Owning a firearm is a freedom that many Americans enjoy. However, gun ownership comes with immense responsibility -- not only when handling or firing a gun but also when it comes to storing one.
To keep your valuables protected, you probably rely on home safes. To achieve proper gun storage, you'll want to invest specifically in a gun safes to ensure this weaponry is kept out of the wrong hands. But it's not only about having a safe; you'll also need to know where to place your safe for maximum protection.
What you might not realize is that it's best not to keep gun safes out in the open. In fact, many gun owners find that keeping their gun safes and cabinets in a specific area in their homes provides an extra level of protection.
Let's discuss a bit more about why you might want to keep your gun safe hidden and how to do so for maximum protection.
Why You Should Hide Your Gun Safe
Although you might be tempted to leave your gun safe in plain sight, especially if it's an attractive feature or you want to prioritize convenience, this can increase safety risks to yourself and your loved ones. For one thing, any intruder who catches sight of your gun safe will be tipped off that you have firearms -- or perhaps other valuables -- in your home. No matter how impenetrable some gun safes might be, it's possible that an intruder could crack the code. If and when they do, your guns could be stolen or used against you in some way. Hiding gun safes, on the other hand, provides you with the ability to surprise an intruder. If you're able to keep your gun safe completely out of sight but are able to access a firearm quickly in the event of an emergency, you'll have an advantage over your attacker.
Of course, you might never come face-to-face with someone who breaks into your home. Even if you don't, hiding your gun safe can be a good idea. Whether you have a friend or residential worker who takes too much of an interest in your gun safe or you're worried about your children trying to break into the safe when you're not around, hiding it out of sight can prevent possession loss and improve overall safety. Around 36% of children who know where their parents keep unsecured firearms admit to handling their guns on the sly -- but even if your firearms are secured, it never hurts to build in a bit of extra protection.
How to Hide Your Gun Safe in Your Closet
One of the best places to hide a safe is within home closets. Typically, the bedroom closet is seen as one of the most effective, as this will allow for easy access in the event of a nighttime security breach. Closets provide the square footage required for hiding an average-sized gun safe and are usually outfitted with a door that allows you to adequately keep the safe out of view.
When it comes time to hide your gun safe, you'll have a few different options. You might decide to cover it with clothing or a blanket, place it behind a door, or surround it with a shelving unit. The way in which you hide your gun safe will depend on your priorities. You'll need to weigh convenient access against protecting its visual presence from anyone who comes into your home without your permission. While you'll want to be able to quickly use your firearms held inside if an intruder breaks in, you'll want to make it far more difficult for a criminal to find the safe and access what's inside.
Many gun owners will secure their safes to either the wall if you have smaller guns like pistols and handguns or the floor of their closet for all other styles of gun safes.
How you choose to disguise your gun safe is up to you. But the first step is to choose a gun safe that will provide you with all the protection you deserve. Once you decide on one of our gun safes, you can find the perfect spot for it -- whether it's in your closet or another area of your home.
Please feel free to browse our Safe Facts and Buying Guides to help you make an informed decision on things such as fire-resistance ratings, burglary ratings, and other helpful considerations when buying a gun safe, or call us at 800-207-2259 if you need help finding what you are looking for.
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