The GMW Gun Hooks with Cable Gun Lock Hole and the GMW AR15 Wall Mount. Now available now on Amazon.com. BUY NOW
Homes should be our sanctuaries. They should be a place where we can exist at ease, get some rest, and recharge. But that’s not always up to us. “Home invasion” is a term that has been used broadly to describe any crime committed by an individual unlawfully entering a residence while someone is home. Home invasions can and do occur and they are the reason why many gun owners purchase their guns in the first place.
A US Department of Justice Report revealed that an estimated 3.7 million burglaries occurred each year on average from 2003 to 2007. A household member was present in roughly 1 million burglaries and became a victim of a violent crime in 266,560 burglaries. Overall, 61% of offenders were unarmed when violence occurred during a burglary while a resident was present. About 12% of all households violently burglarized while someone was home faced an offender armed with a firearm. Serious injury accounted for 9% and minor injury accounted for 36% of injuries sustained by household members who were home and experienced violence during a completed burglary.
You certainly don’t want to be included in those statistics and that’s probably why you have a weapon in your home for self-defense. But having a weapon in your home entails a lot of responsibility, especially if you have children. There are plenty of reasons for you to take time to consider the best place to hide a gun in case of a home invasion. You’ll not only want quick access to your weapon in case of an emergency, you’ll also want to know that your gun is safe and secure and out of the hands of thieves, children, and other unauthorized persons.
Do you think you’re ready to handle a home invasion? Many people have not prepared for such an incident. Criminals most likely will try to get into your house when you’re not home. You’ll be at a disadvantage even if you are at home though, due to the element of surprise. Some criminals may have experience and tactics. If you want to prepare to defend your home, you should also consider having a plan in place. Having a gun, knowing gun safety, and having training using a gun for self-defense are good steps. Now let’s talk about how to hide a gun in case of home invasion. In this article we’ll be providing you with some tips on hiding a gun during home invasion. So let’s get started.
DECENTRALIZE YOUR GUN STORAGE
It doesn’t make too much sense to only have one place to hide a gun during home invasion. That’s because the invader might be in the path between you and the gun. It’ll be much easier to defend yourself and your family by having multiple options. The best place to hide a gun for home invasion is going to depend on your house and its entry and exit points as well as where the invader is. A gun safe might be considered a good place to hide a gun, but in the event of an emergency you might not have the time to open it. Also, a gun safe is likely where burglars will head first, hoping to deprive you of your weapons and take any valuables if they can get it open. So let’s consider some locations that might give you the best tactical advantages:
The Master Bedroom
The master bedroom might seem like a great choice for storing valuables but if you’re not present during a burglary it’s likely to be the first place searched. If you’re looking to have good coverage of defensive weapons, it’s probably a good idea to keep one or two weapons in your bedroom so that you will have something immediately upon waking during a home invasion.
The Kitchen Pantry
When thinking about how to hide a gun for home invasion you’re probably not thinking about the pantry but it really is a good place to consider. Thieves will not likely search the pantry or expect a weapon to be there. During the daytime, you will probably be closer to the kitchen than the bedroom, which could be a big plus. Kitchens also are normally located near exits so in a good scenario you could get your firearm and evacuate, avoiding immediate confrontation and injury.
A Closet Near the Front Door
This is a good place for hiding a gun during home invasion. Valuables generally aren’t stored in front closets so thieves often ignore them. If a confrontation happens near your front door, this will definitely be a good place to have a weapon.
Guest Bedroom
Guest rooms are less likely to be targeted during home invasions. A well hidden and secured firearm in a guest bedroom closet could be helpful in a pinch if you’re looking for another place to hide a gun during home invasion.
HIDING GUNS IN PLAIN SIGHT
Over the years, there has been an increase in manufacturers offering alternative ways for storing and hiding guns in the home. Nowadays, home-made or custom one-off pieces of furniture with drawers, shelves, and compartments hidden in every conceivable location are widely available. Even small items like hallway mirrors and end tables have become places for hiding firearms. Other pieces of furniture that have been designed for hiding guns at home include:
Picture frames which hinge open, with slots for hiding pistols inside
Coffee tables with drawers custom-fitted to your guns
Coffee tables with tops that slide open, revealing places for hiding guns
Entertainment centers and china cabinets that have end caps that swing open to reveal gun storage
Knick-knack shelves with hinged tops that open to reveal a place for gun storage
Using furniture for hiding firearms offers a discreet way to keep your weapon accessible and safe in your home. These pieces don’t require huge locks or metal doors due to their secrecy. You can scatter these hiding places across your home so that you are never far from a weapon for your self-defense.
While this may be a cool way for how to hide a gun during home invasion, there are also some disadvantages worth your consideration. We’ll get into those below.
Professional Criminals Are Smarter Than Ever
To successfully fool a criminal, you have to think like a criminal. Would a smart criminal be reading this very blog and therefore start checking hallway mirrors and coffee tables for secret compartments? Yes…a smart one would. So be very careful about this method and do try to keep locks on your guns even when they are hidden. To be effective when hiding a gun during home invasion you’ll need to keep your firearms from falling into a burglar’s hands.
Kids Aren’t Stupid Either
Kids should never be underestimated. They pay attention to details that you probably think they ignore. Their natural curiosity means they will be exploring their surroundings and that exploration may include poking around inside your furniture, under your bed, or in your closet. If you have kids at home make sure that any secret storage furniture is securely locked. How to hide a gun during a home invasion is one thing, but how to hide it from your own kids is a whole ‘nother concept to think about.
Furniture Is Not Fireproof
When a fire strikes, it won’t just skip over your hidden guns. While there are some exceptions, the majority of secret compartment type furniture is not designed to be fireproof. When thinking about the best place to hide a gun in case of home invasion, you’ll also need to make sure that your firearms are safe from any potential fires. Try checking out the fire rating of anything you’re thinking of storing your firearms in. It could very well pay off.
Firearms May Not Be Covered by Homeowner’s Insurance
Your homeowner’s insurance may not be able to cover your firearms collection in the event of its destruction. This of course will depend on your policy but be prepared for the fact that your insurance provider may only cover a certain amount. If the contents of your collection or your gun safe are worth a good amount then you may want to consider adding a rider to your policy or purchasing firearms insurance from another provider. Riders are generally affordable. For a rider you may be required to submit to your insurer an itemized list of your firearms along with serial numbers, descriptions, and pictures.
Criminals Will Steal Your Guns
Figures from the Department of Justice reveal that around 230,000 firearms were stolen yearly between 2005 and 2010. Over the course of this study over 80% of those firearms had not been recovered within 6 months of their theft. You certainly don’t want your firearm to be linked with a crime so please, take your time when thinking about how to hide a gun in case of home invasion and make sure all your plans are well thought out.
UNIQUE HIDING PLACES FOR STASHING YOUR FIREARMS
Sometimes things that we think are past their usefulness turn out to be great for hiding a gun during home invasion. We’ll list some of those items and more below:
Empty cereal box in the pantry. Just hope the burglar won’t get hungry. Not recommended if you have children.
Hanging upside down from a hook under the bathroom cabinet.
Inside a closet up over the door (thieves aren’t likely to look directly above their heads).
Behind a decorative blanket hung like a cheap tapestry.
Non-locking hideaway picture frame.
False bottom in a bedside drawer.
Fake electrical outlets.
If your main entry door is made of steel or solid core wood with no glass openings, you could attach a hook backed holster canted at about 45 degrees just above the doorknob.
An old scanner or printer can be incorporated into your hidden gun storage plans. Remove the internal components so that you can pop open the top to reveal a handgun.
Try hiding a firearm (securely) among a pile of dirty clothes. Thieves are unlikely to look there unless they’re into something weird.
Under the couch. Make a horizontal system of hooks and belt fasteners to hold up to four rifles lengthwise.
Inside a wall clock.
People have been known to use empty pizza boxes to hide guns near their trash. No one should suspect anything but an old delivery order.
In the closet, on a cheap plastic hanger covered with a button up shirt.
Make a hiding place under your towels in the master bathroom.
Inside the pocket of a jacket hung in the closet.
Incognito in a brown paper grocery bag folded next to the refrigerator between the cabinet and fridge.
A gun can be easily concealed in the space between window curtains and the wall above windows. This hiding place usually can’t be seen either from inside or outside.
Large trophies can also be good hiding places. They tend to be hollow underneath and can conceal small firearms.
In a Ziploc bag hidden under frozen veggies in the freezer.
In a pistol safe with a credit card swipe feature to open the safe electronically. You can use an outdated credit card to make this work.
A classic: shoebox in the closet. This may be overdone, however.
There are spaces in many dressers or cabinets where a gun could be hidden although this might take some handiwork. These hiding places will use the spaces in the framework of the cabinet such as spaces between drawers.
Behind an air vent.
A hollowed out electrical fuse box could make a great hiding spot for guns at home.
A/C vents/ducts/intakes mounted high that require a stool or ladder for access.
People have been known to use a hollowed-out water heater.
In closet inside an old pair of boots or shoes
You can hide a micro pistol in a beer stein
Behind or under a false tile.
An oldie: buried in the yard.
Underneath the carpet. Make sure to cover up the carpet so no one notices that it has been removed and tampered with.
HIDING YOUR GUN INSIDE THE CAR
Although not exactly part of your home your car certainly is a place to hide your gun during home invasion. If you can make it out of the house and to your car you can be ready to protect yourself and possibly avoid a dangerous confrontation while inside. We’ll go over some classic options for hiding a gun in your car:
Under the Driver’s Seat
Concealed carrying in a car will depend on state law. That being said, many concealed carriers carry a weapon under the driver’s seat in case of emergency. Make sure you keep your car locked so that a thief isn’t able to find this weapon before entering your home.
Center Console
The center console of your car could be one of the best places to hide a gun in case of a home invasion. That’s because it’s safely outside your home and away from the invader. Make sure keeping a gun here is legal in your state. Get outside and secure the weapon as soon as you can. Make sure your car is locked so that a thief isn’t able to find this weapon before entering your home.
TIPS ON HOW TO PREVENT AND DEAL WITH HOME INVASION
A lot of home invasions happen in broad daylight. You really never know when a home invasion will occur. The invader could break down your front door or slip in through a back window. You’ll need to be very aware of where the invader is and come up with a plan accordingly. You may not be close to a weapon or an exit so you’ll have to think quickly. If you have weapons scattered and accessible throughout the house there’s a good chance you can get to one. If you only have weapons in, say, the closet of your bedroom, it might be too risky to try to get to them. If you are already carrying a weapon you’ll be in a good position. Still, you won’t want to use your firearm unless you have to. Safety is your first priority. Think of this scenario when planning how to hide a gun in case of a home invasion.
On-Body Carry
Call it paranoid but it is actually more practical than stashing weapons throughout your home. An on-body carry at home might sound like work but if an emergency occurs, this is your best chance at having a weapon at the ready. If you try to retrieve any weapons from furniture or behind walls, it could take some time. Also to retrieve those weapons you’ll need to remember where everything is while in a moment of active panic. Keep in mind that your brain will be working differently when in an active home invasion situation. Make it as easy for yourself as you can.
Prevention Before Cure
One of your best defenses against home invasion is a home security system. Try to invest in the best, most responsible security system that fits your needs. It’s impossible to find a 100% impenetrable system but at least you can find one that you trust and which you believe will give you the best chance to defend your home and family.
Wargame Your Tactics
Once you have determined a method for hiding a gun during home invasion, it is time to plan how you will respond when the invader arrives. Your plan should include possible entry points in relation to your safe room and the areas where you and your family spend most of your time. Consider how you will respond in case of sudden attacks. You may want to look at available firing angles. You’ll want to consider the best possible exit routes and places for cover as well. You may want to stash additional magazines or speedloaders in certain areas just in case.
HOW TO RESPOND TO A HOME INVASION
Hiding a gun during home invasion is just one part of your plan. Having a weapon could be very helpful but having an escape plan is equally important. You never know what could happen. Below we have some helpful tips on how to react during an attack:
Don’t Try to Confront Invaders
This ain’t TV. Don’t confront an intruder if you don’t have to. Doing so could make them react violently and lead to your family being injured. The best thing to do is to escape the situation or hide. Make as little noise as possible. Then get help.
Call 911
One of the first things that you should do is call 911. Be straight to the point with the dispatcher. Tell them that there is an intruder in your home, provide your address, and express the urgency of the situation. Talk as little as possible so that you will not alert the intruder as to where you are in the house. After you are done, place your phone in your pocket and switch it to silent mode.
Go to a Safe Room
This doesn’t have to be some elaborate metal cell like in the movies. Instead, just go to the part of the house where you can most safely hide. You should be able to lock the room from the inside. Don’t forget to bring your cell phone with you so you can contact any help. Keep your phone set to silent mode so as not to give away your position.
Remain Calm and Cooperative
If you meet the intruder/s face to face, stay as calm as possible. Speak in your normal voice, ask them what they want, and cooperate with them. If they simply want your money or valuables, just give it to them. This is not the time to be a hero. Money and items can be recovered, your life or the life of a family member cannot. Speak calmly and agree to their demands. Don’t make any sudden moves or threaten them.
Grab Protection
Even if there is no gun nearby, try to find something that will help you defend yourself if you absolutely have to. A good idea is a baseball bat. If you only have what’s in your pockets try gripping your keys in between your fingers and forming a fist.
Home invasion is a terrifying experience but it is something that you can prepare for. We hope these tips will help you hide a gun during home invasion and ensure your safety and the safety of your family in case of an attack.
What do you think is the best way to prepare for a home invasion? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section!
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Best Place to Hide a Gun In Case of a Home Invasion
The GMW Gun Hooks with Cable Gun Lock Hole and the GMW AR15 Wall Mount. Now available now on Amazon.com.
BUY NOW
Homes should be our sanctuaries. They should be a place where we can exist at ease, get some rest, and recharge. But that’s not always up to us. “Home invasion” is a term that has been used broadly to describe any crime committed by an individual unlawfully entering a residence while someone is home. Home invasions can and do occur and they are the reason why many gun owners purchase their guns in the first place.
A US Department of Justice Report revealed that an estimated 3.7 million burglaries occurred each year on average from 2003 to 2007. A household member was present in roughly 1 million burglaries and became a victim of a violent crime in 266,560 burglaries. Overall, 61% of offenders were unarmed when violence occurred during a burglary while a resident was present. About 12% of all households violently burglarized while someone was home faced an offender armed with a firearm. Serious injury accounted for 9% and minor injury accounted for 36% of injuries sustained by household members who were home and experienced violence during a completed burglary.
You certainly don’t want to be included in those statistics and that’s probably why you have a weapon in your home for self-defense. But having a weapon in your home entails a lot of responsibility, especially if you have children. There are plenty of reasons for you to take time to consider the best place to hide a gun in case of a home invasion. You’ll not only want quick access to your weapon in case of an emergency, you’ll also want to know that your gun is safe and secure and out of the hands of thieves, children, and other unauthorized persons.
Do you think you’re ready to handle a home invasion? Many people have not prepared for such an incident. Criminals most likely will try to get into your house when you’re not home. You’ll be at a disadvantage even if you are at home though, due to the element of surprise. Some criminals may have experience and tactics. If you want to prepare to defend your home, you should also consider having a plan in place. Having a gun, knowing gun safety, and having training using a gun for self-defense are good steps. Now let’s talk about how to hide a gun in case of home invasion. In this article we’ll be providing you with some tips on hiding a gun during home invasion. So let’s get started.
DECENTRALIZE YOUR GUN STORAGE
It doesn’t make too much sense to only have one place to hide a gun during home invasion. That’s because the invader might be in the path between you and the gun. It’ll be much easier to defend yourself and your family by having multiple options. The best place to hide a gun for home invasion is going to depend on your house and its entry and exit points as well as where the invader is. A gun safe might be considered a good place to hide a gun, but in the event of an emergency you might not have the time to open it. Also, a gun safe is likely where burglars will head first, hoping to deprive you of your weapons and take any valuables if they can get it open. So let’s consider some locations that might give you the best tactical advantages:
The Master Bedroom
The master bedroom might seem like a great choice for storing valuables but if you’re not present during a burglary it’s likely to be the first place searched. If you’re looking to have good coverage of defensive weapons, it’s probably a good idea to keep one or two weapons in your bedroom so that you will have something immediately upon waking during a home invasion.
The Kitchen Pantry
When thinking about how to hide a gun for home invasion you’re probably not thinking about the pantry but it really is a good place to consider. Thieves will not likely search the pantry or expect a weapon to be there. During the daytime, you will probably be closer to the kitchen than the bedroom, which could be a big plus. Kitchens also are normally located near exits so in a good scenario you could get your firearm and evacuate, avoiding immediate confrontation and injury.
A Closet Near the Front Door
This is a good place for hiding a gun during home invasion. Valuables generally aren’t stored in front closets so thieves often ignore them. If a confrontation happens near your front door, this will definitely be a good place to have a weapon.
Guest Bedroom
Guest rooms are less likely to be targeted during home invasions. A well hidden and secured firearm in a guest bedroom closet could be helpful in a pinch if you’re looking for another place to hide a gun during home invasion.
HIDING GUNS IN PLAIN SIGHT
Over the years, there has been an increase in manufacturers offering alternative ways for storing and hiding guns in the home. Nowadays, home-made or custom one-off pieces of furniture with drawers, shelves, and compartments hidden in every conceivable location are widely available. Even small items like hallway mirrors and end tables have become places for hiding firearms. Other pieces of furniture that have been designed for hiding guns at home include:
Using furniture for hiding firearms offers a discreet way to keep your weapon accessible and safe in your home. These pieces don’t require huge locks or metal doors due to their secrecy. You can scatter these hiding places across your home so that you are never far from a weapon for your self-defense.
While this may be a cool way for how to hide a gun during home invasion, there are also some disadvantages worth your consideration. We’ll get into those below.
Professional Criminals Are Smarter Than Ever
To successfully fool a criminal, you have to think like a criminal. Would a smart criminal be reading this very blog and therefore start checking hallway mirrors and coffee tables for secret compartments? Yes…a smart one would. So be very careful about this method and do try to keep locks on your guns even when they are hidden. To be effective when hiding a gun during home invasion you’ll need to keep your firearms from falling into a burglar’s hands.
Kids Aren’t Stupid Either
Kids should never be underestimated. They pay attention to details that you probably think they ignore. Their natural curiosity means they will be exploring their surroundings and that exploration may include poking around inside your furniture, under your bed, or in your closet. If you have kids at home make sure that any secret storage furniture is securely locked. How to hide a gun during a home invasion is one thing, but how to hide it from your own kids is a whole ‘nother concept to think about.
Furniture Is Not Fireproof
When a fire strikes, it won’t just skip over your hidden guns. While there are some exceptions, the majority of secret compartment type furniture is not designed to be fireproof. When thinking about the best place to hide a gun in case of home invasion, you’ll also need to make sure that your firearms are safe from any potential fires. Try checking out the fire rating of anything you’re thinking of storing your firearms in. It could very well pay off.
Firearms May Not Be Covered by Homeowner’s Insurance
Your homeowner’s insurance may not be able to cover your firearms collection in the event of its destruction. This of course will depend on your policy but be prepared for the fact that your insurance provider may only cover a certain amount. If the contents of your collection or your gun safe are worth a good amount then you may want to consider adding a rider to your policy or purchasing firearms insurance from another provider. Riders are generally affordable. For a rider you may be required to submit to your insurer an itemized list of your firearms along with serial numbers, descriptions, and pictures.
Criminals Will Steal Your Guns
Figures from the Department of Justice reveal that around 230,000 firearms were stolen yearly between 2005 and 2010. Over the course of this study over 80% of those firearms had not been recovered within 6 months of their theft. You certainly don’t want your firearm to be linked with a crime so please, take your time when thinking about how to hide a gun in case of home invasion and make sure all your plans are well thought out.
UNIQUE HIDING PLACES FOR STASHING YOUR FIREARMS
Sometimes things that we think are past their usefulness turn out to be great for hiding a gun during home invasion. We’ll list some of those items and more below:
HIDING YOUR GUN INSIDE THE CAR
Although not exactly part of your home your car certainly is a place to hide your gun during home invasion. If you can make it out of the house and to your car you can be ready to protect yourself and possibly avoid a dangerous confrontation while inside. We’ll go over some classic options for hiding a gun in your car:
Under the Driver’s Seat
Concealed carrying in a car will depend on state law. That being said, many concealed carriers carry a weapon under the driver’s seat in case of emergency. Make sure you keep your car locked so that a thief isn’t able to find this weapon before entering your home.
Center Console
The center console of your car could be one of the best places to hide a gun in case of a home invasion. That’s because it’s safely outside your home and away from the invader. Make sure keeping a gun here is legal in your state. Get outside and secure the weapon as soon as you can. Make sure your car is locked so that a thief isn’t able to find this weapon before entering your home.
TIPS ON HOW TO PREVENT AND DEAL WITH HOME INVASION
A lot of home invasions happen in broad daylight. You really never know when a home invasion will occur. The invader could break down your front door or slip in through a back window. You’ll need to be very aware of where the invader is and come up with a plan accordingly. You may not be close to a weapon or an exit so you’ll have to think quickly. If you have weapons scattered and accessible throughout the house there’s a good chance you can get to one. If you only have weapons in, say, the closet of your bedroom, it might be too risky to try to get to them. If you are already carrying a weapon you’ll be in a good position. Still, you won’t want to use your firearm unless you have to. Safety is your first priority. Think of this scenario when planning how to hide a gun in case of a home invasion.
On-Body Carry
Call it paranoid but it is actually more practical than stashing weapons throughout your home. An on-body carry at home might sound like work but if an emergency occurs, this is your best chance at having a weapon at the ready. If you try to retrieve any weapons from furniture or behind walls, it could take some time. Also to retrieve those weapons you’ll need to remember where everything is while in a moment of active panic. Keep in mind that your brain will be working differently when in an active home invasion situation. Make it as easy for yourself as you can.
Prevention Before Cure
One of your best defenses against home invasion is a home security system. Try to invest in the best, most responsible security system that fits your needs. It’s impossible to find a 100% impenetrable system but at least you can find one that you trust and which you believe will give you the best chance to defend your home and family.
Wargame Your Tactics
Once you have determined a method for hiding a gun during home invasion, it is time to plan how you will respond when the invader arrives. Your plan should include possible entry points in relation to your safe room and the areas where you and your family spend most of your time. Consider how you will respond in case of sudden attacks. You may want to look at available firing angles. You’ll want to consider the best possible exit routes and places for cover as well. You may want to stash additional magazines or speedloaders in certain areas just in case.
HOW TO RESPOND TO A HOME INVASION
Hiding a gun during home invasion is just one part of your plan. Having a weapon could be very helpful but having an escape plan is equally important. You never know what could happen. Below we have some helpful tips on how to react during an attack:
Don’t Try to Confront Invaders
This ain’t TV. Don’t confront an intruder if you don’t have to. Doing so could make them react violently and lead to your family being injured. The best thing to do is to escape the situation or hide. Make as little noise as possible. Then get help.
Call 911
Go to a Safe Room
This doesn’t have to be some elaborate metal cell like in the movies. Instead, just go to the part of the house where you can most safely hide. You should be able to lock the room from the inside. Don’t forget to bring your cell phone with you so you can contact any help. Keep your phone set to silent mode so as not to give away your position.
Remain Calm and Cooperative
If you meet the intruder/s face to face, stay as calm as possible. Speak in your normal voice, ask them what they want, and cooperate with them. If they simply want your money or valuables, just give it to them. This is not the time to be a hero. Money and items can be recovered, your life or the life of a family member cannot. Speak calmly and agree to their demands. Don’t make any sudden moves or threaten them.
Grab Protection
Even if there is no gun nearby, try to find something that will help you defend yourself if you absolutely have to. A good idea is a baseball bat. If you only have what’s in your pockets try gripping your keys in between your fingers and forming a fist.
Home invasion is a terrifying experience but it is something that you can prepare for. We hope these tips will help you hide a gun during home invasion and ensure your safety and the safety of your family in case of an attack.
What do you think is the best way to prepare for a home invasion? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section!