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While many gun owners enjoy their firearms for sport or hunting, many people rely on their firearms for self-defense. Home invasions are a major concern amongst the gun-owning community. Having a gun at home could be a good way to prepare for an attack. But keep in mind that a lot of responsibility comes with keeping a gun in your home, especially if you live with children. For this reason you’ll need to think hard about how to hide a gun at home. Many hiding places are good for secrecy but pretty awful in terms of accessibility and it will be important to find a balance between these two factors. This article will give you some tips on how to best approach the problem.
Your first idea will likely be to keep your gun safe and secure inside a specialized box or case. You might think a gun safe would be an ideal storage place for your firearm and that may be so, but not everyone will be able to install a gun safe and these safes are not completely foolproof.
A gun safe could also become a burglar’s target. Burglars assume that not only will your self-defense weapons be in a safe but also your valuables. If they focus their energy on getting into your safe you could be in trouble. Safes are also costly, especially if you only own one or two guns. Gun safes also suffer from accessibility issues. How long will it take you to get to and open a gun safe and will you have that time available to you during a home invasion? So, let’s think outside the gun safe and explore other hidden gun storage ideas.
When hiding a gun in the house, there are several things you should consider. Probably the first thing you will consider is the safety of your family, and especially your children. As a gun owner it is your responsibility to keep your guns and other weapons away from your kids. With this in mind, also be aware of any laws that regulate what weapons will be allowed to be stored in a home with children.
While keeping a gun in the house could help you in an emergency, this does entail a large amount of responsibility on your part. When hiding a gun at home, always keep in mind these two things:
The Gun Must Be Kept Hidden and Secure
Just imagine what could happen if your child finds a gun lying around. Additionally, you’ll also want to find a secure place away from the eyes of any thieves or untrusted persons that might enter your home. Consider this when making your hidden gun storage plans: a good hiding spot can be better than a visible safe.
The Gun Must Be Easily Accessible
While it needs to stay hidden, your gun should also be easily accessible. You’ll need it immediately when in an emergency situation. What’s the point of having a gun that you can’t get to when you need it?
So let’s keep talking about how to hide a gun at home and move on to some good locations for stashing your firearms.
HIDING PLACES
There are a million hidden gun storage ideas but not all of them will work for you. Always take your situation into account when making big decisions like where to store a weapon. That being said here are some recommendations for where to hide your firearms.
Everyday Furniture
This has become something of a new trend when it comes to hiding a gun in the house. Many people are now opting to store their firearms in secret compartments. These pieces are usually home-made and customized, featuring hidden compartments, drawers, or shelves in sneaky locations. Some of these compartments have been made to work with smaller decor pieces such as hallway mirrors or end tables. One advantage is that you will probably not need complex locks or heavy metal doors to guard your weapons since their locations will be secret. These compartments can fool thieves and keep your firearms away from anyone who should not be touching your guns.
While this may be a cool way of hiding a gun in your home, there are also some disadvantages worth your consideration.
Professional Criminals Are Now 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.
Kids Are Not 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 or your hidden gun storage plans may fail.
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. To effectively address the question of how to hide a gun at home, you need to make sure that your firearms are safe from any potential fires.
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.
Make It Hard for Burglars to Access Your Firearms
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 with any hidden gun storage ideas and make sure they are well thought out.
Pre-Built Hiding Spots
Have you considered pre-built hiding spots as a way of how to hide a gun at home? This is an easy way to go about things and these options generally come with helpful locking mechanisms.
Gun Safe Clocks
This is the middle point between a full gun safe and hidden compartment type storage. These fully functional clocks can easily hold a range of guns and look good while doing it. Well-made examples offer a good hiding spot with the protection of a full-on gun safe.
Improvised Hiding Spots
If you’re a DIY kind of a gun owner this style might be appealing to you. With a few stops to your local hardware store and a little elbow grease, you could create a setup that works perfect for you and your house. If you’re hiding a gun in the house, why not make it a Sunday project?
Gun Magnet
While not the most sophisticated concept, this one will get the job done. Simply attach a gun magnet to the underside of a table, desk, or bar, and you’ll have a solid place to keep your gun. Make sure that the gun will be obscured from view by a table lip or other features. This may not be a good idea if you have children as they tend to get underneath tables and could find your weapon.
Rod Hooks
This one is simple, quick, and easy. Just install a couple of rod hooks in the back of your closet and you’ll have a good location for keeping handguns, rifles, and even shotguns. This method is not recommended if you have children for obvious reasons but it does offer good accessibility. Consider keeping your closet locked and placing trigger locks on your weapons.
Hidden Book
The ol’ hidden book–perfect for hiding a gun at home. To make this work for you make sure to use a thick book and glue the pages together. You don’t want the pages bending or your gun could fall out. Remember to use a trigger lock and consider keeping this book well hidden and out of the reach of children who might be snooping around.
Ready to Go Hiding Spots
To be honest, your home probably already has a lot of good hiding spots. Consider some of these options and figure out if they’re safe and useful for your personal situation.
Closet
One of the best places for implementing hidden gun storage plans is your closet. Inside your closet, you might have a pair of old boots which will mean nothing to a thief. To you, of course, those boots are a great hiding place for your handgun.
Boots aren’t the only items worth considering. You’re bound to have plenty of old jackets hanging up which can easily fit handguns in their pockets. Try not to use anything fashionable as you won’t want a thief to accidentally steal your gun. Also consider any children or outsiders in this scenario. Definitely consider a trigger lock if using this method.
Living Room
Couches have skeletal frames covered with cloth at the bottom, making them a perfect place for hiding firearms. It is unlikely that a thief will look under your couch. With just a slight cut of the fabric you can conceal several types of long guns. Just make sure to staple the fabric back so that no one knows the couch has been tampered with. Definitely not kid-friendly or fire safe, but very sneaky. Consider trigger locks.
Bathroom
Many people feel vulnerable in bathrooms so they may consider hiding a firearm in there with them. Unfortunately when talking about how to hide a gun at home the idea is generally discouraged. This is because thieves often check bathrooms for prescription medications. There are also not very many good places to hide a gun in a bathroom. You don’t want your gun getting stolen or getting wet.
Concealment Shelves
Concealment shelves certainly fit the bill when you’re thinking of hidden gun storage ideas. One drawback to these shelves though is that they generally require magnetic keys to open. Are you going to have those keys on you and ready to go in an emergency? Also, how will these shelves stand up to your kids’ horseplay? Certainly an option and the locking ability is great but make sure to assess your personal situation before going this route.
OTHER IDEAS FOR HIDING GUNS AT HOME
While they may get weirder, we haven’t run out of ideas for hiding a gun in the house yet! Here are some options we’re putting in the “miscellaneous” category:
Empty food box
Using empty food boxes as a hiding place for guns can be a creative way of storing firearms at home. While this option gets 5 stars for sneakiness, how accessible will this gun be to you from your bedroom? Also, will children rifle through the pantry and find your gun? Never underestimate a stupid, hungry thief.
Pottery
Another great place for hiding a gun at home is in a plant pot. It should be easy to find a pot large enough to fit a handgun. Don’t forget to wrap your firearm in a towel so that it stays concealed if anybody accidentally uncovers it. The towell will also help avoid any possible damage to your firearm. Make sure you clean your handgun frequently if using this method and definitely use a trigger lock.
Electrical Outlet
Not a real electrical outlet…a fake one. These can be purchased online and are one of the most creative methods for hiding a gun in your house. While some burglars do search outlets for valuables from time to time, there’s a pretty low chance they’ll find the right outlet out of the 100 or so they install in a modern home. Keep your gun secured even when using this method. You never know.
Under the Floor
Take a tip from Edgar Allen Poe and make the most of your floorspace. Simply cut out a piece and slip your gun case into it. Make sure that it’s not obvious that this piece was ever removed and consider making your cut under a couch or bed which will help conceal any telltale mark of tampering.
Air Vents
This is similar to the fake electrical outlet concept. You’ve got the option to use fake air vents or real ones. Always use a locked case if possible.
Picture Frame
While there are books designed for concealing handguns, there are also picture frames that serve the same purpose. Make sure to use a drab-looking photo or painting in your frame so that no burglar will try to take it. You don’t want to be using your Picasso for this one.
Other Options
Here are some more suggestions on how to hide a gun at home:
Hanging upside down from a hook under the bathroom cabinet just above the door.
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.
False bottom in bedside drawer
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.
If you’re wondering how to hide a gun at home when you’re away, try hiding it (securely) among a pile of dirty clothes. Thieves are unlikely to look there unless they’re into something weird.
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.
Make a hiding place under your towels in the master bathroom.
Some people when hiding a gun at home use the space near where they store extra grocery bags.
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.
For the bathroom you can hang a soft gun case from a hook inside a closet and hide a case inside or behind a bathrobe.
Another place for hiding a gun at the house is between two mattresses. This spot offers immediate access and is hidden from sight. People tend to look for hidden items underneath beds but much less frequently do they check between mattresses. This is generally more comfortable if you store the gun near the head-side of the bed.
If you still haven’t found the perfect idea for how to hide a gun at home, you can try to conceal your firearm in a chair. This will take some work though. The trick is to find a way to hang or place a holster inside the chair where it won’t be visible. Make sure your guests don’t sit in that chair. That’s bad manners.
A classic: shoebox in the closet. This may be overdone, however.
Large trophies can also be good hiding places. They tend to be hollow underneath and can conceal small firearms.
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.
People have been known when hiding a gun at the house to use a hollowed-out water heater.
Micro pistols can fit inside decorative beer steins.
A hollowed out electrical fuse box could make a great hiding spot for guns at home.
Another way to hide a gun is to create a false tile with a hidden compartment inside your wall.
If you need to hide a huge amount of firearms, pull the carpet back, grab a hammer and chisel and get to work.
Your home will hopefully always be a sanctuary, but we understand that you’re here because you’re thinking about self-defense and safety. Remember that a good hiding place can always be discovered so take extra precautions like storing your gun in a locked case no matter where you hide it. We hope these tips will help you address how to hide a gun at home.
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How to Hide a Gun at Home
The GMW Gun Hooks with Cable Gun Lock Hole. Now available now on Amazon.com.
BUY NOW
While many gun owners enjoy their firearms for sport or hunting, many people rely on their firearms for self-defense. Home invasions are a major concern amongst the gun-owning community. Having a gun at home could be a good way to prepare for an attack. But keep in mind that a lot of responsibility comes with keeping a gun in your home, especially if you live with children. For this reason you’ll need to think hard about how to hide a gun at home. Many hiding places are good for secrecy but pretty awful in terms of accessibility and it will be important to find a balance between these two factors. This article will give you some tips on how to best approach the problem.
Your first idea will likely be to keep your gun safe and secure inside a specialized box or case. You might think a gun safe would be an ideal storage place for your firearm and that may be so, but not everyone will be able to install a gun safe and these safes are not completely foolproof.
A gun safe could also become a burglar’s target. Burglars assume that not only will your self-defense weapons be in a safe but also your valuables. If they focus their energy on getting into your safe you could be in trouble. Safes are also costly, especially if you only own one or two guns. Gun safes also suffer from accessibility issues. How long will it take you to get to and open a gun safe and will you have that time available to you during a home invasion? So, let’s think outside the gun safe and explore other hidden gun storage ideas.
When hiding a gun in the house, there are several things you should consider. Probably the first thing you will consider is the safety of your family, and especially your children. As a gun owner it is your responsibility to keep your guns and other weapons away from your kids. With this in mind, also be aware of any laws that regulate what weapons will be allowed to be stored in a home with children.
While keeping a gun in the house could help you in an emergency, this does entail a large amount of responsibility on your part. When hiding a gun at home, always keep in mind these two things:
Just imagine what could happen if your child finds a gun lying around. Additionally, you’ll also want to find a secure place away from the eyes of any thieves or untrusted persons that might enter your home. Consider this when making your hidden gun storage plans: a good hiding spot can be better than a visible safe.
While it needs to stay hidden, your gun should also be easily accessible. You’ll need it immediately when in an emergency situation. What’s the point of having a gun that you can’t get to when you need it?
So let’s keep talking about how to hide a gun at home and move on to some good locations for stashing your firearms.
HIDING PLACES
There are a million hidden gun storage ideas but not all of them will work for you. Always take your situation into account when making big decisions like where to store a weapon. That being said here are some recommendations for where to hide your firearms.
Everyday Furniture
This has become something of a new trend when it comes to hiding a gun in the house. Many people are now opting to store their firearms in secret compartments. These pieces are usually home-made and customized, featuring hidden compartments, drawers, or shelves in sneaky locations. Some of these compartments have been made to work with smaller decor pieces such as hallway mirrors or end tables. One advantage is that you will probably not need complex locks or heavy metal doors to guard your weapons since their locations will be secret. These compartments can fool thieves and keep your firearms away from anyone who should not be touching your guns.
While this may be a cool way of hiding a gun in your home, there are also some disadvantages worth your consideration.
Professional Criminals Are Now 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.
Kids Are Not 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 or your hidden gun storage plans may fail.
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. To effectively address the question of how to hide a gun at home, you need to make sure that your firearms are safe from any potential fires.
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.
Make It Hard for Burglars to Access Your Firearms
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 with any hidden gun storage ideas and make sure they are well thought out.
Pre-Built Hiding Spots
Have you considered pre-built hiding spots as a way of how to hide a gun at home? This is an easy way to go about things and these options generally come with helpful locking mechanisms.
Gun Safe Clocks
This is the middle point between a full gun safe and hidden compartment type storage. These fully functional clocks can easily hold a range of guns and look good while doing it. Well-made examples offer a good hiding spot with the protection of a full-on gun safe.
Improvised Hiding Spots
If you’re a DIY kind of a gun owner this style might be appealing to you. With a few stops to your local hardware store and a little elbow grease, you could create a setup that works perfect for you and your house. If you’re hiding a gun in the house, why not make it a Sunday project?
Gun Magnet
While not the most sophisticated concept, this one will get the job done. Simply attach a gun magnet to the underside of a table, desk, or bar, and you’ll have a solid place to keep your gun. Make sure that the gun will be obscured from view by a table lip or other features. This may not be a good idea if you have children as they tend to get underneath tables and could find your weapon.
Rod Hooks
This one is simple, quick, and easy. Just install a couple of rod hooks in the back of your closet and you’ll have a good location for keeping handguns, rifles, and even shotguns. This method is not recommended if you have children for obvious reasons but it does offer good accessibility. Consider keeping your closet locked and placing trigger locks on your weapons.
Hidden Book
The ol’ hidden book–perfect for hiding a gun at home. To make this work for you make sure to use a thick book and glue the pages together. You don’t want the pages bending or your gun could fall out. Remember to use a trigger lock and consider keeping this book well hidden and out of the reach of children who might be snooping around.
Ready to Go Hiding Spots
To be honest, your home probably already has a lot of good hiding spots. Consider some of these options and figure out if they’re safe and useful for your personal situation.
Closet
One of the best places for implementing hidden gun storage plans is your closet. Inside your closet, you might have a pair of old boots which will mean nothing to a thief. To you, of course, those boots are a great hiding place for your handgun.
Boots aren’t the only items worth considering. You’re bound to have plenty of old jackets hanging up which can easily fit handguns in their pockets. Try not to use anything fashionable as you won’t want a thief to accidentally steal your gun. Also consider any children or outsiders in this scenario. Definitely consider a trigger lock if using this method.
Living Room
Couches have skeletal frames covered with cloth at the bottom, making them a perfect place for hiding firearms. It is unlikely that a thief will look under your couch. With just a slight cut of the fabric you can conceal several types of long guns. Just make sure to staple the fabric back so that no one knows the couch has been tampered with. Definitely not kid-friendly or fire safe, but very sneaky. Consider trigger locks.
Bathroom
Many people feel vulnerable in bathrooms so they may consider hiding a firearm in there with them. Unfortunately when talking about how to hide a gun at home the idea is generally discouraged. This is because thieves often check bathrooms for prescription medications. There are also not very many good places to hide a gun in a bathroom. You don’t want your gun getting stolen or getting wet.
Concealment Shelves
Concealment shelves certainly fit the bill when you’re thinking of hidden gun storage ideas. One drawback to these shelves though is that they generally require magnetic keys to open. Are you going to have those keys on you and ready to go in an emergency? Also, how will these shelves stand up to your kids’ horseplay? Certainly an option and the locking ability is great but make sure to assess your personal situation before going this route.
OTHER IDEAS FOR HIDING GUNS AT HOME
While they may get weirder, we haven’t run out of ideas for hiding a gun in the house yet! Here are some options we’re putting in the “miscellaneous” category:
Empty food box
Using empty food boxes as a hiding place for guns can be a creative way of storing firearms at home. While this option gets 5 stars for sneakiness, how accessible will this gun be to you from your bedroom? Also, will children rifle through the pantry and find your gun? Never underestimate a stupid, hungry thief.
Pottery
Another great place for hiding a gun at home is in a plant pot. It should be easy to find a pot large enough to fit a handgun. Don’t forget to wrap your firearm in a towel so that it stays concealed if anybody accidentally uncovers it. The towell will also help avoid any possible damage to your firearm. Make sure you clean your handgun frequently if using this method and definitely use a trigger lock.
Electrical Outlet
Not a real electrical outlet…a fake one. These can be purchased online and are one of the most creative methods for hiding a gun in your house. While some burglars do search outlets for valuables from time to time, there’s a pretty low chance they’ll find the right outlet out of the 100 or so they install in a modern home. Keep your gun secured even when using this method. You never know.
Under the Floor
Take a tip from Edgar Allen Poe and make the most of your floorspace. Simply cut out a piece and slip your gun case into it. Make sure that it’s not obvious that this piece was ever removed and consider making your cut under a couch or bed which will help conceal any telltale mark of tampering.
Air Vents
This is similar to the fake electrical outlet concept. You’ve got the option to use fake air vents or real ones. Always use a locked case if possible.
Picture Frame
While there are books designed for concealing handguns, there are also picture frames that serve the same purpose. Make sure to use a drab-looking photo or painting in your frame so that no burglar will try to take it. You don’t want to be using your Picasso for this one.
Other Options
Here are some more suggestions on how to hide a gun at home:
Your home will hopefully always be a sanctuary, but we understand that you’re here because you’re thinking about self-defense and safety. Remember that a good hiding place can always be discovered so take extra precautions like storing your gun in a locked case no matter where you hide it. We hope these tips will help you address how to hide a gun at home.