Why Don't You Own A Safe?

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Easy answer to this thread:
1.) The safe would cost 2 to 3 times the value of the contents
2.) I have other items in plain sight with a higher value than my guns right now, notably this computer, and the television.
 
IMHO your friend’s logic is flawed. The reason I don’t own a gun safe is simple I refuse to be possessed by my possessions. Additionally I live in a low crime area I’ve got very good insurance coverage.
 
I don't own a gun safe and here's why:

1) I don't have kids whom I need to secure my handguns from.

2) I keep a loaded gun stashed in just about every room just in case.

Keeping them all locked up in one location is a tactical mistake IMO.
 
from Cosmoline (post 42) :
My solution has been a large size Knaack jobsite box
Click to expand...

This sounds like a good storeage box for after you might eventually buy a safe but a couple of questions about while you're using the Knaap box as you firearms storage :

Do you store the rifles in the bottom by making "U"-shaped cuts in a couple of 2x4's or 2x6's ?
Do you store the Knaak box on end like an upright refridge to get at stuff easier?
 
from Bigalexe (post 51) :
1.) The safe would cost 2 to 3 times the value of the contents
2.) I have other items in plain sight with a higher value than my guns right now, notably this computer, and the television.
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1.) For a very few people, your statement may be correct but it only takes 1 or 2 guns to equal the cost of a "safe" or, more accurately, a residencial container. A safe might run $3000 or more but the Cabelas/Kmart/Sportsman's Warehouse firearms boxes like Winchester, Cannon etc. only cost $600 - $2000. I would guess that most folks on a fireams forum site like this have many thousands of $ worth of firearms.

2.) The "other items in plain sight" might be worth as much or more but not to a thief. Your $2000 big-screen TV would fence for $200-$300. A laptop computer for somewhat more (if it's not obsolete). A firearm, however, sells on the street for 80% -120% of what it might go for on GunBroker.com That's what makes it worthwhile to put guns in a place (safe/hidden room/unlikely-hiding-spot) where they may not get stolen.
A much more important reason for not having guns stolen is because you don't want to supply felons with weaponry. You can give them your TV and they will fence it for drugs but they might use your handgun to kill someone for drugs - major difference!
 
I did not own a safe due to the fact that I lived in a travel trailer. But with the new house ready it is high on my list of things to buy although I am only looking at getting a stack on for my smaill collection
 
A timely thread guys.
Right now here in Houston we have a five man ring of thugs that are breaking into homes of the million dollar price range and each home they have broken into had a safe and that's EXACTLY what they were there for.
Now just how they knew these homes had these safes we will probably learn after they are arrested and since their last heist was caught on a surveilance camera,which all have their faces showing and a $15,000.00 reward has now been offered on them, it's just a small matter of time until they are caught.
Interesting enough they are not breaking into these safes at the residence but are hauling them off with a dolly capable of the weight.
In other words they are NOT bolted down.
Very foolish of the home owner I must say.
Anyway in this past Sundays Houston Chronicle there was a front page story on just how rampant home burglaries are in Houston at this very time.
This is very scary people.
Get a good safe and bolt it down solidly.
Do your research and spend a little more than you had at first anticipated because if your home is hit and your precious fire arms are stolen along with personal information such as credit card info,banking info,SS numbers,etc. you will go through major Hell.
And insurance companies are notorious for dragging their feet on big claims.
Having been through three home burglaries over the last 30 years I am here to tell you it aint no damn fun dealing with the after math.
 
As usual, there is both good and bad information in this thread where safes are concerned. It can be argued that anything is better than nothing, but there is no denying that you are putting all your eggs in one basket when you buy a safe, cabinet, whatever. IMO, cheap cabinets will cost you more than they are worth for that very reason.

The only argument I didn't see (unless I missed it while skimming through) deals with safety and responsibility as a gun owner. I'm not just talking about the safety of children in a home, I'm talking about the safety of anyone in that home who comes home to find themselves faced with an armed burglar who wasn't armed when he broke in. Yes, you are staring down the barrel of your own gun. Trust me, it happens. Beyond that, it's no secret that stolen guns are a major source for those used in criminal activity. That's where the responsibility part comes into play.

It is very much fact that most home burglaries last 5 minutes or less. As for difficulties in moving a safe, it's no big deal as long as you stay around 500 LBS. Consider an average refrigerator will weigh around 350 LBS, and it should put things into perspective for those who move around a lot. As for placement in mobile homes, I install 1,000LB+ safes in them on a regular basis.

As for the question of not being able to afford a safe, given the possible consequences, the better question is, can you afford NOT to buy a safe.
 
I have an RSC to protect the kiddies and feel that, at this juncture, that is all I need.

The value of my collection is only about 2X the cost of a safe that is worth having.

My insurance company will cover all of my firearms losses from my deductable of $500 up to $10,000 (yes, I have validated this.... I have great insurance via. USAA)

Cheap safes are reported to be only effective at delaying a dedicated burglar from getting what he wants.

Safes can draw attention and communicate that "there's something really valuable here worth coming back for.

I have an image of some subcontractors country cousin holding a gun to my wifes head to get inside a safe to get at a percieved fortune.

I would like to get a quality safe some day, but the financial cost is above what I can justify spending at this point.

I feel that spending the time and money to effectively conceal an RSC would be a more cost effecient option at this point.

If I do buy a quality safe, I'm going to spend a good bit of extra money to properly conceal it.... which only drives up the cost more.
 
inexpensive options?

i haven't noticed any recommendations, but are there any inexpensive (NOT CHEAP...there is a difference) gun safe options out there?

i know my collection (2 handguns and a shotgun) pales in comparison to many, but i don't think i will ever own more than about 5 handguns and maybe a few more long guns (2 or 3 more). is there a nice, reputable, bolt-down safe that holds a small stash 5-12 firearms??

i don't mind paying for quality, but i don't see the point in buying a 50-gun safe when i only plan on using about 20% of the space provided
 
You can buy small gun safes, but you will be surprised at how fast they fill up with other things than guns.

Important papers
jewelry
cameras
ammo
binoculars

Anything small and valuable.
 
I don't own a gun safe and here's why:

1) I don't have kids whom I need to secure my handguns from.

2) I keep a loaded gun stashed in just about every room just in case.


Really?
So one day you come home and meet a burglar face to face, and guess what, he has your loaded gun pointing in your face.

Or say he just takes your guns, then he decides to rob somebody else, but it goes bad and he kills someone with your gun.

Not a good situation to be in.
 
indykappa said:
i haven't noticed any recommendations, but are there any inexpensive (NOT CHEAP...there is a difference) gun safe options out there?

i know my collection (2 handguns and a shotgun) pales in comparison to many, but i don't think i will ever own more than about 5 handguns and maybe a few more long guns (2 or 3 more). is there a nice, reputable, bolt-down safe that holds a small stash 5-12 firearms??

i don't mind paying for quality, but i don't see the point in buying a 50-gun safe when i only plan on using about 20% of the space provided
Click to expand...
Don't shop for a safe based on the purported number of guns it is "supposed" to hold, and always buy with expansion in mind. You can pick up a good safe that will actually hold a dozen or so long guns with an equal amount of shelf space for other things in the $700 range. I can help you in that regard if you are interested.
 
Tell me where you can buy real insurance for a price like this
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about a year ago, USAA changed their "standard coverage" for home owners policies....

they increased coverage and the scope of items covered in several catagories.

my basic home owners policy now covers $10K in firearns and my annual premium is very low.
 
I take my security fairly seriously. I live in a somewhat rural location and have been the subject of a burglary on a couple of occasions...additionally most everyone in the vicinity knows that I own firearms (that can be good and bad). My first line of defense is the neighbors, I know most pretty well, and while most aren't especially nosy, they tend to notice things out of place. We look out for one another in these parts. Additionally I have a German Shepherd that resides outside when I am away, she makes for a pretty decent alarm system and can be a good defense if provoked. The final security measures that I employ are within the home. I have a monitored alarm system and a safe, both of which I hope to never need, but feel more secure with. The safe remains unsecured when I am home, but locked when I am away, this allows for both security and access as needed.

When I build my new home, I plan to employ the same measures, but in addition to the above plan to construct a vault in the basement for additional storage and security. Call me paranoid if you like, but better a safe than sorry. ;)
 
Really?
So one day you come home and meet a burglar face to face, and guess what, he has your loaded gun pointing in your face.
Click to expand...
So what?
I don't think it would matter who's firearm was pointing at my face, his or one of my own.
And if he came to rob my home without a gun of his own, then he is NOT the type of criminal that's likely to shoot someone anyway.


Or say he just takes your guns, then he decides to rob somebody else, but it goes bad and he kills someone with your gun.
Click to expand...
Again, so what?
Am I supposed to feel guilty?

Suppose I do lock up my guns in a safe but he steals a steak knife from my kitchen and uses that to stab someone to death during a robbery?
Am I supposed to feel guilty for not locking up my steak knives in a safe too?
 
My kids are grown and gone but I still have friends and family with kids and they are welcome here anytime. That's why I still chose to store any gun that's not on my person. Also, I would do anything in my power to keep my guns out of any unauthorized hands, especially a criminal. I would rather be part of the solution than the problem. My HD guns are still very accessible to ME.
 
IMO SafeGuy hit the nail on the head!

I have a safe to prevent the bad guys from aquiring guns that will, most likely, be sold for drug money, used against a home/store owner or a police officer.

I was burglarized once and lost a cheap (junk) .22 while the thieves missed the good stuff just inside the closet but once was enough for me.

I figure its my responsibility as a gun owner to take reasonable steps to try to keep my firearms from being stolen.

Nothing says you HAVE to have a safe but I sure feel better when I leave home.

Living in the country I used to leave guns all around the house, house unlocked and thought nothing about it cause my neighbors were all good people.

Then I moved to a more remote local and got hit. Something inside me changed. I guess my faith in people diminished after that. :(

YMMV
 
"I don't think it would matter who's firearm was pointing at my face, his or one of my own."

Why make it easy for them?

If they didn't have one when they broke in they sure would have one after.

"And if he came to rob my home without a gun of his own, then he is NOT the type of criminal that's likely to shoot someone anyway."

Sounds like you have a lot of faith in being robed by a burglar with a hart of gold.
 
"And if he came to rob my home without a gun of his own, then he is NOT the type of criminal that's likely to shoot someone anyway."

Sounds like you have a lot of faith in being robed by a burglar with a hart of gold.
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No, it's not that.
Fact is, in my younger days, I ran with the criminal element and I know a bit about the way things work.

About 99.99% of burglars are non-violent.
They don't want to rape anyone, they don't want to kill anyone, they don't even want to fight anyone.
They are there to steal your possessions and make a buck or two.

The vast majority of burglaries occur when the victim is not home.
And that's not just by coincidence either....
Burglars will case a house for days, sometimes for weeks, to find the best time to rob the place...a time when no one is there.

Most burglars will try there best to determine if anyone is home before committing the breakin.
They will ring the door-bell, knock on the back door, look in the windows, etc.
And they will try to get in and out as fast as possible too.
They don't want any type of confrontation.

Essentially, burglars are typically rather smart, but not too brave.

And I'm talking about home burglars, not armed robbers that knock over the corner store...
Those types are unpredictable, dangerous, and often desperate.


But the ones you have to really worry about at the home invasion criminal types that actually prefer to attack folks when they're home.
The ones that kick in the door during dinner, beat the husband senseless or kill him outright, rape the wife and daughter....and then take any valuables they happen to see, often as somewhat of an afterthought.
Those are the ones you should fear and prepare for.
Which is why I have a loaded gun in every room.



Think I'm paranoid?

Brother, you don't know the half of it!



Easy
 
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- The FIRST thing many of you need to keep in mind, is that guns are not always stolen by complete strangers: Frequently they are stolen by friends of friends, or the dip-$h*t who lurks in every group of friends.

- The SECOND thing many of you need to address is whether or not your "insurance" will protect you from legal action when a crime is committed with your gun. (The answer is NO)

- The THIRD thing that needs considered is the value of an innocent strangers life: your Cobra 9mm may only be "worth" $175, but the life of a local store clerk is worth far more.

Dismiss my warnings if you like; tell yourself I'm being paranoid, over cautious, or wasting money on "needless" hardware.

In reality, I've SEEN guns stolen by people who were supposedly "trust worthy". I've seen people have to deal with the police after some idiot shoots up a convince store with their gun - ITS NOT FUN.

These are all real risks IN ADDITION TO the random burglar. Buy a safe and USE it.

Want to "be ready" for "the big one"? Carry your gun on you. If you think your going to jump away from the dinner table, leap over the dog, and get your hidden gun AFTER someone has kicked down your door then your kidding yourself.
 
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I have a secret room with a safe. I got the idea from my grandfather who built a secret room that I didn't know existed until I was in my late teens and deamed 'trustworthy.' Double protected at that point. Besides, secret rooms and passages have always facinated me-ever since visiting Casa Loma in Toronto when I was a kid.
 
I don't own a safe, or a gun cabinet. I would like to have one of the small metal gun cabinets that lock, but I have no place to put it. I live in a small studio apartment that is already packed with too much stuff, and I am simply out of space to put a gun cabinet.
I would like to have one if for nothing else than I could take the trigger locks off of my rifles, as long as I store them in the cabinet. (Local law says either trigger locks on all guns or locked in a cabinet/safe)

My best bet will be to move at some point to a larger place, but even then I will have to wait until I can free up some extra money.

I had the money to buy the guns, at the time. Time moves on though, and now I have other requirements of my money.
 
There is zero reason for not owning a safe.

If you have a collection above say 8 firearms, you have spent far more than a safe costs.

Bass Pro has their Red Head line safes (not the best in the world, but good enough to stop most thieves) for a reasonable price. I bought mine for ~$725 with tax. So yes a decent safe is available for the price of good rifle.

I had a retard buddy that bought a gun safe and did not put any of his guns in there for over 6 months. His reasoning is that he did not want to put dirty guns in his safe. Yes, thieves only steal clean guns.
 
I liked the guy that said the thief will decipher the combo from the wear on the buttons of a digital lock.

Most safes have 6 digit combos on a 10 digit keypad. Just make sure you change the factory code to something else.
 
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