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Gun and Ammunition Storage
One of the strongest safety messages regarding gun storage is explained by the Office of the Attorney General of the State of California: Although guns should always be stored unloaded, treat them as if they are loaded. When preparing your guns for storage, make sure all ammunition is removed. Clean and prepare your guns as you normally would, and set ammunition aside. After securing your guns, store ammunition in a separate location. This is a preventive measure that protects you and others in your home. If an inquisitive child gains access to your firearms, they are safer if the ammunition is stored elsewhere. Teach children that any gun they may accidentally encounter should be respected as if it is loaded, even if they are certain it is not. Fatal accidents have happened when a person incorrectly thought a gun was not loaded.
Gun Safe
The most secure way to store guns is a gun safe. Although there are many decorative gun cabinets with glass front doors for viewing, safety and prevention of theft should be the highest concerns. Large or small, gun safes are sturdy, and many are secured to the floor for a further measure of theft prevention and unauthorized access, explains LearnAboutGuns.com. Although large gun safes provide the most protection, small safes have the added benefit of being easier to keep hidden from minors and intruders.
Disassembly
Although there is no federal regulation for gun storage, some states have adopted laws. Disassembling your guns makes them impossible to fire, as noted on the American Hunters &Shooters Association website. To enhance the security, store gun parts in different locations. Although this might sound extreme, in homes where small children live or when children visit, this will render your guns impossible to fire even if the parts are found.
Gun-Locking Devices
If disassembly is not feasible for your situation, consider adding locking devices to your guns, recommends the National Rifle Association. All ammunition should be removed first because some locks could cause a gun to fire accidentally. Some locking devices prevent a gun from being loaded, and others prevent it from being fired. Make sure the locks you choose are appropriate for your firearm and not a one-size-fits-all option.