Wednesday, August 30, 2017



The Tactical Edge – August

Firearm Security At Home And Away

Guess what folks? In case you haven’t noticed, Labor Day is coming up in about a week. That means summer is almost over and we can begin to get possession of our mountains and national parks again. Don’t get me wrong, tourists are awesome. They bring a lot of money to our state, but they also bring long lines of traffic and large crowds to popular areas. After Labor Day everything seems to quiet down quickly and the locals get their turn to swarm the mountains. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining at all. I love the mountains in late fall and early winter. You’ll see more wild game than the tourists ever see during the summertime. It’s really common to see herds of elk inside the town of Estes Park and other small towns in the area. In fact, elk are considered a natural hazard on most of the mountain golf courses. You don’t get a do over if one of them gets in your way.

Anyway, this month we have to talk about firearm security in the home and away from the home. One of our instructors wanted me to call it “Securing your firearm at home and abroad” but that sounded kind of confusing. I asked several people around here what the term “abroad” means. I got funny answers. Several of them said that’s anywhere east of the Mississippi, like Chicago or New York. Others told me that’s where the flatlanders come from. To make things simple and easy let’s just go with in your home and outside of your home.

Firearm security in your home is of paramount importance, especially if you have children in the home. Firearm regulations in Colorado do not include written specifications for the lawful safe storage of private guns and ammunition. Other states have varying regulations dealing with safe storage of firearms that range from fairly weak to extremely intense (California, New York). Since this blog deals mainly with people in Colorado, I’m going to talk about what we should do here. If you’re not from here, anything I relate to you should be reviewed in conjunction with your local laws. Colorado has very weak laws regarding firearms storage and safety, but that will not protect you from civil actions if your gun is lost, stolen, found by a child, or used in a crime. Anybody can sue anybody about anything and it will still cost you money to defend yourself even if you’re not guilty. That said, it behooves us to protect our firearms and our children when storing guns in the home.

Unsafely stored firearms cause major public health and safety problems in the United States. Researchers estimate that more than half a million firearms are lost or stolen from private residences each year. These unsecured guns are a major source of black market weapons and are a significant threat to public safety. Safe firearm storage laws help prevent burglars and other dangerous people from gaining unauthorized access to firearms.  Since Colorado does not mandate specific regulations or methods to provide secure storage, we must take it upon ourselves to come up with the methods that suit our individual circumstances the best.

Safe storage of a firearm in Colorado is every gun owner’s responsibility, regardless of federal, state, or local regulations. Even in the absence of laws, common sense should tell the law abiding citizen an unsecured gun is a dangerous proposition, especially if it should fall into the wrong hands. In states that don’t have specific laws related to securing the safety of a firearm, there are almost always laws on the books for some sort of criminal negligence that can be levied against the gun owner. For gun owners who do not take responsible measures for securing their weapons, there is the possibility of a civil suit that can be brought against them in the event someone is seriously injured or killed while using their firearm. It doesn’t matter if your children are all grown, if it’s just you and your spouse in the home, or if you are taking a trip to the store; your responsibility for ensuring your firearm is safely secured when left unattended is a duty you have to yourself, the safety of others, and the community. One of our most important decisions must be child access prevention. 

# 1 Safety Rule:  “If it’s not on your person, it’s locked in a safe!”

The question of safe firearm storage can be a confusing topic. If the firearm is stored in a safe that is difficult to retrieve during an emergency, it could actually hinder you in carrying out your personal protection strategy. On the other hand, if the safe can be easily accessed or is portable, a thief or criminal may be able to gain access or remove your safe from your home; allowing them to break into it at a more convenient time. The balance between the two scenarios is up to the gun owner to determine and no two gun owners will have the same opinion.
If you were raised in the 1950s, ’60s, or ’70s, it’s a good bet your childhood was quite different from those of kids today. We drove without car seats or even seat belts, bikes were ridden without helmets, and lead paint was used to brighten our lives. And, if you grew up in a hunting and shooting family like we did, having guns around was just as natural as having kitchen knives, cleaning chemicals, and power tools in the home.
Much as with other potentially dangerous objects found in our household, my siblings and I were raised to follow a strict “Don’t Touch” policy. Don’t touch the hot stove, don’t touch the paint thinner and don’t touch the guns. The “Don’t Touch” policy that worked for us, may not work for you and your family today.

The right safe storage solution for everyone is different. Whichever method you choose, it must provide an adequate level of protection to prevent unauthorized persons from accessing the firearms. The determination of what is “adequate protection” is a matter of judgment on the part of the individual gun owner.

The variety of options for safe and secure storage seem limitless, but tend to fall under six different categories.

Trigger Locks - are a simple and affordable option for preventing a gun from being loaded or fired by an unauthorized user. Whether they are provided by the manufacturer or the dealer, most new guns are now sold with a trigger lock right in the box. These locks take different forms. A trigger shoe clamps down around the trigger or trigger housing to prevent the trigger from being manipulated. Because these devices come into direct contact with the trigger, they should never be installed on loaded guns. Also, older children are unusually clever at defeating them given enough time.

Cable locks block the action of a firearm, preventing the action of rifles and shotguns from being closed. When used with a semi-automatic pistol, they will also prevent a magazine from being loaded into the grip. For revolvers, the cable is looped through the barrel to prevent the cylinder from closing.

If a dedicated gun lock is not available, an ordinary padlock can be used with many guns. Simply slip the hasp of the lock between the back side of the trigger and the trigger guard to prevent the trigger from cycling. Trigger locks are inexpensive (less than $20), or even free through some community programs, and can successfully prevent an unintentional discharge when installed properly. However, they do not offer any physical protection for the firearm or a measurable level of theft deterrence.

Gun Cases - are readily available at local sporting goods stores in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and material options to fit every kind of commercially available firearm. Case options range from padded fabric sleeves to rugged foam-lined plastic containers, with prices from $10 to $150. The primary role of this kind of affordable carry case is to protect one or more firearms from physical damage.

Most soft and hard-side cases can be “legally” locked for firearm transportation to and from shooting events. A padlock through a soft case’s zipper pull or a hard case’s carry handle can do the trick (check your local regulations). Affordable, portable, and easy to store, locked gun cases represent a common and convenient safe gun storage method, and a big step up from tossing a bare gun into a drawer or closet. A locked carry case will certainly keep small children from handling a firearm, just as a trigger lock will.

However, their usefulness as safe storage devices is limited by the materials from which they are made. The soft fabrics and plastics used in these cases can be quickly defeated by ordinary edged tools. Because gun cases are designed to be light to carry and handle, they can be carted around just as easily by a thief as their lawful owner. Unless they are secured within some other lockable structure, gun cases may be spirited away, along with their contents, to be opened and pilfered at another location.

Strong Boxes and Security Cases - represent an effort by manufacturers to provide gun owners with the anti-theft and gun-finish protection features of a locking gun cabinet while maintaining the portability of handgun and long-gun carry cases. Pricing for these units varies greatly, anywhere from less than $50 to more than $300, based on the level of technology incorporated into the system. Some of the best storage options for those who want quick-access to defensive firearms are found in this category.

When it comes to strong boxes, it’s hard to beat the variety of configurations and lock options provided by GunVault. The MV500-STD Micro Vault is a portable model that’s slim and light enough to carry in a briefcase or to be tucked into a small drawer. The No-Eyes electronic keypad allows the user to enter a customized code by touch so that the box can be opened quickly in total darkness if necessary. I keep one of these in my car for storage when I am unable to take my gun into a prohibited area. The Speedvault SVB 500 mounts to vertical surfaces, such as the interior of a desk or closet. The programmable biometric fingerprint reader allows access to a single pistol or revolver in less than two seconds. Multiple-gun or increased-capacity units, such as the DrawerVault and Multi-Vault, are also available.

Secure Firearms Products provides some of the most rugged security cases available for travel. These metallic cases feature welded corners, heavy-duty plated steel latches, case hardened locking studs, and a high security Medeco Lock. Mounting hardware and cables allow the cases to attach directly to the trunk of a car, the wall of a closet, or the interior of a suitcase when flying with commercial airlines.

These work well but they have to be secured to a stationary object to prevent them being carried off. In my car they are attached to part of the frame. In your home you would have to find something strong enough or heavy enough to contain them. They work great in the home as a defensive vault where you have quick access in an emergency. They can be on your dresser and give you immediate access while preventing your children from gaining access.

Locking Steel Gun Cabinets - provide an increased level of storage capacity and internal configuration options, when compared to security cases and strong boxes, but they differ from gun safes in several respects. The thinner gauge of steel, a simple locking mechanism, and the absence of fire-resistant insulation keeps these units in the $150 to $450 price range and reduces their weight. Because these cabinets are light enough to be moved safely up and down stairs by just one or two people, they can be employed in locations such as apartment buildings or second-floor rooms, where a gun safe would be too large or heavy to install.

An excellent example of this category is the Model GCB-18-C convertible security cabinet from Stack-On. This California DOJ-approved cabinet can hold up to 18 54-inch long guns, or nine long guns and four shelves of storage, or it can be converted to all storage shelves, depending on your needs. The three-point security system features a double-bitted, key-coded lock for greater security. Fastening hardware, for attaching the cabinet to the floor or wall, and foam padding for the shelves and floor of the cabinet are included. If additional storage space is needed, a Model GCB-900 pistol and ammunition cabinet can be mounted on top of the GCB-18-C convertible.

Gun Safes - represent the most secure gun storage option available to the average gun owner. A basic, no-frills safe is superior to any other storage option discussed so far in preventing unauthorized access to firearms. The dedicated racks and lined interiors will help to protect the finish of the guns and, most importantly, safes are an effective theft deterrent. A gun safe’s weight, the heavy-gauge steel of the outer box, the complex locking mechanism, and the option to bolt the safe directly to a concrete slab, all work together to frustrate the efforts of burglars. Safes not only fulfill the three-fold mission of safe gun storage, they can also provide additional protection against flooding, fires and other disasters. Quality safes are available from American manufacturers, including Cannon, Fort Knox and Liberty Safe.

The purchase of a gun safe represents a significant financial commitment. Just like other high-end consumer products, safes are available with a wide variety of features, all of which affect the bottom line cost of the unit. Prices range from $500 to more than $3,000. 

Now we get into away from the home firearm security. When you’re away from home, the absolute best way to secure your firearm is on your hip in your immediate control. If that’s not always possible then several of the options above will work equally well in your vehicle, office, or hotel room. I highly recommend against storing your firearm in either your luggage or the so-called safe that most motels and hotels provide for in your room. Neither of those options is secure. The trunk of your car is fairly secure and if you add one of the above strong boxes or security cases which are either mounted to your vehicle or secured by a cable in your vehicle.

I can’t stress enough that the best place for your firearm is either in a strong gun safe in your home or in a well-made holster attached to your belt. You have to decide for yourself based on your circumstances, your location, whether you have kids around, and how strongly you feel about the necessity of immediate response to a sudden threat against yourself or your family. All of these must be part of your plan for how to secure your firearms. Each individual will have to look at their unique situation and decide what’s best for them. In the case of children, we think it’s critical that they are educated about firearms and their dangers. On the one in 1 million chance that you leave one laying around and a child finds it, you want that child to know it’s not a toy and they need to find an adult right away to secure it. The older the child the more you can train them, but the most important thing is to take the curiosity factor away by showing your firearm to them along with the importance of their danger and why they shouldn’t touch them. A trained child in your house is a safer child compared with the untrained child who happens upon a gun and gets excited to play with it.

If one of your firearms gets into the wrong hands and someone is injured or killed or the firearm is used in a criminal manner, you ultimately will bear the responsibility for it. In the event of an accidental death, you will have to live with it for the rest of your life. It’s one thing if you have to take out a bad guy as a last resort, but it would be devastating to find out that one of your children or a neighbors child was accidentally shot.

By this point, you are probably wondering how you were going to protect your home and family after you secured everything. It’s a great question. Home invasions aren’t planned, they happen and happen quickly. Ask yourself “What’s my next step to being safe while having my firearms secured”?

Balancing Security and Accessibility with Guns in the Home
Having children in the house changes everything, including your gun habits. At least it should. Even if you do not have kids of your own, you may on occasion host others with children, or even other adults that are not trustworthy. Here is a good policy:  Any firearm that you own is either physically on your person or locked up and inaccessible to unauthorized users. No exceptions. This is the only way to responsibly maintain your guns. The issue that plagues many, however, is balancing the necessary safety with quick accessibility in case you actually need your gun to defend your home. Here are some suggestions for striking this balance.

Home Carry
The optimal place to store a home defense gun when you are awake is on your body. It is that simple. We tend to relax and certainly shut the world out when we are at home. Even most folks who carry a gun when in public put the gun away when in the home. Being a victim of a home invasion is quite low statistically. However, when it comes to self-defense I encourage people to remember that the odds don’t matter, what is at stake matters. Just as having a fire plan is important for yourself and your family, even though being the victim of a house fire is exceedingly low statistically, having a home invasion plan is also important. The best place to have a home defense gun when your walls are breached is on you.  My approach to carrying a gun does not change whether I am home or out in the world. I always carry a gun unless I have to go in a place that prohibits it. In the morning my gun goes on my body and remains there until I go to bed at night. Therefore, my foremost defense at any moment is my handgun on my person, even if at home. This is the best policy for home defense, making no distinction between home defense and general self-defense. 

Leaving loaded handguns out and about in the house is exceedingly irresponsible if you have children who are too young to be trained and educated in firearm safety. A firearm that is carried on the body is the only firearm you truly maintain control over. Any gun not worn directly on the body needs to be locked in a secured container of some sort, period.

Another reason I am generally opposed to unsecured guns in the house is the fact that they tend to remain unsecured, even when the homeowner is gone from the house. Many people who leave guns laying around claim they always lock them up when not at home. I find this is rarely true. It has happened more than once, a homeowner returns home to a robbery in progress only to be killed with his own firearm. These are all reasons to avoid the habit.
 
Staged Handguns
Let me now address what some refer to as “staged” handguns for home defense. If you do not home carry, this is going to be your best solution. Even if you do home carry, but only carry a smaller handgun, staging a full-size combat handgun in a quick-access safe is a sound idea. I have found that a quick-access hand safe is the ideal balance of speed and security for the home defense handgun. These devices are not only suitable for in the bedroom next to you at night; these safes are quite small and can be secured out of sight in different locations of the house, keeping the gun out of unauthorized hands, yet providing rapid deployment.

Regarding the hours of sleep, some people are very concerned with the idea of having a gun quickly accessible if, heaven forbid, you wake up to an intruder literally right in the room with you. I am of the opinion that your bedside handgun is best kept in a quick access safe for safety on a number of levels. Being forced to gain enough consciousness to open the safe may also avoid an accident. The best solution here is to ensure that there are warning systems in place that will wake you before an intruder is actually in the bedroom with you while you are fast asleep. While the open gun on the night stand may be fast for you, it may also be right there for an intruder to grab himself if you are dead to the world while he stands next to your bed. Terrifying thought indeed, but the answer to this is multiple layers of security and warnings to ensure that you are awake if your home is breached. Alarms and/or alert dogs works here.

Staging Long Guns
For those that wish to embrace the effectiveness of a long gun, I think there is sound motive here, but it should be considered supplemental to the handgun, and utilized and deployed from a planned position of ensconced defense. The long gun is harder to stage, less maneuverable within the house, and slower to deploy into action than a handgun. However, if unwanted company has gained entry into the home and all members of your household are accounted for in the designated safe room, now is the ideal time to be holding a shotgun or a rifle. Therefore, a home defense long gun is best staged within the safe room, whatever room that may be. If it is the master bedroom, perhaps you wish to mount a shotgun or rifle to the wall somewhere in that room. The same safety issues that apply to handguns apply to long guns: the gun cannot be simply left in the corner of the closet; it needs to be locked up.

Gun safety, like home safety, is best practiced in layers. Just as you have good lighting, secure windows and doors, an alarm system, a dog, a home defense plan AND a home defense firearm, keeping your firearms safe from kids requires layered security. Awareness is first. If you have kids and firearms, the former need to know the safety rules for the latter. They need to be intimately familiar with guns: what they are, what they do, and how to handle them safely. Begin the process as soon as they can talk. Reinforce firearms safety until they leave home for higher education or gainful employment. Include your children in your home defense plan. Giving them tasks in an emergency helps them view firearms responsibly. At some point, you may want to give your progeny access to your home defense firearm or firearms; you can’t alway be there for them. But maybe they can be there for you.

If I haven’t scared you by now, I probably can’t. I do hope you understand the importance of our subject matter. If you have questions, send us an email or talk to a knowledgeable firearms instructor or your local gun store. It’s help that we’re all glad to give.

Well that wraps up another month’s issue of the blog. We wish everyone a safe holiday weekend.  We hope you’re reading the blog, enjoying it, and most of all, benefiting from it. If you have comments, please send them to us. We love to get email. In the meantime, keep your gun clean and your powder dry and take someone to a shooting range or training class with you. You owe it to them to improve their skills and enjoy our sport.