Safe Spaces
When not in use, firearms need to be securely stored.
By Christopher Cogley
It’s no secret that the past couple of years have seen a massive increase in the number of new gun owners. After purchasing that new firearm and all the essential accessories to accompany it, the added cost of a gun safe might seem like an unnecessary expense to some first-time gun owners. The reality, though, is that safely storing firearms is one of the most important responsibilities of gun ownership, and it should never be overlooked or undervalued. Here are some factors to help you help your customer choose the safe that best meets their individual needs.
Size
As a general rule of thumb, the bigger, the better. Tell the customer it’s best to plan for the future. Spending a little more on a bigger gun safe now will save them from having to buy another one down the road when they’ve found their firearm selection has outgrown its safe space.
Security
The primary purpose of a gun safe is in the name itself—safety. It is the responsibility of all gun owners to make sure their firearms don’t end up in the hands of anyone who shouldn’t handle firearms, and that includes children, thieves, and anyone who is prohibited by law from having a gun. The most reliable way to do that is with a secure gun safe.
The biggest consideration when looking at the security of a gun safe comes down to two main factors: the thickness of the steel and the construction of the safe. When it comes to construction, look for a safe that has continuous welded construction instead of bolts or spot-welding, which are easier for trained gun thieves to cut through with torches or high-power saws.
As for locks, traditional combination locks are arguably the simplest choice. The downside, though, is they don’t provide quick access to firearms in an emergency. Electronic and biometric keypads provide quicker access.
Fireproof Rating
Aside from theft, the biggest threat to your firearms is fire. Unfortunately, the fireproof rating on gun safes can be a little confusing to almost anyone who isn’t an industry expert. This is largely because there isn’t an industry “standard” fireproof rating.
As a general rule, the fireproof rating states how long a safe can be exposed to a fire of a particular temperature and maintain a temperature inside the safe of no more than 350 degrees F. To put this in context, the average house fire creates temperatures between 800 and 1,200 degrees F. So, if a gun safe has a fireproof rating of 1,000 degrees for one hour, that means it’s rated to keep the interior temperature of that safe below 350 degrees F. for one hour, as long as the temperature of the fire does not exceed 1,000 degrees F.
Although the cost of purchasing a gun safe that meets a customer’s current, and future, needs might seem pretty steep, it’s important to remind them the purchase really is an investment in safety and security. And that’s something you really can’t put a price on.
Be Safe, Not Sorry
Stephen Hall is the co-founder/CEO of Lock It Up Safes, an Oklahoma retailer that specializes in safes. SHOT Business asked him how he and his staff handle gun safe sales.
“When a first-time safe buyer comes into our store, we ask a few basic questions,” he says. The range of questions include safe size, location (house or garage), and intended use. “By that I mean their main concerns—fire, theft, or just keeping guns out of reach of children,” he says. The answers to these questions help Hall and his staff pinpoint particular models for the customer to consider.
Interestingly, Hall says, “We rarely ask what their budget is. Instead, we start off with a good, better, and best choice. Typically, most guests opt for a good or better safe, mainly due to budget considerations.”
As part of this process Hall and his staff tell their guests that most safes on the market are going to do the job. That said, some safes obviously do a better job than others.
“Entry-level safes are going to start at 14-gauge steel,” he says. “This is great for budget seekers who want to lock up firearms from their kids while also providing some fire protection.”
“Good and Better safes will fall in the 12- to 11-gauge steel category. This is where the majority of safe buyers will go, as it won’t break their budget but still provides a quality product.”
Best safes feature 10-gauge or thicker steel. “This option is for those guests who want added security for guns and valuables such as jewelry, along with the higher fire rating.”
One big question is “Where should I put my safe?”
“Ease of installation should not be the foremost consideration when making this decision,” Hall says. “Putting a safe in the garage has both pros and cons. We see some retailers recommend the garage solely because they don’t have the right team on board to install safes in other locations, and wheeling one into the garage is the easy way out.”
“Putting a safe in the garage is fine if that is the only place you an put it, but most want the safe in the home, where they can get to it quickly. Temperature and humidity are important considerations as well, and both are more easily controlled in a house rather than in the garage.”
One advantage to garage installation is the concrete floor provides a solid base for safe installation. Houses built on concrete slabs also offer a solid anchor on the first level. If the safe needs to go to an upper floor, the weight of the safe and its contents need to be factored in.
“As for exact location, we prefer to sit the safe against an outside wall,” Hall says. “In case of fire, the safe will typically last longer as there is not a lot that can burn on one side of the safe, thus keeping it cooler.”
Finally, delivery options also need to be discussed.
“We have some guests who want to pick up their safe themselves,” Hall says. “We typically say if the safe’s weight is under 500 pounds, this can be done, but for safes with a weight of more than 500 pounds, we recommend we deliver the safe. We also have the right installation tools, the people who know how to use them properly, and the knowledge to do the job without creating collateral damage to the safe or the home.”
Traditional combination locks are arguably the simplest choice, but electronic and biometric keypads provide quicker access.
Handguns for self defense can be stored in smaller, more readily accessible safes.
