How big an issue is gun security?

[winnre]

Okay we all see the bit about 11,000 firearm deaths a year, but this includes suicides and accidents.

But maybe the suicide stole the gun? Maybe the accident was finding the gun?

Are there any statistics on how many of these deaths occurred because of an unsecured firearm? We all hear how a kid found a gun under the bed or something.

California required a lock or a safe when you buy a gun. I wondered if we got stronger on that nationwide how much of a different it would make. If most bad guys get their guns from stealing them, you have to wonder if they do so with a gun or if they do a daylight B&E. I think firearm owners ought to be more responsible in regards to firearm security, but I do not know of any statistics on this one way or another.

[jdouglas]

I'm with you on this.

Although it would obviously be impossible to secure 100% of all firearms 100% of the time, if gun owners did everything possible (within reason of course) to make sure their guns were not accessed by criminals/crazies, I think this would be one of the best ways to "get guns off the streets".

Isn't the statistic something like around 90+% of all firearms used in crimes are illegally obtained?

[ptroxx]

I know that since all of this, I have added a bunch more lag bolts to the bottom of my safe.
I have also added a cable to secure all my rifles.. I plan on adding an eye bolt to the inside of the safe so I can put the cable thru it this way to make it even harder to get them...

I have been thinking about another way to secure my pistols in the safe too..

I have added security cameras to the condo.. I have added extra locks on my sliding glass doors... Im trying to do what ever I can ......

[NytWolf]

California required a lock or a safe when you buy a gun. I wondered if we got stronger on that nationwide how much of a different it would make. If most bad guys get their guns from stealing them, you have to wonder if they do so with a gun or if they do a daylight B&E. I think firearm owners ought to be more responsible in regards to firearm security, but I do not know of any statistics on this one way or another.

Seriously, have you thought of blaming the criminal and not the gun owner?

Let's assume the gun owner did use the gun lock to secure the gun. Let's assume the criminal stole the firearm (which would leave out the responsible owners with properly installed safes). If someone had a firearm with a CA-approved lock, do you seriously think that the firearm is actually secure?

I know someone who took his rifle with a trigger lock all the way to their hunting location only to find that he forgot the key to the trigger lock. Do you think he drove all the way back home to get the key or do you think he passed up hunting that weekend? Neither. Hammer and screwdriver. This is CA's approved lock system. That's a trigger lock.

Now how fast do you think a criminal can make a handgun with a cable lock fully function?

Firearms locks only slow the law abiding. The locks only stop YOU from making the firearm function because YOU are afraid to break the lock. CA laws are designed to make it inconvenient for YOU to own a gun. It will make it harder for you to defend yourself when you need it most. That's all it does.

[cranemech]

I know that since all of this, I have added a bunch more lag bolts to the bottom of my safe.
I have also added a cable to secure all my rifles.. I plan on adding an eye bolt to the inside of the safe so I can put the cable thru it this way to make it even harder to get them...

I have been thinking about another way to secure my pistols in the safe too..

I have added security cameras to the condo.. I have added extra locks on my sliding glass doors... Im trying to do what ever I can ......

I like the extra lag bolts, but I would think that if they have the tools to breach your safe, the cable would do little to stop them.

If possible mount the safe in a corner with the hinge side away from the corner. This will minimize the room they have to apply long prybars to the non-hinge side of the door.

[elvinjones]

You may disagree, I do too, but I can see why people would want legislation on gun safes or guaranteed liability.

I was just threatened tonight by a very unstable person that he would 'come after me' because he found out that I visit this forum and thinks that I can only be interested in guns to go on a shooting spree. This is a very intelligent unstable person (that's the short of it) I do everything I can to prevent said person to know where I live, but suffice to say that I am looking at a biometric safe ASAP.

[uhlan1]

An "unstable" albeit "intelligent" anti-gunner threatens you and wants to come after you because you own guns? I'd probably edit out the 'intelligent".
You can go down to your courthouse, I believe, and get a TRO on the twerp. Last I checked owning a gun was still legal. Threatening people? Not so much.

[elvinjones]

An "unstable" albeit "intelligent" anti-gunner threatens you and wants to come after you because you own guns? I'd probably edit out the 'intelligent".
You can go down to your courthouse, I believe, and get a TRO on the twerp. Last I checked owning a gun was still legal. Threatening people? Not so much.

This person is someone who has attacked me. Family. Intelligent as in academically, but yes you're right, he's also a blithering egotistical idiot who is not functional. It's a tough situation. We've called law enforcement. They say "call us when he commits a crime". There's more to the story as you can guess. Anyways, to the point of the thread, after I get any firearms, even though he doesn't know where I live, they will be locked up and hidden.

[TeddyBallgame]

Seriously, have you thought of blaming the criminal and not the gun owner?

Let's assume the gun owner did use the gun lock to secure the gun. Let's assume the criminal stole the firearm

Let's take it one step further...what if the gun owner becomes the criminal? Think about it, many of the people who have gone to commit these crimes were not prohibited persons...anyone of them could have purchased the firearm themselves, legally...I do believe the Newton kid was denied, but, for the most part, many of them are not prohibited from ownership, or, purchasing, some have no criminal past whatsoever

[SilverTauron]

Okay we all see the bit about 11,000 firearm deaths a year, but this includes suicides and accidents.

But maybe the suicide stole the gun? Maybe the accident was finding the gun?

Are there any statistics on how many of these deaths occurred because of an unsecured firearm? We all hear how a kid found a gun under the bed or something.

California required a lock or a safe when you buy a gun. I wondered if we got stronger on that nationwide how much of a different it would make. If most bad guys get their guns from stealing them, you have to wonder if they do so with a gun or if they do a daylight B&E. I think firearm owners ought to be more responsible in regards to firearm security, but I do not know of any statistics on this one way or another.

Wrong answer. Europe has taken your idea to its zenith with mandatory safe storage laws.In the UK the cops have to inspect your home as a condition of issuing a gun license.The bad guys still find a way to be armed nonetheless.

A Chicago magazine article put things in perspective. When bad guys use a weapon they rarely "own" it like we do our legal weapons.Rather they share a gun amongst themselves.Since guns have a long life expectancy,we could lock up every legally owned weapon in America and it wouldn't change a damn thing.The hood rats will stil have their "pool" of guns no matter what.As if that's not enough reason to shoot down this idea,safes aren't secure either.Anyone with a wheeled dolly and a truck could snatch your whole collection out of your home,and crooks often do just that.If the owner bolted down their safe,a crook need only rent a sawzall and its open sesame.Gun locks? Talk about a joke.If you want to secure your gun,take the darn thing apart and have done with it.

[winnre]

Seriously, have you thought of blaming the criminal and not the gun owner?

Yes. And when my dog steals my steak dinner he is the thief, but I did get up to get a beer and leave my steak unattended in the presence of my dog. But in your eyes I have 0% responsibility, right?

Let's assume the gun owner did use the gun lock to secure the gun. Let's assume the criminal stole the firearm (which would leave out the responsible owners with properly installed safes). If someone had a firearm with a CA-approved lock, do you seriously think that the firearm is actually secure?
I know someone who took his rifle with a trigger lock all the way to their hunting location only to find that he forgot the key to the trigger lock. Do you think he drove all the way back home to get the key or do you think he passed up hunting that weekend? Neither. Hammer and screwdriver. This is CA's approved lock system. That's a trigger lock.

Now how fast do you think a criminal can make a handgun with a cable lock fully function?

Firearms locks only slow the law abiding. The locks only stop YOU from making the firearm function because YOU are afraid to break the lock. CA laws are designed to make it inconvenient for YOU to own a gun. It will make it harder for you to defend yourself when you need it most. That's all it does.

That's why I opt for a safe or a vault. A padlock is a joke. Right now there is a gun a few feet from me. The rest are locked up. I will never remove more loaded guns than I can maintain security over.

Wrong answer. Europe has taken your idea to its zenith with mandatory safe storage laws.In the UK the cops have to inspect your home as a condition of issuing a gun license.The bad guys still find a way to be armed nonetheless.

But they won't get MINE.

[NytWolf]

Yes. And when my dog steals my steak dinner he is the thief, but I did get up to get a beer and leave my steak unattended in the presence of my dog. But in your eyes I have 0% responsibility, right?

So you're going to take responsibility for a thief? Your dog isn't exactly a thief. You have some control over a dog. While you have some control over the theft of your firearm, you can't control a thief's behavior. The only thing you can do is try to prevent or deter the theft. We can only do so much, but if the thief goes beyond what you do, how can you reasonably hold yourself responsible? There are practical limits as to what you can do, thus limiting your responsibility.

That's why I opt for a safe or a vault. A padlock is a joke. Right now there is a gun a few feet from me. The rest are locked up. I will never remove more loaded guns than I can maintain security over.

That's why I qualified it with the exception of safe owners.

Let's take it one step further...what if the gun owner becomes the criminal?

That is one of the things that we, as responsible gun owners, cannot control. If the gun owner becomes the criminal, let's hope someone around him/her sees the signals. But then again, that falls into one of the categories that the person will do whatever he/she is going to do regardless of the presence of a firearm.

[Felix168]

This person is someone who has attacked me. Family. Intelligent as in academically, but yes you're right, he's also a blithering egotistical idiot who is not functional. It's a tough situation. We've called law enforcement. They say "call us when he commits a crime". There's more to the story as you can guess. Anyways, to the point of the thread, after I get any firearms, even though he doesn't know where I live, they will be locked up and hidden.

Last I checked, a threat is a crime, even cussing people out in the public is a crime. Just saying...