Owning a firearm carries with it a heavy responsibility and preventing these possessions from falling into wrong hands can prevent tragic accidents, or your weapons being used in an act of violence.
In Malta, the Arms Licensing Regulations, published in Legal Notice 177 of 2006 state that any licensee must “keep any arms and ammunition …under lock and key in a secure area within his residence and ensure that no one other than himself has access to them.”
In practical terms, this means that if you own firearms and ammunition, then you should have a gun safe. Safes constructed with large amounts of high grade steel offer good protection. However, some safes may offer a ‘composite’ construction where steel cladding has been wrapped around another material, such as wood. The weight of a safe is a good indicator as to the amount of steel that it contains and therefore the level of protection it offers.
Apart from the construction of the safe, another important consideration is size and this largely depends on the number of firearms you own. Also you should ensure that your collection will not outgrow the safe in a couple of years. Convenience is your next consideration. An electronic lock can provide a quick and convenient way to open your safe and also offers you the opportunity to regularly vary the combination number to make sure it always stays locked – and curious fingers stay out.
You also want to make sure that your safe can be bolted down to prevent removal by thieves who can then open it at their leisure. Most safes come with pre-drilled holes to facilitate the bolting process.
The weakest point on a safe is the welded seams which show where the steel has been joined together. Thus you should buy a safe that has very few such seams, making it harder for thieves to find a weak spot.
You can select wood cladding for your gun safe to give it a pleasing look, which can be important when it is imperative to install one in your home. This allows you to keep the safe in plain sight without it ruining your décor. Collectors can also buy a safe made of thick bullet–proof glass, which combines good security with a visual display of your firearms.
Guns can be many things: a weapon, a piece of history or even a piece of art. But if they are not kept safely, then they are universally dangerous. A gun safe not only keeps your collection secure, but it keeps your family protected as well.
