Understanding How Gun Safes Function

Most conscientious gun owners are aware that owning a dangerous weapon comes with the responsibility of securing it properly. This is usually based on common sense. To prevent accidents, thefts, and other tragic outcomes, a firearm must be kept out of reach for almost everyone. This usually means using a gun safe, with the simple logic: place your weapon inside, avoid using obvious codes like your birthday, and rest assured that your firearm is safely stored.

Then, watch someone in cozy pajamas attempt to open a gun safe, and it might make you question that logic.

The tragic, accidental death of a child in 2010 prompted an investigation that uncovered some shocking facts. Three-year-old Ryan Owens from Washington state died from a gunshot wound after accessing his father's $36 Stack-On gun safe, which had been issued by the police department. This led to an independent review of this safe and other low-cost models [source: Tobias]. The results were shared at the 2012 Def Con hacking and security conference, revealing a startling discovery: not just one, but several widely-used gun safes can be opened by a toddler [source: Finkle].

Tragedies involving firearms in homes are, unfortunately, not uncommon. The Children's Defense Fund reports that the likelihood of an accidental death in a home with a gun is four times higher than in a home without one. Furthermore, since four out of ten gun owners with children fail to securely store their firearms, it's no surprise that such tragedies occur frequently. In fact, almost a quarter of children in homes with guns have accessed them without permission, and more than half of U.S. teenagers who commit suicide with a gun found the weapon in their own homes [source: Children's Defense Fund].

What is truly surprising, particularly to those outside the lock-and-safe industry, is that some of these tragic accidents are occurring in households where the guns are locked inside a gun safe.

A gun safe operates much like any other safe, designed to allow authorized users to access its contents while keeping everyone else out. However, like all lockboxes, it has the potential to fail. Despite this, using a gun safe represents a significant step forward in securing firearms, protecting both human lives and property. While any safe will serve the purpose, a gun-specific safe is often more convenient for organizing, storing, and accessing firearms.

Ultimately, what makes a safe a 'gun safe' is its practicality, designed specifically for the secure storage of firearms.

Different Types of Gun Safes

Most home safes share several common characteristics. They are equipped with locks. They tend to be quite heavy. The walls and doors often feature steel that resists drilling. Additionally, they provide a certain level of protection from environmental factors.

What sets a gun safe apart from a standard security cabinet is the overall size and the interior organization, which varies based on the number and types of firearms it is designed to store. Some of these models include the following:

Handgun Safes: A handgun safe can be as compact (and portable) as a briefcase, usually designed to store a single firearm. This is ideal for individuals who carry a firearm on the go. Larger models can hold multiple handguns across several shelves, resembling the size of a milk crate. Some can even be integrated into vehicle consoles for easy transport.

Long-gun Safes: For larger firearms like rifles and shotguns, a tall safe is necessary. A good interior height is around 60 inches (150 cm); the width depends on how many firearms it needs to accommodate. Depending on the model, the capacity can range from a single firearm to dozens [source: Home Safe HQ]. For larger storage, capacities can vary significantly [source: Tractor Supply Co].

All-Purpose Gun Safes: Some "gun safes" are made to house long guns, handguns, valuable items like jewelry, important papers, and anything else that needs extra security. They come in various sizes, from compact to large, and can be either movable or stationary. These safes offer different types of compartments such as shelves, drawers, and hooks to keep a wide variety of items safely stored.

In basic terms, choosing the right gun safe is easy -- have just one handgun and don't plan on getting more? Go with a handgun safe. A passionate rifle enthusiast? Choose a large-capacity long-gun safe. But picking specific features and add-ons can get tricky. Combination lock or digital? Hinges inside or outside? Is humidity control necessary? And how does security level correlate with cost?

Features of Gun Safes

While space is an important factor, there are many other aspects to take into account when buying a gun safe.

Dial vs. Electronic Lock: A dial or combination lock grants access when the correct sequence of numbers is entered. This mechanical system is durable and requires no upkeep. However, the dial lock takes longer to open compared to an electronic lock and doesn’t automatically engage when the safe door is shut. Electronic locks, including keypad and fingerprint (biometric) models, offer quicker access and automatic locking, but as with all electronics, they have a finite lifespan, parts may fail, and batteries need to be replaced regularly [source: 6mmBR].

Steel Strength: The walls and door of a safe are made from steel, and the thicker the steel, the more difficult it is to drill into. Steel thickness is measured by gauge, with a lower gauge indicating thicker steel. A safe with 10-gauge steel is more secure than one with 14-gauge steel [source: 6mmBR].

Weight: Large gun safes can weigh anywhere from hundreds to thousands of pounds. To deter thieves using dollies, a minimum weight of 750 pounds (340 kilograms) when empty is recommended. Ideally, safes should also be bolted to the floor or wall for added security [source: 6mmBR].

Fire Protection: Some gun owners argue that fire is a greater threat than theft. House fires can reach temperatures of 1,200°F (650°C) in just 10 minutes, and certain firearms begin to melt at 800°F (425°C), making fire protection critical. A fire-resistant safe features a thin insulating layer and provides limited protection against prolonged exposure to heat. A UL-rated fireproof safe offers better protection, often equipped with thicker sheetrock or ceramic panels that maintain an interior temperature below 350°F (175°C) for anywhere between 15 minutes and 4 hours, depending on the model [source: 6mmBR].

Other factors to consider include:

Gun Safe Effectiveness

Safes are complex machines, and even the most reliable ones are susceptible to failure. However, the risk of a safe malfunctioning increases dramatically due to human mistakes – such as neglecting to turn the dial lock after closing the door. If you don't spin it, the safe remains unlocked [source: 6mmBR].

Or forgetting to change the battery in an electronic lock, skipping the process of resetting the manufacturer's default code when the safe is first set up, or even resetting the code and placing it on a shelf beside the safe.

Another mistake could be storing flammable powders inside a ventless steel safe, which is risky at best, or keeping ammunition in the same location as firearms, something universally advised against by gun-safety professionals [sources: Washington State Dept. of Social & Human Services, State of California Dept. of Justice].

Other failures arise from manufacturing defects. Some common issues include low-quality electronic locks that fail to work properly, ultra-thin steel that can be breached with basic hand tools, and the impractical lock-delay mechanisms that leave the safe accessible for several seconds after it's supposed to be locked [source: McVicker].

When authorities examined the safe that unexpectedly opened for 3-year-old Ryan Owens, they discovered a three-second delay on the lock, along with a more severe flaw: the lock would sometimes fail entirely if the dial was slightly turned to the right. (The police also noted that this issue appeared to be specific to Detective Owens' gun safe, as no other law enforcement officers in the county had similar issues with their safes) [source: McVicker].

At Def Con 2012, the company that presented examined several affordable safes priced under $200 and discovered that many of them shared similar flaws. Some safes could be easily opened with a slight jiggle or bounce, while others were vulnerable to being unlocked by inserting drinking straws or paperclips into the gaps around the locking mechanism [source: Finkle].

To minimize the chances of theft or accidents, begin by searching for a UL-rated safe with a rating of RSC or higher (see sidebar). Next, follow these guidelines:

If you have children, it's important to discuss gun safety with them. Guns can appear like toys to kids, so it's vital to correct this misconception. If they come across a firearm, they should immediately inform an adult and refrain from touching it. This becomes especially important because they may encounter an unlocked, loaded gun at a friend's house or at school. Even if you use a gun safe at home, it won't prevent accidents in such situations.