Do I need a gun safe?

[delta9]

I live with my wife in a small 740 square foot home in San Francisco - a middle class neighborhood without (AFAIK) a lot of residential burglaries.
I have a hand gun that I keep under my mattress and 2 long guns currently kept "buried" in my wife's closet. Replacement value for all my guns is probably about $2000.
My house is fairly secure with the living area being on top of the garage. The only real way to get in would be though the front or garage doors which are facing right onto the street. A ladder would be needed to climb in though window.
I'm wondering if I should invest in a gun safe? The only place I could keep it would be bolted to the floor in a corner of my garage which I know is more risky but there is no practical place to keep it upstairs in the living area. My wife works out of the house and only work weekends and one night/week so someone is usually home. The only time I would really worry is when were away on vacation.

So what do you think?

[Diesel-Gunner]

#1- Get a safe
#2- Refer to rule #1

[jonc]

every gun owner needs a safe..

[Agent 0range]

Yep. After 2 long guns and 1 handgun, I bought a safe. I still think I waited too long for the safe. Look into a GunVault for the handgun if you want to keep it bedside.

[Burtonwurton]

Yes! 1 gun or 50 guns its the same answer.

[savannah]

Yep, get a safe. We bought one last month. I live in a very crime free area and have secured my house well. I want to be in control of the guns I purchased.

[cannon]

Absolutely and here's why.

1, It will keep your guns from being stolen.

2, How would you feel if your stolen gun was used to kill someone?

Get a safe.

[Ron-Solo]

You can't be home all the time, so unless you take your guns everywhere, you need a gun safe.

Your home may be relatively secure, but it is not burglar proof. The crooks know all the best hiding spots already. Under the mattress is the first plac an experience thief will look.

I've taken hundreds, maybe thousands, of burglary reports during my career, and reviewed even more as a patrol sergeant. Your guns are not secure the way you are "hiding" them.

[bsg]

you need a safe.

check out the "Accessories: Holsters, Safes, Locks & more" section of Calguns.

[ptroxx]

Home depot has a 14 gun safe you can stick in your closet... it bolts to the floor and has room for a lot.. I have 3 pistols and 4 long guns in it... Its perfect for me inmy home.. Its a sentry safe, cost 350.00

[SilverTauron]

Absolutely and here's why.

1, It will keep your guns from being stolen.

2, How would you feel if your stolen gun was used to kill someone?

Get a safe.

I don't think the answer is that clear cut for the OP.

Here's why. A safe by itself is essentially a metal box with a locked door on it. Unless its bolted down to the structure of the home, all the bad guys need do is bring a dolly and wheel it out the door.

Bolting it down helps, but the OP's setup means the only place he can keep it is in the garage . Assuming his foundation can even be drilled into-certain ones have tensioned cables which prevent this-the fact that its located in the garage poses problems. Think a big truck with a giant chain kind of problems. Without an enclosed closet space to prevent use of saws/tools ,a garage located safe strikes me as vulnerability posing as security.

IMO, the OP should invest in security through obscurity.Get an alarm and take responsible steps to ensure firearms are not littered about the house in plain sight.

[Colt562]

Yes get a safe.

[uhlan1]

A safe is a must.
My property is fenced, gated, protected by 2 grumpy POST certified police dogs, someone is almost always home and I have a safe bolted into the concrete.
Burglary? Half your neighbors won't notice and the other half will turn a blind eye. Guns and electronics are among their favorite targets and they'll know right where to look. They'll be in and out in under 5 minutes before the police arrive on the oft chance someone actually calls.
A safe is the responsible thing to do. Kids, stupid friends, get's stolen and used in a crime. Just feeds the opposition.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

In addition to protecting your property, I feel gun owners have a moral obligation to properly secure their firearms in a safe. By doing so, you reduce the possibility of your guns falling into the wrong hands and shooting an innocent person, as well as giving fodder to anti's to attack the 2A.

[SB1964]

YES! If you get one big enough (it won`t be) you can put Important Documents, AMMO, Cash, Etc...Whatever! It wont be Big enough because you`ll wonder why you`ve never had one.