If the estate has guns – what to do? There are many responsibilities associated with guns.
First things first. Safety.
Is the gun loaded?
Determining if the gun is loaded may exceed an executor’s comfort level. Only an individual experienced with weapons should handle firearms. For the executor discovering firearms, it would be an expense of the estate to hire an expert, such as a licensed Federal Firearms Dealer LFFD), to come and secure the guns. Class 3 automatic weapons (i.e. machine guns) require a class 3 license in which the handler must be an individual who has a class three license at all times.
It is a general rule of thumb to treat any strange gun as if it were loaded. This assumption provides an abundance of caution, and the correct amount of saftey.
If you deem it necessary to handle the weapon, perhaps to secure it, here are some safety basics.
- Don’t ever handle or hold a gun with your finger on the trigger.
- Be aware of persons adjacent, upstairs and downstairs and within range of an accidentally discharged weapon. Bullets can go through walls, floors and ceilings.
- Safety. Most modern guns have a safety mechanism, called, “The Safety“. The majority of firearms show red when the safety is off, ready to fire. However, this is not the only style of safety. Therefore, it is important to know the safety mechanism of the weapon. Many non-us gun manufacturers do not follow the “red is ready to fire” rule. It is good practice to not rely on the gun safety.
Clarification: if the safety is off, and the gun is loaded/there is a round in the chamber, the gun can fire.
More on Safety from EverydayCarryConcealed.com: “Is My Gun Safety On Or Off?“
Once you have determined:
- The gun is not loaded and
- The safety is ON…
…you should further secure the gun.
Securing Firearms
Trigger locks clamp into a trigger guard, preventing access to the trigger. In summary, these locks come as combination locks, key locks, or fingerprint (biometric) locks.
Cable Locks are cable and lock combinations that render a gun unusable when locked. For pistols, revolvers, shotguns, and rifles, the cable runs through the body of the gun, to meet and lock with the opposite end of the cable lock.
Locked storage – Gun safes and lockable gun cases provide different levels of secure storage for firearms.
Of course, keep any key to the locks separate from the weapon, case or safe.
Transporting Firearms
Every state has its laws regarding the transport of guns. A good practice is to call the state police in the state you intend to transport guns in or through.
For example, in New Jersey, firearms must be cased, unloaded, stored separate from the ammunition, and inaccessible by the driver.
Never transport a loaded gun.
Estate Has Guns: Read More:
Take Steps to Mitigate Risk When an Estate Has Firearms
American Gun Association: Gun Safety Tips: Ways To Avoid Danger When Handling A Gun