Gun safes are no longer optional -- they're a necessity. This is because many states have passed laws making it a crime if someone gets hurt in an accident with a gun that you are responsible for. Gun safes are necessary not only to protect your valuable guns from burglars, but to restrict access to them. Even if you do not live in a state where laws have been passed, it's still your responsibility to ensure that your guns don't wind up in the hands of children or other unauthorized persons.

Gun safes come in different shapes and sizes and use different types of locking mechanisms. There are two basic types of gun safes -- pistol safes and safes for rifles and shotguns. Pistol safes are much smaller than rifle and shotgun safes. Since they can be easily carried off, they're not really designed to protect your pistols from burglars. They're mainly designed to restrict access to the pistols to authorized persons only. The other type of gun safe is a large, upright cabinet-style safe with room for pistols, rifles and shotguns. These gun safes can be used to restrict access to your guns, to protect them from burglars, and to protect them from damage due to a fire in your home.

Pistol safes are small, chest-style safes that open from the top. They usually have room for 2-4 pistols, and are small enough to be placed in tight spaces such as under your bed. They use one of three types of locking mechanisms -- a keylock, a mechanical combination dial or an electronic keypad lock. The keylock simply opens using a key. The mechanical combination dial works like a combination lock with a circular rotating cylinder dial. The electronic keypad type lock is opened by entering the correct PIN number on the electronic keypad. The electronic keypad type is the most convenient -- you can gain access to your pistols quickly using this type of locking mechanism.

Rifle and shotgun gun safes are much larger and heavier. They are shaped like an upright cabinet and tall enough to store rifles and shotguns upright on the inside. They usually have a shelf on the inside for storing pistols and ammunition. These gun safes are available with the same three types of locking mechanisms as pistol safes, plus one more type. This type is the biometric locking mechanism. This type of mechanism uses a fingerprint scanner to grant access to the safe. You simply place your index finger on the fingerprint scanner to open the safe. And you can grant access to multiple persons, simply by scanning their fingerprints. As with pistol safes, the electronic locking mechanisms are the most convenient and fastest type of locking mechanism to open.

If you are considering the purchase of a gun safe, always look for a reputable dealer with experience in the sale of gun safes. They can best advise you about the gun laws in your state and help you choose the safe that is right for you. And make sure that you choose a gun safe that is manufactured by a company with a good reputation in the business.

For more information about gun safes, visit the Value Safes website at the following link: http://valuesafes.com - http://valuesafes.com.