I have a biometric safe. tap a button on the side and it spring opens instantly. It has a code and a physical key backup. Paid $100 for it.
Looks like it went up to $150 though. https://www.amazon.com/SentrySafe-Pistol-Biometric-Capacity-QAP1BE/dp/B00EXQW672/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1527307679&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=biometric+gun+safe
You can get a small unit like this one that's smaller than a laptop case, and can be accessed with a fingerprint scanner. This is how I've been storing my Glock.
>they need to be locked up so are terrible for self defense
People keep saying this, but no, they're not. Buy this, put your pistol and a couple of loaded mags in it, and boom, your handgun is legally and securely stored but accessible at the swipe of your finger.
>They should've said sport shooting, not self defense.
No, I completely disagree. Neither justification is good enough for a dedicated anti-gunner, but at least you can morally justify self-defence. There is literally no comeback to "get another hobby". If you think "you don't need x hobby either" is persuasive, you haven't been arguing this issue long enough.
I've been using this for years and it'll function well for a while. Eventually the pistons go and you need the batteries replaced now and then...but it does work, even in the middle of the night when your cat crashes something in the kitchen that sounds like the door breaking down. I'll admit it took me three tries to get my finger swipe to work while freaking out...but it worked.
Something like this, bolted down to something heavy, will keep wandering hands out of it. If they're precocious enough to look it up on YouTube they can get into any safe quickly so don't set your sights on anything impervious unless you want to spend ten grand on it and wait for it to be built...anyway.
It's a perfectly decent decision even if you hide it away.
Learn and teach the four rules, how to clear and safe the gun, and make sure to go shoot now and then.
I have this bedside safe. It's there to keep the kiddos out of the firearms.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EXQW672?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf
My personal favorite. I can verify that it is quick to react, almost instantaneous, and that it has keys AND a combo as a back up. Spring loaded, but can also be opened silently, with little effort
It claims that it can read dirty fingers, although I have yet to verify.
Teaching kids about gun safety is a good thing but leaving loaded guns around in an unsecured manner is a disaster waiting to happen.
In my case, I have a 4yr old who is super curious, so even if I taught her about the dangers of touching a firearm, I wouldn't dare to leave it up to her to follow my advice. I mean com'on people need to have some common sense for fucks sake.
Kids will not always listen to what you tell them. Can you really afford losing a child due to your misguided beliefs?
I couldn't afford that. So before I even bought my home defense pistol I bought a biometric quick access safe. I put my finger on that thing and it pops open in a second. It's probably as fast as reaching out for the unlocked pistol in your night stand.
If you are concerned that he might keep a key for himself, insist on a biometric box - fingerprint enabled. If money isn't an issue for him, but drugs are, I might also suggest contacting his parents, and let them know what's going on - you are opening yourself up to some liability if you know he has a drug problem already. I would suggest asking them to assist - either by paying out his lease through the end of the year, or by requiring him to get drug counseling and rehab. Never underestimate the power of parents who subsidize their child's lifestyle. It would be most convincing if you can get your other roommate to also go with you, and come from a place of concern and liability, to make his parents understand the risks and what's at stake.
Also, never, ever, ever trust an addict. They may be the nicest, most honest people when they are sober, and will commit atrocities to feed their addiction. You sound like a really nice person, and I would hate to see you drown right along with him, even just by being on the periphery.
I have one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Sentry-Biometric-Access-Pistol-QAP1BE/dp/B00EXQW672
It might be a little on the small side for all the items you've listed, but I've been really happy with the performance of it. My local Costco has them on sale right now for $99, so I just picked up a second.
I've got a combination bio-combo safe that sits beside my bed, I got it for about $100 on sale. It has a fingerprint scanner as well as a 4 button combination option.
I have never had the fingerprint scanner fail or falter on either my fingers or my wifes. We've been using it for about 5 years, and the safe gets opened fairly regularly for checks and trips to the range.
My safe is also holding a Glock 19, an extra mag and a small box of ammo, so I am almost positive a light would fit as well. I love that safe (I've got 3-4 Sentrysafe products in my home), and I wouldn't trade it for the world.
It depends on the safe but biometric safes are very popular. You just place your hand on the top or in a slot and it will pop open. There are tons of these things available but here is one example http://www.amazon.com/Sentry-Biometric-Quick-Access-Pistol/dp/B00EXQW672/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1431832108&sr=8-2&keywords=biometric+gun+safe
Sure. One thing you can do is buy a cabinet like this one from Canadian Tire, and carry the key or keep it in your nightstand. You can have a shotgun with a loaded side saddle, or a rifle with loaded mags, stored inside. You can splash out for one with a combo or fingerprint lock if you don't want to keep track of a key.
For a handgun, you can get a compact safe like this one that can store a handgun and magazine, can be placed nearly anywhere because of it's size, and opened with a swipe of your finger.
I have both that handgun safe, and a cabinet similar to the one I linked.
I've been using this for my G17. Nothing fancy but it should fit the bill in terms of size of your P226 w/ attachments.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EXQW672/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
Here’s the same safe first available June 14, 2013 Safe Amazon link
A standard size car battery is about 12 inches long, 8 inches wide and 8 inches tall. The gun safe is 9.9 inches long, 12.1 inches wide and 3.2 tall
This is where you can find the safe https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EXQW672/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fab_pv1FFbGV1XGTY
https://www.amazon.com/SentrySafe-QAP1BE-Biometric-Handgun-Capacity/dp/B00EXQW672 $150 not really that expensive and reads your print
Ah, tough. If you were going to get a handgun, they do make small pistol safes. Won't prevent theft, but could give housemates peace of mind. (In IL you might want your CCL anyway, since you can't open carry.)
Link to Amazon page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sentry-Biometric-Access-Pistol-QAP1BE/dp/B00EXQW672
I've been very pleased with my SentrySafe. Can use biometric, code, or key. Not super cheap but reasonable for the quality.
Here it is on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EXQW672/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdb_t1_JHlQEbR3MQ7XF
Best of all, it fits two of my favorite guns: https://imgur.com/a/JJ9TIDu
SentrySafe QAP1BE Gun Safe with Biometric Lock One Handgun Capacity https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EXQW672/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Of-RDbWYFSHT0
I have a VP9 (your gun's prettier sister lol), and here's what I use.
I really like this one:
Sentry Safe Biometric Quick... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EXQW672?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
The finger scan access has been reliable and the gas strut opening is ideal for where/how I use mine.
This safe has never failed to read my fingerprint:
There are gun safes designed for quick access.
I searched the Sentry Safe combination lock (not biometric) for $99 at Amazon and looked over the reviews. Later, I picked it up at my local Home Depot for $30 less. I went with the combination-only based on Ayoob's recommendation in Gun Safety in the Homethat biometric can be problematic. It works well for my need.
Man, that's expensive too. I'm not sure how it's that much better than one of these Sentry's for half the price.
There are quick-access gun safes available, but to add to the other comment, speed of access to a weapon isn't going to 'save' you. I'd consider improving the security of access points into your home first. If you must have a firearm, a shotgun is the best home defense you can have. Keep in mind, though, that even well-trained military and law enforcement have trouble hitting what they're aiming for in the heat of the moment.
Edit: This type of safe provides the quickest access.
> You will have kids finding ways to get the teachers gun when they aren't paying attention
This is why you put the gun in a fingerprint safe like this: https://www.amazon.com/SentrySafe-Pistol-Biometric-Capacity-QAP1BE/dp/B00EXQW672/
Then it doesn't matter if a kid goes into the teacher's desk and gets the box out, the kid isn't going to get the gun. This isn't rocket science.