Safe Suitability?

[BigStudent]

I just purchased a digital office safe. It was a great deal. I paid ~$100.
Here is the link.

I needed a safe bad since I have a small collection (Xd40 & Alaskan 454 Casull) and three little boys. This safe is great because you need both the key to pop the cylinder out and then punch in the code.
In case of home security I can pop the cylinder out before going to bed and that would leave the code as the only way into the safe.

The plan was to get a small safe until I can afford a large dedicated safe (maybe two years from now).

But this is the problem I encountered. In the owners manual it states:
WARNING! This product is not intended for the
secure storage of all materials.
Items such as firearms, other
weapons, combustible materials,
or medication should not be stored
in this unit.

I thought, "Well now this sucks!" I purchased it for that very reason.
In any one's experience is this really an issue?
Should I get rid of it? Sell it? I haven't even registered the thing yet.
I would hate to part with it, but this house is waaaaay too small for two safes.

Anyway I am open to your thoughts, opinions, and suggestions.

BigStudent

[CCWInstructor]

Keep the safe. Their lawyers make them write that. In California gun safes must be CA-DOJ approved. That is how they get around it.

[spc]

Welcome aboard Big Student. Your safe sounds just great for your needs. Nor a worry.

spc

[sholling]

This brings up a related question. I'm out of room in two safes. What are the lock/safe requirements if there are never any kids in my home? I'm a crotchety old fart without any kids, grandkids, or any tolerance for anybody bringing their ankle biters into my quiet abode.

[BonoVox]

Originally Posted by sholling

This brings up a related question. I'm out of room in two safes. What are the lock/safe requirements if there are never any kids in my home? I'm a crotchety old fart without any kids, grandkids, or any tolerance for anybody bringing their ankle biters into my quiet abode.

None.

But if a kid materializes in your house somehow and gets access to the guns and there is a problem. It is YOUR problem.

[BigStudent]

Thanks for the welcome and quick reply. I'm applying for my CCW, have everything lined up already.
Anyway, about the safe. This safe is not designated as a gun safe, I just thought that any safe with thick walls and locks could be used as a gun safe.
So there isn't any problem with this type of safe?

Originally Posted by CCWInstructor

Keep the safe. Their lawyers make them write that. In California gun safes must be CA-DOJ approved. That is how they get around it.

Would there be a problem if it were not CA-DOJ approved?
Do you mean that only CA-DOJ approved safes can be gun safes in California?
If the latter is true then I can see why Sentry would place the warning against use for firearm storage. I'm sure they save loads of money by not putting all of their products through CA-DOJ approval so that it can be also called a gun safe.

Anyway is this the case.

BigSTudent

[CCWInstructor]

Regulatory Gun Safe Standards - Bureau of Firearms - California Dept. of Justice - Office of the Attorney General

Regulatory Gun Safe Standards

DOJ regulatory standards require a gun safe to meet either:

All of the following requirements:

1. Shall be able to fully contain firearms and provide for their secure storage;
2. Shall have a locking system consisting of at minimum a mechanical or electronic combination lock. The mechanical or electronic combination lock utilized by the safe shall have at least 10,000 possible combinations consisting of a minimum three numbers, letters, or symbols. The lock shall be protected by a case-hardened (Rc 60+) drill-resistant steel plate, or drill-resistant material of equivalent strength;
3. Boltwork shall consist of a minimum of three steel locking bolts of at least ½ inch thickness that intrude from the door of the safe into the body of the safe or from the body of the safe into the door of the safe, which are operated by a separate handle and secured by the lock;
4. Shall be capable of repeated use. The exterior walls shall be constructed of a minimum 12-gauge thick steel for a single-walled safe, or the sum of the steel walls shall add up to at least .100 inches for safes with two walls. Doors shall be constructed of a minimum of two layers of 12-gauge steel, or one layer of 7-gauge steel compound construction;
5. Door hinges shall be protected to prevent the removal of the door. Protective features include, but are not limited to: hinges not exposed to the outside, interlocking door designs, dead bars, jeweler’s lugs and active or inactive locking bolts.

or

All of the following requirements:

1. Is listed as an Underwriters Laboratories Residential Security Container;
2. Is able to fully contain firearms;
3. Provides for the secure storage of firearms.

[BigStudent]

Originally Posted by CCWInstructor

Regulatory Gun Safe Standards - Bureau of Firearms - California Dept. of Justice - Office of the Attorney General

Thanks for the legal info.

Now I'm a little dense. Where does that leave me legally? Is there an issue?
Should I get a handgun specific safe then?

I appreciate your help Greg.

BigStudent

[CCWInstructor]

Originally Posted by BigStudent

Now I'm a little dense. Where does that leave me legally? Is there an issue?
Should I get a handgun specific safe then?

I appreciate your help Greg.

BigStudent

Your fine with that safe.

[NSP]

What you got is a fire safe. It's forte' is protecting against fire. Therefore it's not the best for keeping BGs from guns. Also it does not meet california's high standards for what the lawmakers think is suitable for protecting the general public from your scary collection of people killers, so they have to put that sticker on.

Be aware that because this safe is not CADOJ appproved it does not meet requirements that let's you check "yes" on that nifty part of the handgun process that asks if you have an appropriate safe at home.

I believe that something is better than nothing though and that safe there looks good enough to keep curious hands out of it.

[CCWInstructor]

Originally Posted by NSP

Be aware that because this safe is not CADOJ appproved it does not meet requirements that let's you check "yes" on that nifty part of the handgun process that asks if you have an appropriate safe at home.

That state form, ATF ruled null and void September of 2006. Are dealers still using it?

[NSP]

Originally Posted by CCWInstructor

That state form, ATF ruled null and void September of 2006. Are dealers still using it?

2006 would be around the last time I purchased a firearm. So I stand corrected.

[THE Gimper]

Originally Posted by NSP

2006 would be around the last time I purchased a firearm. So I stand corrected.

Come on! One a month. You're way behind.

[NSP]

Originally Posted by THE Gimper

Come on! One a month. You're way behind.

You send me the funds, and I'll buy the guns