One facet of firearm ownership that every gun owner must manage is ammunition storage. Until recently, how and where you chose to do this was a very personal decision. Some states and localities have laws governing “safe storage.” While the constitutionality of these laws is another topic entirely, here is some guidance to help you determine the best solution for your household.
Childproofing
Childproofing a home is a main reasons gun owners must pay attention to how they store their ammunition. Responsible adults do not want children to have access to ammunition or firearms, and separating them is a simple step to ensure that children do not have access to the two components needed to fire a gun.
However, the degree of separation between your firearm and ammo could potentially be problematic. Consider that if you have only one safe, you must find some other place to store your ammo. If you live in one of the states or localities that requires ammo to be locked, how long does it take to unlock not just one, but two safes (or a safe and a lockbox), find the correct ammunition, load the gun, and be ready to use it in an emergency?
The time and impracticality of storing guns and ammo separately is the main issue with safe storage laws—they put the burden on the user to separate the very tools that could save their life. Contemplating a realistic timeline to accessing a firearm (and loading it if required) also highlights that a good home defense does not revolve only around having a firearm, but additionally incorporates proactive steps, like security and awareness, to create a home setting that is not an invitation to crime.
Truly tailoring your ammo and gun storage to your life situation is the goal. If you have toddlers, a locked safe with your ammunition on the top shelf might suffice (unless your state or municipality requires you to separate them).
For a home with pre-teens or teenagers, storing ammunition separate from guns and in a locked location could be a good choice. However, there are families whose children are well-versed in firearm safety who would never touch them without an adult present and/or their permission, and who might even use them for things like clay target sports without mom or dad needing to be present (unless you live in a state where your children cannot participate in shooting sports or handle a firearm without a parent present).
Your personal solution truly does need to reflect the makeup of your household, and the people in it.
Regarding children, do not forget visitors to your home. Do you have neighborhood children who stop by after school? Do you have friends and family who bring their children over? You must take these into account.
California Aberration
A person could go down a rabbit hole into California law and how its residents must apply for a permit just to purchase ammunition, how the legally required safes must be on a list of approved devices, and any number of other reasons why gun owners constitutional rights in California are run roughshod over… . If you live in California, not only should you abide by the laws, you should also join every gun rights organization that is actively pursuing legal action of behalf of its citizens. You might have just the situation of undue burden (a government attempt to limit your ability to protect your family), that these groups are helping American citizens fight.
In addition to California, there are other states and municipalities with legal challenges to your rights to own and use a firearm, unburdened by government interference. Three of these are New York, Minnesota and Virginia.
However, Virginia gives you a tax credit of $300 for single people or $600 for married couples who purchase a safe or lockbox or other device. This might sound good, but consider that a proper safe for families with more than a few guns can run in the thousands of dollars. For someone for whom the financial burden is high, who needs their safe cost covered, a small safe that would fit into a closet makes sense and Virginia gun owners should be filing for that tax credit en masse!
Meanwhile, in the Rest of America …
For the rest of America, how you store ammo truly should reflect the way that you use firearms. I compete and practice almost daily, and do not employ overly burdensome solutions. Someone with toddlers and school-age playmates stopping by needs a different plan than mine.
A few key points that any gun owner should take into account are:
Thermocycling or extremes of heat and cold. It’s best not to have your ammunition go through cycles of extreme heat and cold, as this can cause condensation or other issues that will shorten the life of your ammunition.
Humidity. Just like thermocycling, extremes of humidity or potential exposure to water such as a basement that is not always dry, are not places to store ammunition.
Visibility. We live in an era where there are more cameras on devices in everyday life, such as the robot vacuum you might have in your house (which usually maps your home with a camera). Many of the reservations people had about technology with built-in cameras that seemed far-fetched 20 years ago are proving to be more tangible. Consider that reality and keep your ammunition stored in a way that limits cameras or random strangers from seeing what you have.
Be realistic about what your children or others in your home are capable of. Don’t make assumptions. Lock things up when you are not present.
Be honest about your abilities. For example, if a married couple owns one home-defense gun and the wife never uses it, but that’s her line of defense if she’s home alone, and if she’s required to keep it locked separate from ammo, a storage solution isn’t going to make her feel safer—she needs more training.
Be frank. Talk with your children and have clear expectations about firearms and who can access them, even when to talk about them. Kids understand if they have a friend that’s a boundary-pusher or likes to challenge authority. It’s OK to tell your children that there are places nobody outside of the family goes—hard stop, “get an adult,” if anyone disobeys the rules.
In the end, being safe and responsible with your firearms and ammunition is just part of gun ownership. Teaching those around you to have respect for these items and care for them properly is one of the best ways that you can pass on your values to those around you.
