Long Gun Storage: Security + Ease of Access

[skers69]

LOKI. I did not see where the gun was identified as a shotgun. All I saw was long gun. When I think long gun I think center fire rifle. I know that shotguns are considered long guns...but that is not what I think when I hear lon gun.

Anyway. If the do have a center fire rifle for HD I worry about over penetration. If it is the only means they have for HD then so be it....better than nothing.

Bottom line....do something to keep that gun out of the hands of the child or any other children.

 

[quatin]

Sportsman's Warehouse has a FREE program where they give FREE gun locks at the gun counter. You just go and pick it up. It's a pretty secure lock so unless your kid knows how to pick keylocks or use a chainsaw, you can keep the gun by your bed as long as you hold onto the key.

 

[Bwana John]

a gun cabinet

+1, mounted to wall studs, hidden behind clothes in the closet.

Should be < $150.

I think EVERYBODY that dosent have a real safe should at least have a "Homack" style cabinet.

 

[Trebor]

Pax,

What did they decide? The info might help someone else in the future.

 

[K-Romulus]

Gunvault has a long gun lock-thing

here is one vendor:

http://www.bobwards.com/bobwards/servlet/item/info/801552-03

It uses an electronic keypad like the regular pistol box Gunvaults, but is designed to encase the trigger and action of a Remington 870/Mossberg 500 shotgun.

Edited to add:
That vendor wants $184 . . .

I have a chamber-lock for those types of shotguns (Mossberg/Remington) that I don't need.

It clamps around one side of the receiver and sticks down into the chamber to lock the bolt open and prevent it from moving forward. The lock uses the cylindrical-type keys like the Master bike locks, and is made of heavy steel. When open, the lock pops right off.

If they like, I can send it to them for free . . . I can't use it and would rather see it put to use.

 

[Ryder]

Thirty years back I propped the shotgun up in a corner or slipped it between the matresses and we as parents assumed the responsibility of monitoring our children's safety.

That sounds dangerous in a world where kids raise themselves and safety education is predetermined to not be an option.

Given those parameters I'd suggest they not own a gun. Lots of people don't.

 

[Base_Trip]

Responsibility?

I realize that in this particular case Autism is a factor. Growing up, there was ALWAYS a loaded gun in the house, my sister and I understood this. It was simple, DO NOT PLAY WITH GUNS. I would highly recommend that anyone who stores loaded guns take their children to the range. Place a watermelon on a block and shoot it with a 12 ga slug. While locks are a responsible and appropriate (in many situations) step in proper firearm safety, they are useless without proper instruction and appreciation for the damage they can inflict. I can remember when I was a child, there was never a lock that I couldn't find a key for.

 

[pax]

Ryder ~ You obviously have had no experience with autistic children. Fortunate man.

Base_Trip ~ I agree.

Correia ~ That solution could work really well for tall people.

Trebor ~ Don't know yet. Probably going to go with Euclidean's (post #2) idea.

pax

 

[Base_Trip]

Pax, thanks for the vote of confidence, I'm new. One of my most memorable childhood moments (and quite possibly the beginning of an expensive hobby) was the first time I was allowed to shoot a gun (Mom's shotgun). One note here is that Dad owns many firearms with thorn scrapes on the stock and places where the blueing has worn thin, but Mom owns 1 gun, a Beretta Silverhawk that although much older than myself shows little evidence of ever being shot. Somehow, I managed to fire both barrels. I landed square on my butt, but the gun was caught by one of my uncles. I learned three lessons from that experience. One was written down by Newton and has been observed by everyone here, another was "Holy crap, that thing is more powerfull than it looks!", and the last was that although I will heal, equipment doesn't.

Although this may seem off-topic, my point is that no one ever really has respect for firearms until they've seen the damage and felt the recoil. Also, children are impressionable and sometimes its far better to make positive and usefull impressions on important subjects than to let your kids find out in an uncontrolled environment.

 

[Euclidean]

I thought about this earlier today actually. One thing I've done in the past is put padlocks on a case and cable lock the case to a shelf in the closet (wire shelf) but that's not really a solution here.

A rack like I suggested but with another, faster method of opening it would be ideal, the problem there is I sincerely doubt these people have the means to afford any better than a key operated unit.

I think that's just what it's going to have to be unfortunately. Combination locks and electronic locks cost money.

I would suggest they tape one of the keys to the bottom of, I don't know, a shelf or put it under a box on the top shelf or something. I'd hold it in place with a bit of duct tape and leave that key there forever for an emergency retrieval. The thing is, that mount is not going to stop any theif beyond the grab and go kind anyway, and even if an intruder somehow got to it first, he wouldn't know the hiding place.

The autistic child makes me think these people really need to emphasize cutting off immediate access because that's really all they can accomplish with a minimal budget.

The key locked rack is about as good as I think you can do. At any rate, everyone deserves to protect their property including their lives, even if they are going through hard times.

Other posters have the right idea so I'm just going to throw this out there: There is no reason these folks have to pay for this if they really can't afford it, I don't think a collection is out of the question. Wouldn't cost us more than 5-10 each, and it's money well spent.

 

[pax]

I would suggest they tape one of the keys to the bottom of, I don't know, a shelf or put it under a box on the top shelf or something. I'd hold it in place with a bit of duct tape and leave that key there forever for an emergency retrieval. The thing is, that mount is not going to stop any theif beyond the grab and go kind anyway, and even if an intruder somehow got to it first, he wouldn't know the hiding place.

Good advice. I'll pass that along.

There is no reason these folks have to pay for this if they really can't afford it, I don't think a collection is out of the question. Wouldn't cost us more than 5-10 each, and it's money well spent.

No. It's covered. Trust me on this one.

pax