How To Store Firearms Safely In a Gun Safe

If you have firearms, you will know how important and necessary it is to keep them safe. It is a requirement of law that they be kept safe and secure, and even more important - to be able to keep them out of the hands of children and youths. So how do you keep your gun safe? Below are some important ways:

1. Keep your gun safe in a safe

This may seem like an obvious thing to do, but it is actually required by the law of Australia to keep guns in a secure, lockable cabinet, where only the licensed gun holder has access to the key.

Good quality gun safes are made specifically for this purpose. For example the Dominator GC-3 Gun Cabinet is made from a composite of concrete and steel, providing high levels of penetration and impact resistance as well as 105 minute fire protection rating. The internal locking components and universal footprint provide ease of use and maximum burglary protection at the same time for peace of mind.

2. Keep your all of your firearms safe

Safes can be all shapes and sizes with different security ratings, but a gun safe is designed specifically to hold firearms. For example, the Dominator gun safes range is designed with the intention of providing adequate security to not only meet the relevant legal requirements, but also to exceed them, keeping your family safe. From the entry level GC-0 gun cabinet holding up to 3 rifles, to the GC-3 firearm safe providing ultimate protection, holding up to 10 rifles and 8-12 pistols - you can keep all of your firearms locked up securely - and out of harms way.

2. Keep your keys safe

All of the people who have access to the gun safe (via a set of keys) must be licensed for all the guns contained in the safe - ie. people may not have access to anything that they are not licensed, including friends, wives, parents, girlfriends, etc. who may not have access to a spare set of keys if they are not licensed to use everything in the safe.

Don’t be caught out - the police will often try to come to your house for an inspection earlier than booked, they will then ask who ever is there, to just show them the safe to get it over with quickly as possible since they are in a hurry. Thinking they are doing the right thing, the unlicensed person such as the spouse, finds the keys! Persons may not have access to anything of which they are not licensed, so if the spouse goes to retrieve the set of keys for the safe, then this is actually an offence - and chargeable! The licensed owner also runs the risk of losing his license and also his firearms. The firearms inspector must wait for the licensed person to show them what they want to see.

3. Keep your ammunition safe

According to Section 60 of the Weapons Regulation 1996 (Qld), it is also a requirement to keep your ammunition separate to your firearm, stating: “Ammunition must be stored in a secure container or secured area that is separate from the container that holds the firearms; for example a gun safe with a internal secured area for the ammunition.” Gun safes, such as the Dominator range, meet the requirements as they have a built in, key lockable ammunition storage compartment. The key for ammunition must also not be accessible by an unlicensed person.

4. Don’t make your guns easily accessible

DON’T leave the keys to your firearms safe in a place that is easily accessible by intruders; DON’T locate the safe where it can be accessed easily or in sight of intruders e.g. unlocked garage or shed; DON’T leave power tools or other implements nearby which could be used to break into the safe; and definitely DON’T leave a firearm lying around, loaded or unattended. Four don’ts from the Weapons Licensing and Regulations that could potentially save yours’ or someone you love’s life.

5. Store your gun muzzle pointing downwards

There is the idea that leaving the barrels of a firearm oily after cleaning can prevent rust. But after cleaning, the excess of oil can run back through the chambers and firing pin holes, ‘gumming’ up the works and damaging the wood. Most modern firearms have internally chromed bores, which don’t need to be left oily after cleaning, but if you have an older gun then storing it muzzle downwards or removing the barrel before storing can prevent potential damage to the firearm. And do not rap them up in plastic or keep them in bags that will sweat. These are a couple of tips, given to us, that may help to prevent deterioration when storing your firearms. For information on proper care and cleaning, and tips, please contact a licensed firearm dealer and/or repairer, (and have appropriate documentation of proof of your license ready to show them).

Finally, there are different types of licenses for different types of firearms, but all guns must be secured safely, and by a licensed owner. So please bring your documentation with you so we can best assist with which gun safe or cabinet would be most appropriate for your needs.

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