Thursday, April 13, 2017

Why You Need to Have a Gun Safe

At Everett Lock and Key, we highly encourage anyone with firearms to invest in a gun safe. The truth is that when a gun is not in a safe, you risk the possibility of someone stealing your gun. If the gun is used in a crime, you may be charged for the incident. Just think about it, if someone is held up by your gun, whether you are the one doing it or not, you may have to do someone else’s time. Think about loved ones in your home who may get their hands on your gun and it accidentally goes off. Yes, this does actually happen. You might think that it happens to other people but something like this wouldn’t happen to you. Trust us when we tell you that the people that this happens to probably felt the same way, until it did happen to them. There is nothing wrong with taking certain precautions to ensure that your gun is never used by anyone other than yourself. When you want to buy a gun safe, let our Everett, WA locksmiths know and we’ll make sure you know all that you need to know about the guns safes offered today.

If you’re still not convinced that you need a gun safe, perhaps these things will convince you that you do.

Protect it from fires

It is possible for a fire to occur at your home and completely destroy your gun. In order to protect it against fires, you’ll need to store it in a fire resistant safe. The ones sold today can withstand the highest level of heat for hours. This will prevent your gun from being damaged until the fire department is able to put the fire out. There are hundreds of guns that are damaged due to fire every year.

Protects children from getting a hold of it

If you consider your self a responsible adult, we are sure that it doesn’t take you too much convincing to get a gun safe, especially if there are children in your home. Even if you do not have children but you have friends or family members with children, you should protect them by making sure you have a gun safe so that no one is harmed. Children could get their hands on your gun and not only harm themselves but harm someone else. If you do not want this on your conscience, do yourself a favor and get a gun safe.

So That No One Can Steal It

Unfortunately, guns are among the top things that are stolen from people’s homes. You do not want your gun to be sold on the black market because of it is, it will come back and haunt you later. There are a lot of things in your home that they would be willing to pass on in order to get their hands on a gun. The gun can be sold on the streets for top dollar to someone who is unable to legally buy one through the proper channels. Even if your gun is being kept out of a safe because it is a souvenir, you have to realize the chance that you take of having it stolen. If you really value it and want to make sure it is always safe, place it in a safe. There are other ways to have it on display without the potential of harm to yourself or someone else. Why not consult with our locksmiths about them.

You will be in compliance with the ‘Child Access Prevention Law’

This law came into existence in 1989 as a way to make irresponsible people more responsible for their actions. It is a law that forces people who own firearms to make sure that it is locked away and out of the reach of children. In fact since it is a law, they are obligated to place their firearms in something that children will not be able to open. In order to do this best, you’ll need to buy a gun safe.

Good for storing other items

You are capable of getting more for your money by using your gun safe to store other items. If you have a fireproof gun safe, it is a good place to store other items that you wish to protect from fire damage, such as jewelry. You can also store important paperwork inside the same safe.

Quick access when needed

Suppose someone makes their way into your home; you’ll need immediate access to your gun. Having a gun safe will give you this opportunity. There is no doubt that you do not want children to get their hands on the gun but you will need to be able to get your hands on the gun quickly if someone is in your home and you need to protect your loved ones. There are some safes that even have fingerprint recognition, which makes it even easier and more convenient for you to get your hands on your gun.

Helps you to avoid a lawsuit

If someone breaks into your home and your gun is used in a crime, as mentioned earlier, you may be held responsible for not having it in a safe. A safe gives you the peace-of-mind in know that if someone gets into your safe and steals your gun, you’re protected because you did what you were supposed to do in an effort to avoid it getting into the hands of the wrong person. If you do not have it in a safe and something happens, be prepared for some legal battles. The lawyers will be coming after you.

We are not telling you this to scare you; we are simply trying to help you understand why it is so important to make sure your gun is safely stored away from others. We would hate for you to be held responsible for an unfortunate incident that you had absolutely nothing to do with.




Aricle source here: Why You Need to Have a Gun Safe

Monday, April 3, 2017

GARAGE DOOR LOCKS – ADDITIONAL SECURITY

Many people have never heard of garage door locks, yet most of these folks use them on a regular basis, every time they close their garage doors. Our Everett Lock and Key technicians are often asked about this type of specialized lock and how they can benefit from installing or using them. Read on, and see how you can make your property safer and less open to intruders by using simple and affordable garage door locks!

Why should I use a garage door lock?

It seems like a natural question. Why lock the garage door if it is already closed and you are home to hear any possible problems? Before we discuss the locks themselves let’s examine reasons for taking this extra security step. We’ll start by addressing the issue of your inside garage door; you know, the one that leads into your house itself? Homes here in Everett, WA have this door as do most residential floor plans in the US and Canada. If a burglar or kidnapper gains access to the interior of your garage, and then closes it, he or she can now get inside your home and treat themselves to easy access to your entire residential property; garage AND home contents are at their mercy! Does this sound alarming? It is! This isn’t just a possible scenario; it happens daily and it is easy and simple to prevent. Don’t assume that garage door illegal entry only happens to the “other guy” – robbery, theft, kidnappings, and human trafficking, all start with access to a victim and his belongings.

Your first step toward better garage security

Here’s your first step and it’s a simple one; lock your door. No, not your garage door; the one that leads into the house. Start locking it whenever home; not just at night. This is not being paranoid; it’s learning a good habit. Habits are formed with repeated actions and our Everett locksmiths encourage you to lock your interior garage door every time you use it and to encourage your family members, roommates and guests to do the same.

Goodies in your garage

What’s in your garage? Most homes in the greater Everett, WA area have at least one motor vehicle in the garage; many have two or more. You also might have ATVs, bicycles, skateboards, lawn mower, hot water heater, water softener, storage items, garden tools, work bench, cabinets, shelving, leaf blowers, ladder, and a myriad of other items for storage, wood working, crafts, home improvement and recreation. Think back; have you ever come home to an already open garage door? Do you remember that panicked feeling; wondering what if anything was missing? That’s just one room too; your garage! Imagine if your whole house was vulnerable to this!

Garage door locks come in many forms

It’s true; garage door locks come in many forms. All are easy to use and are cost effective. From easy, do-it-yourself installation to more intricate hardware requiring professional assistance, there are garage door locks and accessories that can benefit and protect local garages whether you live in an apartment or a mansion. We’ll go over a few of them and this should encourage you to find out more. Feel free to call our Everett, WA shop or your favorite local locksmith and learn more about these useful and much needed locks.

T-handle locks

These garage door locks are the ones you commonly see that are shaped like a T, which is actually the handle for turning and unlocking it. There are two bolts and a cable located on the inside of the garage door that works in unison to secure your garage door when the T handle is turned. They do this by being connected to the vertical tracks of your garage door. When the T handle is turned to the unlocked position, the bolts are released and the door is able to open. You do need a garage door key in order to lock or unlock these T-handle locks.

J-arm garage door locks

This is one locking garage door system that you might already be using as it comes standard with many garage door opener models. The operator arm on the trolley locks into place every time the garage door is closed. If you’ve ever tried lifting your garage door by hand when it’s closed, the reason you can’t is because of this lock. If your power goes out and your opener system won’t work, you unlock these J-arm locks by pulling on the red cord with the knob on it.

Slide locks

These are also known as latch locks. These use a latch that slides from the garage door into a pre-cut opening in the garage door’s track. When you add the lock, it stops the garage door from going up inside the vertical track. These simple locks can sometimes present one big problem; they are easy to install but also easy to forget! Since your garage door is forced to NOT open, your opener motor can burn out by trying to make this happen. You can make a homemade version of this lock by simply using any working padlock. Drill a hole in the track above the wheel where you want the lock to secure the door. The hole you drill must be large enough for the lock to fit through. Simply close your garage door and put the lock into place (just don’t forget it!).

Call the pros

You can always work with a trusted, local locksmith. In Everett, WA there are many shops that offer convenient, same day mobile service direct to your home or business. Garage door locks are available in all price ranges and with different levels of security. Ask your locksmith about which models they recommend for your particular garage door and circumstances. Most establishments offer free price quotes and use lock hardware from the best manufacturers. Further details are also available online and at local hardware and home improvement stores.




Aricle source here: GARAGE DOOR LOCKS – ADDITIONAL SECURITY