A biometric gun safe represents a rather substantial investment by most people’s standards. Before dropping that kind of money on this new-fangled technology, prospective buyers would do well to consider if such a type of security safe is a worthwhile investment.
There are certainly many gun-owners out there who don’t now and never have locked up their weapons. They may think it absurd to lock away their means of protection and render it inaccessible in the event of a crisis. Others may merely be resentful of the federal government’s ever-increasing hostility toward gun ownership, and proudly keep their weapons on display.
However, in many jurisdictions, the states, through aggressive and politically ambitious local prosecutors, have seized upon the use of a stolen or misappropriated weapon to do harm, to prosecute the rightful owner on a theory of negligent or reckless failure to control their firearms. Recognizing that displaying more guns than one would expect to use in case of an emergency is an invitation to mayhem, some are re-thinking their stand against keep their guns in a security safe.
Any gun safe is going to present some impediment to ready access by the legitimate owner. However, biometric gun safes offer an advantage in this regard. They are quick to open, and regardless of what else may happen, the owner will definitely have to be present in order to open the safe.
Biometrics is the study of the measurement of physical traits, whether they be fingerprints, DNA or patterns found in the retina. A biometric safe, then, employs such physical traits to provide for the opening of the safe only by the person whose traits are programmed into the gun safe. Fingerprints are the way that most biometric gun safes, at least for the general public, are controlled.
When access is desired, a fingertip is applied to a pad in which are located sensors or readers. If the pattern of fingerprints on the fingertip match that stored in the memory, access is had within seconds. It’s up to the owner to establish who and how many people may be given such access. A spouse or other trusted individual may be allowed to have her or his print placed in the memory.
A potential buyer of a biometric safe must decide if the unique advantages of the system are worth the added cost. One aspect of this decision will be how much safe one can buy for a given amount of money. A traditional gun safe, with a combination lock or keyed access, will always cost less than a similarly sized biometric model.
Another thing to consider is whether the additional money that would be spent to get a biometric model would be better spent on ensuring that the gun safe finally purchased will protect the weapons inside against the threats presented by fire or water damage.
Having nearly instant access to one’s weapons, especially in times when the need to remember a series of numbers or get one’s hands on a key may be difficult or impossible, is a powerful selling point for biometric gun safes. However, the potential buyer must take the time and mental work to weigh and assess the risks he most wants to avoid, and weigh the options against his budget.
