There are two main things that can go wrong with these new types of gun safes. The first issue is a false match. This occurs when the biometric mechanism falsely identifies a match when scanning a fingerprint. This would then allow access to the contents of the safe. The second issue is a false non match. This occurs when the right person is attempting to access the biometric scanner and it does not identify the person correctly. The safe will not unlock and access will not be granted.

According to a 2004 study;  Performance Evaluation of Fingerprint identification systems 100 subjects were tested for the false match rate and the false non match rate. The study found that 2% of the time one of these situations could occur. One this they noted was that when testing the false non match rate the cleanliness of the subject’s fingers played a small part.

Another major concern to be aware of is that biometric gun safes do require a certain degree of maintenance.  Most run off of a 9 volt battery. The batteries usually last for up to a year. The safe will not become useless if the battery dies but a key override system may need to be used.

Another cause for concern is the access options with most fingerprint gun safes. Most models allow the user to store multiple fingerprints that have access. This is usually an advantage but could prove to be a problem in a domestic situation. It is important to keep the stored record up to date so you know who can have access at all times.

The fingerprint gun safe technology, biometric technology as a whole has been advancing very quickly. The failure rates are probably already lower on new models and are only improving as the time goes on. It is soon getting to the point that you have a better chance of failure with a safe that you need to locate the key for then with a biometric gun safe.

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One of the most obvious advantages is the ease of use. You do not need to remember a key code or have a keep a key on hand. This can be very advantageous if you are suddenly in a stressful situation and you need to access your gun very quickly. A lot of times people tend to misplace the keys to their gun safes. Even worse, some people keep the keys in very accessible locations. This totally defeats the purpose of locking up your guns in the first place.  If the key is located right next to the safe or in a drawer right near it then the safe itself is useless.

Another large advantage is the accessibility controls provided with a biometric gun safe. Most models are capable of storing multiple fingerprints. This allows you to provide access to only people you deem trustworthy enough to have access to your guns. A good example to the advantages to this feature is a married couple with kids. Obviously they do not want the kids to have access to the guns but the husband and wife would need access. Both would be able to store their fingerprints on the fingerprint gun safe so they can both get to the gun if need be. The stored prints can be managed very easily.

If an intruder gets into a home featuring a biometric gun safe they will not be able to access the weapons. This addresses the concern one may have that their own weapons can be used against them.

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It is important to understand the technology behind the mechanism before you decide to protect your family with a gun safe of this type. Biometric technology is not anything new. It has been more commonly used to limit access to high security areas is secured buildings. I am sure everyone has seen a movie where an actor must put his thumb or finger on to a little scanner before a door slides open. What that little scanner does is match certain points and features on any given fingerprint against a stored set of known fingerprints. If it detects a match then it unlocks whatever is locked and access is granted.  A biometric gun safe simply grants access to the guns stored inside.

Each and every person has totally unique fingerprints. They are a collection of loops, whirls and swirls that for a pattern. At some points these features intersect and form points that can be measured to identify a single person. This is the same basic technology that investigators use in crime scene investigation to identify criminals.

The outside of the safe is similar to others. They are usually made of stainless steel . They can be made to be waterproof, fire proof and shockproof.  Something people usually forget is that biometric gun safes are commonly small and meant for handguns. It is a good idea to tie down your safe so I can not be stolen.

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