11/05/2025
With more new shooters coming into the sport, I’ve noticed frequent misuse of the locking devices that are supplied with many fi****ms.
By federal law, fi****ms transferred through a dealer must include a safety device that prevents unauthorized firing. These are often cable locks. I regularly see photos and videos of people using the cable lock to secure the firearm’s case instead of the firearm itself — which often leaves the case openable and the gun removable.
Correct use for common lock types:
• Semi-automatic pistols: Lock the slide to the rear (open), then thread the cable through the ejection port and the magazine well before securing the lock. This prevents the slide from closing and the gun from being fired or readily removed.
• Revolvers: Insert the cable through one or more cylinders so the cylinder cannot rotate and the gun cannot be fired.
• Rifles (including AR-pattern rifles): Use the cable or locking device through the action or other appropriate openings so the firearm cannot be chambered or fired.
These factory-supplied locks are a useful additional safety layer but are not a substitute for a locked safe or other secure storage. Proper storage (a locked safe, locked container, or dedicated gun storage) remains the best way to prevent unauthorized access and reduce the risk of accidents
