Posted on 03/03/2023 5:22:22 PM PST by PROCON
FRIDAY, March 3, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Locking up firearms can help prevent injury and death, yet a majority of gun owners say they keep at least one gun unlocked in case of emergency.
Rutgers University researchers surveyed more than 2,100 adult gun owners about gun storage, types of locking devices and locking mechanisms.
The survey found that 58% store at least one firearm unlocked and hidden. Another 18% store at least one firearm unlocked and unhidden.
When firearm owners lock at least one gun, most use a gun safe. In all, 32% said they used a device opened by key, PIN code or dial lock, and 16% used biometric devices. In general, biometric devices rely on characteristics such fingerprints or facial features to identify a user.
"These findings highlight two key points," said lead author Michael Anestis, executive director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center at Rutgers. "First, it appears firearm owners prefer gun safes relative to cable locks and trigger locks. Most locking device distribution programs provide cable locks and trigger locks, so those programs might be mismatched to firearm owner preferences. Second, very few firearm owners use biometric locks, which could indicate that cost is an issue or that firearm owners do not trust the technology to work when needed."
So why do owners not lock their firearms?
The most common reasons: 49% said locks are unnecessary; and 45% said locks will prevent quick access in an emergency.
About 49% said they would consider locking their firearms to prevent access by a child; and 37% would do so to keep them out of adolescent hands or prevent theft.
"Given these results, it appears that increasing the use of secure firearm storage will require several things. First, to address motivation we need to address disproportionate fears regarding the likelihood of armed home invasions," Anestis said in a university news release.
"Similarly, we need to help the public better understand the risks associated with having firearms in the home — above and beyond the risk of unauthorized access by children," he added.
"Second, we need to create more ready and equitable access to gun safes so that the available locking options align better with the preferences of firearm owners," Anestis concluded.
The findings were published online March 2 in JAMA Network Open. The study was funded by the U.S. Defense Health Agency.
Gee, if I had any guns, I’d make sure they were secured by an armed guard,
Well Duh! A gun locked in a gun safe is about as useless as a pool noodle when someone is attacking you.
You are missing a great opportunity to give many health tips about the wonderful benefits of deep enemas and the great advances in the technology of application.
Yep. I never leave a firearm unsecured. Around here crooks just take the whole safe if they need to.
If my house is not considered secured with locked doors, that demonstrates that the government is not performing its most basic service requirement.
Also, in blue zones prosecutors refuse to charge gang bangers (especially minors) with felony gun possession let alone locking them up as they should.
Our carry pieces are never locked up and always have one chambered - it’s just the two of us so we have less to worry about than those with kids.
Note: Make that “were never locked up and always had one chambered” - boating accident took them.
It appears that 98% of responders in the Free Republic poll don’t lock up their firearms and 2% wouldn’t if they hadn’t lost their weapons in accidents. I have my firearms in a lockable room (and house) with the exception of my personal defense weapons which are loaded and available.
Gasp … no!!! “The horror… the horror…. The horror…”
Oh … they must mean one in every room…
NONE of my guns are locked up.
I don’t lock up my computers or tv’s, either.
What would be the point having to unlock them every time I wanted to use them?
I keep my house locked up at night. That’s enough.
My guns are locked up at night. I lock ALL the doors before going to bed. Haven’t had a gun escape yet.
If I lived in a high crime area, they’d be locked up all day long in the same way. I never let my guns run around on their own.
Spoken like someone who lives in a perfect suburban paradise.
If you lived in the country, you’d know that varmints eating your food supply means you’re growing food for them.
I don’t appreciate all the squirrels, ground hogs, rabbits, raccoons and deer eating up all my hard work. Not to mention crows and other birds.
Actually, I don’t shoot coyotes because I have no animals for them to prey on. But this Spring I’m getting some chickens and a turkey or two, so coyotes, foxes, possums and skunks just made the list.
My little gentleman’s orchard of a dozen fruit trees was suffering horrible loss from squirrels. In a few short summer months one year, I got rid of nearly 100 of them. They enjoyed their little swimming pool made just for them.
Yeah. Squirrels appear to be highly sociable. I used a pellet gun to the same effect several years ago. They no longer throw acorns down on my roof at night and usually do a warning chirp when I come outside. Small animals gots to know their limits.
I used a pellet gun just once, but it went clean through the varmint. He ran up a fence post, along 15 feet of fence rail, croaked, and fell into my animal loving neighbor’s yard. I had to make a hasty gaff hook to retrieve him before she or her dog found the punctured carcass.
Grizzlies are considered a subspecies of Browns. Depending on the location, they’re starting to inter-geade as populations increase and come together.
I bid $50 for the first dozen eggs.
I live alone. My guns are locked in a safe (my cat doesn't know the password, nor does he care). I always keep my .38 Special at hand (or on a holster). When in bed it rests on my nightstand. When grandkids visit, my carry gun is either in my holster or in a rapid-release bedroom safe.
I don’t lock up my fire extinguishers, either.
Or my emergency cardiac medicine.
Um, you may want to rethink that. If someone gets in you just armed them. Keep the guns in the bedroom loaded and ready.
By the door? A burlger’s dream - you just armed them.
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