Having a handgun available for home defense has been a staple of American culture for decades. But not everyone can have a pistol sitting on their nightstand like a TV private investigator.
Your home may have children, household staff, guests and others entering the home which means that leaving a pistol lying around is irresponsible. That is why a bedside gun safe is important. It will allow you to keep your pistol secure while still allowing easy access to it in an emergency.
Bedside Gun Safe Overview
Handguns are a very common option for home defense. This is because they can also be used for concealed carry. However, with handguns being the most stolen type of firearm, there is a clear need to secure a handgun from theft when it isn’t in use. Add in the safety of your children and pets and there are a few reasons not to put your pistol in a safe.
This means you have to balance having an extremely secure gun safe and being able to access the firearm in an emergency. Bedside gun safes are the best options that offer a good combination of accessibility, concealment, and security.
Types of Bedside Gun Safes
Gun safes come in a number of different varieties. There are GOSAFE Mobile Gun safes/Mags, traditional lock and key safes, biometric safes, electronic keypad safes, and bed-frame mounted safes. Each of these has its benefits and drawbacks. Let’s look at them individually.
GOSAFE Mobile Safe & GOSAFE Mobile Mag
The GOSAFE Mobile Safe and Mobile Mag are some of the best options on the market. This is because it adds the simplicity and security of a traditional lock and key safe, without the size restrictions. Locking and unlocking your GOSAFE is also a very easy function for users - you can easily switch back and forth between looked and unlocked within seconds dpeending on the situation. As long as the Mobile Safe or Mag fits your pistol, you can secure it anywhere.
This is especially helpful if you travel regularly. The Mobile Mags allow you to store your handgun loaded, but secure. This means it can be easily accessed in an emergency without having to deal with a bulky pistol safe.
Traditional lock and key safes
Traditional lock and key safes are the baseline of gun-safe designs. These are very often included in other safe types as backup opening methods. They are very simple to understand and work as long as you have the key. They are also one of the most cost-efficient options on the market.
There are two major drawbacks to lock and key safes. These are a thief defeating the lock and losing the keys. Defeating a safe’s lock can be difficult, but anything that is designed to be opened can and will be opened eventually. Losing a key on the other hand can be done very easily, especially with small-form tubular lock keys.
Make sure you have a spare key for your safe in a secure location, just in case you lose your primary key.
Biometric bedside gun safes
Biometric safe locks are some of the more convenient options for gun safe locks. Using your finger as the key to open your safe means that you will be able to access your firearm whenever you need to. You can even put in multiple fingerprints which allows you to have your spouse or other trusted individuals access your gun without a key.
The downside to this type of lock is the biometric system itself. If your fingerprint isn’t perfectly lined up like it was when you set the code, the lock may not work. This can be offset by putting in multiple variations of your fingerprint.
Another aspect worth considering is the memory and programming of the biometric lock. Some models can have multiple fingerprints added to their memory. If all of those slots are not full, someone could add their fingerprint to the list, granting them access. Another potential hazard is resetting the biometric memory and putting a whole new set of fingerprints into the system, thus defeating the lock.
Electronic keypad bedside gun safes
Electronic keypad gun safes are a good balance between traditional locks and biometric locks. These allow you to easily access the gun using your selected code without the negatives of a biometric lock or having to have a physical key.
The major downside to these types of locks is that some manufacturers may have a master code in order to open the safe for things like maintenance or emergencies. Combined with the ability to “brute force” or reprogram the electronic keypad, these types of safe locks are some of the easiest to defeat. This can be from the manufacturer being compromised with their code data, thieves getting physical access to your safe’s keypad, or from using easily guessed codes.
Bed frame-mounted safes
Bed frame-mounted safes are easily the most secure safes. Since they are connected to your bed or some other piece of furniture they are usually harder for thieves to find and take. This makes them great if your primary concern for having a gun safe is theft protection.
The drawback to this type of safe is having to mount the safe to the furniture you selected. This can damage what it’s mounted to and the furniture has to be sturdy enough to hold the weight of the loaded safe. The furniture also needs to be heavy enough so the safe can’t just be carried off with the furniture.
What to Look for in a Bedside Gun Safe?
Now that we know about the types of bedside gun safes, let’s look at a few factors that you need to consider when selecting a safe.
Size and storage capacity
How big a safe is and how much it can store always needs to be considered. This comes down to your pistol. The safe needs to be able to secure the pistol and still have the pistol fit. This includes all the pistol’s accessories like red dot sights, lights, etc.
These accessories can push the boundaries of normal safe capacities by making the baseline pistol larger than its original dimensions. A problem that can be solved by using a larger safe or something like the Mobile safe.
Accessibility and Quick Access Features
If your home defense plan includes your pistol you need to be able to quickly access it. Since a safe’s primary goal is to make a handgun harder to access by random individuals, this requires some “give and take.”
A safe that is the hardest to break into will probably not allow immediate access to the gun. So your safe needs to be able to balance your access to your pistol and other people’s access to your pistol. Your quick access features either need to be easily understood by you or intuitive by nature. This means things like lock and key safes or biometric safes have the best quick access.
Durability and Security Features
The basic concept of a safe is to deny access or to hold out long enough to prevent a thief from stealing what’s inside. This means the safe needs to be durable enough to resist the tools that could be used on it and should be able to let you know if someone has tried to open it.
Multiple safe designs feature anti-pry mechanisms to prevent thieves from forcing the safe open. Other safes include alarms or electronic notifications to alert you when an attempt is made to open it.
Cost and Budget Considerations
Cost and budget is the primary factor to consider when selecting a bedside safe. A general rule is that if a gun safe is less than $50, the quality of materials and construction will be very questionable. However, not everyone can spend hundreds of dollars on a safe.
Somewhere between these two extremes, there is a safe that will fit most of your needs and some of your wants. You have to determine which features are worth the cost for you.
Choosing the Best Bedside Gun Safe
- Research on the different types of bedside gun safes. Weigh its pros and cons.
- Evaluate your needs, preferences, and budget.
- Read customer reviews and feedback.
- Seek professional advice from firearms experts or local law enforcement.
- Check your local laws for applicable requirements/restrictions.
GOSAFE Mobile Safe - An All-Around Bedside Gun Safe
Very few safes will be able to fit all situations without breaking the bank. This means if you find a safe that meets most of your requirements and is still affordable you should go for it. The GOSAFE Mobile Mag and Mobile Safe are a good example of an "All-Around" solution since it is completely mobile and puts you in complete control of your handgun. Unlocked and ready to use or locked and secured if/when needed.since it can fit most situations. Check it out and the Mobile Mag to see if it fits your needs.
FAQs
Can I put a gun safe in my bedroom?
Yes! It is completely legal to put a gun safe in your bedroom with some jurisdictions heavily encouraging the use of safes.
Where is the best place to keep a gun in the bedroom?
Depending on the size of the gun, it’s better to place the gun in your nightstand, a safe, or some other place where the gun is secure.
Should you keep a gun on your nightstand?
If you are concerned about home invasions or robberies, having a gun 0n your nightstand can add another layer of security to your home. As long as you take the steps to secure the gun in the nightstand there are a few downsides to having a gun there.
Are gun safes really secure?
Any security countermeasure can be defeated with enough time and effort. Gun safes are as secure as they can be given their size, material, and lock restrictions
Are bedside gun safes child-proof?
Yes, most reputable gun safes are child-proof.
Can a bedside safe fit multiple firearms?
This depends on the size of the safe. Most safes are designed to handle one or two handguns, while others can hold more.
Do bedside safes require maintenance?
Bedside safes require very little maintenance which usually entails checking the batteries if the safe uses any, checking for rust, etc.
Is the investment in a bedside gun safe worth it?
Yes, a bedside gun safe is worth the investment, especially if you have small children or pets in your household.