your Property

When considering how to store guns for home defense, take into account your situation. Where do you spend a lot of your time? Are there children in your home or other people who shouldn’t have access to guns? Are there locations in your home that provide ideal safe storage?

Step 2: Strategize for Different Scenarios

Think about scenarios that could happen in which you would need a weapon. What if someone breaks in through the back door while you’re watching TV or eating dinner? How about if you arrive home and discover a thief trying to break into your safe?

Step 3: Decide Where to Keep Your Firearms

Strategize how to store a home defense handgun to respond to those situations you just thought through. Hidden storage can be as basic as having a handgun in a desk drawer, but you must be a responsible gun owner and consider everyone in your household. More often, you will need to secure each gun in some way.

Remember, carrying your gun holstered on your person is the surest way to have a secured weapon with fast access to keep your family safe no matter where you are in your home.

Step 4: Store Your Weapons Safely and Securely

Gun safety is always the most crucial consideration. If there are children in your home, you must take measures to keep guns out of their hands. 

Sometimes, storing a gun in the open but hidden from sight is a workable option. In this situation, consider whether an unattended child could accidentally stumble across it.

If you live alone or have only trusted adults in your home, you have more options for home defense gun storage. Your situation and lifestyle are the primary factors in choosing a method to keep your firearms both secure and available when you need them.

Spartan Blog: Hidden Gun Storage Ideas

Step 5: Keep Your Household Informed

Inform every adult in your home about where the guns are stored. And while you should prevent children from accessing firearms, they should also learn basic gun safety and respect them. 

This instruction doesn’t include telling children the location of the guns, but if they ever stumble across one in their natural curiosity, the more they know about proper handling, the safer they will be.

 

Home Defense Gun Storage FAQ

Where can I store firearms without a safe?

You can store a firearm anywhere that you can secure it. It may be in a lockbox under your bed, on a mount in a hidden location, or anywhere else that works for your household.

Please add an internal link to this blog post once it's published (best way to store guns without a safe)

Should I leave my home defense gun loaded? 

Yes, if you truly want to be prepared. While having a gun loaded increases risk, in many home defense situations, you would not have time to load a gun.

How do I store ammunition for home defense?

The ammunition for a home defense firearm will likely be kept loaded in the gun, and in an actual defense situation, you are unlikely to have time to reload. However, if you do want to keep extra ammunition for defense, make sure it is in an accessible location near the gun. Ammunition should also be kept in a dark, dry, and cool place.

Spartan Blog: DIY Gun Magazine Storage Ideas

What are the laws about gun storage for home defense?

The laws vary by state. There is no federal law regarding gun storage. Some states mandate that owners secure firearms. Others require it only in certain situations. Research the laws in your state to ensure you are in compliance.

Where should I keep my gun while I'm sleeping?

The most accessible place to keep a gun while you’re sleeping is under the bed or on a bedside table. In either case, do whatever is needed to make sure it is secure from children or anyone else who should not have access.

 

How Do You Safely Store Home Defense Guns?

Safety is the main aspect to consider when storing weapons. Consider the members of your household as well as situations in which you may need to protect yourself or your family.

Choose the storage option that is the safest for all involved. Use a trigger lock. Buy a gun safe. Purchase a gun mount. Hide guns out of sight. The best option is the one that works for you.

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