Gun safe

A gun safe is a secure and protective storage container for one or more firearms and/or handguns. They come in many different sizes and styles and may include features such as fire and water resistance, voice-activated lock, and fingerprint identification.

An example (open and closed) of a typical gun safe.

There are a number of reasons to store firearms in an safe, including:

• Prevention from unwanted access (leading to death or serious injury)
• Protection from theft
• Protection from damage (particularly fire & water)

Use in the United States

Although not yet definitively ruled upon by the United States Supreme Court, most state courts currently hold that the language of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution ("the right of the people to keep and bear Arms"), applies to individuals, and not necessarily in the context of a militia only. Accordingly, citizens who do own firearms should accept the serious responsibilities associated with them.

Some major gun safe manufacturers include:

• American Security Products (AMSEC)
  • SentrySafe

Potential risk

Although rare, large gun safes may pose a hazardous risk to small children who could accidentally lock themselves inside of one. Rescuers free boy in 15 minutes. To minimize this risk, stores should not leave large safes unlocked & unattended and home owners should always lock them after use.

See also

• Safe
• Firearm case law in the United States
• Gun safety

External links

• Safe Storage Gun Laws: Accidental Deaths, Suicides, and Crime
• Schumer Pushes Tax Credit for Gun Safes
• The gun safe maze, Guns Magazine, January 2003, by Holt Bodinson