Hiding In Plain Sight

[su_heading size=”30″]Tactical Walls thinks ‘outside the big, steel box’ with its innovative gun safe designs.[/su_heading]

STORY BY CRAIG HODGKINS • PHOTOS BY TACTICAL WALLS 

[su_dropcap style=”flat” size=”5″]F[/su_dropcap]or decades, gun owners were forced to make difficult choices or to compromise when it came to firearms storage. On one hand, owners needed firearms to be stored securely to protect them from theft and to ensure the safety of younger family members. At the same time, protecting those same loved ones often required that the firearms be quickly and easily available for access in case of an intruder or other emergency.

There have been excellent gun safes on the market for decades, and many do their intended job very well. But until recently, gun safes were all about security and safety, not easy access.

That all began to change a few years ago, when technological advancements such as radio frequency identification (RFID) enabled companies to think outside the big, steel box and develop products that could provide both security and access. One of these, Tactical Walls, has done an excellent job creating firearms storage products that “hide in plain sight.”

One of the things I like about these products is that every security item they produce is disguised as a functional piece of furniture or home décor. And once you’ve seen their product line in person, you’ll never be able to look at a bedroom mirror, decorative shelf or wall clock the same way again.

Several recent releases in the Tactical Walls line offer RFID locking mechanisms as an optional alternative to the existing magnetic lock. According to company literature, opening up a hidden compartment is as easy as swiping the preset RFID card in front of the locking mechanism. Each RFID unit comes standard with two key cards and one programming card used to match the key to the proper unit, and owners can order additional RFID cards if needed. If desired, a single card can also be set to open multiple units, granting access to each firearm staged throughout the home.

The new RFID-locking models also offer a programmable “tattletale” function that (when activated) will begin beeping when the unit has been left open for a designated period of time. This helps firearms owners keep guns from unwanted users by reminding them when the compartment is left open.

Finally, in addition to being excellent firearm storage devices, Tactical Walls products stand out because they are built to last. For example, their new rifle-length shelves are handcrafted in the U.S. using real hardwood, and are available in six different finishes.

MSRPs for Tactical Walls products are based on several factors, including lock type, shelf length and choice of finish, so contact the company or a dealer near you for more information.

Tactical Walls is based in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, and is a family-owned and -operated business. To learn more, visit tacticalwalls.com. ASJ

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