Firearm Security (storage) vs. Accessibility

[mkm]

I was watching "Alaska State Troopers" on the National Geographic Channel the other night, and it got me to thinking.

The trooper responded to a report of an injured bear which had been hit by a car.  The bear obviously needed to be euthanized; so he went to get his shotgun out of his SUV.  However, he couldn't get the rack to release his shotgun because it wasn't functioning properly.  He was able to accomplish his objective with his sidearm, but it wasn't ideal.  Murphy was present as she usually is, but, thankfully, it wasn't with an armed criminal shooting back.

This brings me to my question.  What do you do to maintain accessibility and security while mitigating failure?  This applies to home and vehicle.

I live alone and have no young children around (which would change my current storage method immediately) and must admit that my current security is not as good as it probably should be.

This might should have gone in Defense and Tactics, but I put it here to allow for more flexibility.

[MikeBjerum]

Simple answer is the lowest level of security possible.

You live alone, so I would say use a safe, but when you are home the safe door can be unlocked and ajar.  Carry gun(s) can be left on a counter or side table where handy.  You only need to secure everything when you are gone or have guests in your home.

As empty nesters my carry guns are on the desk, reading stand, night stand, dresser, etc. when I am home.  I just empty my pockets and holster of most items.  The gun room door is often unlocked when I am home.  However, when guests are coming over for a stay everything changes back to a "childproof" situation whether there are children or not.

During the work day I carry both my 1911 and LCP.  Due to the businesses I visit the 1911 spends most of the work day in the car.  I have a Nano safe cabled to the front seat frame that the 1911 resides in, and the LCP will also fit if need be.  The key is stored in the lock, and the safe is unlocked when I am in the car.  When I stop for a call or get pulled over by the red and blue flashers, the key is turned to lock and comes out.  Simple, easy and quick.

[fightingquaker13]

Ditto to M58. I have no kids and none visit regularly. So therefore, I don't worry about security much. Its about accessibility. When I was in school and living with roomates, I bought trigger locks for every thing (master lock metal ones, all with the same key). They were unloaded except for the nightstand gun. For that I kept a full mag and empty chamber (as I still do). The key to the lock was scotch taped behind the night stand.It added about ten to twenty seconds to getting the gun ready, but since I always lock the bedroom door, I didn't think it was too much of an issue compared to the risk of a drunken roommate, or friend of a friend of the aforementioned, getting their hands on a loaded gun. FWIW.
FQ13

[kmitch200]

I'm in the same situation as the other guys. No kids and rarely do they visit.
Most directions you walk in my house, you are headed towards a firearm.

You live alone, so I would say use a safe, but when you are home the safe door can be unlocked and ajar.

I'm too forgetful for that.
I get distracted by a pair of boobs on TV and end up standing in the room I was headed to wondering "what was I going to get?"
Mine are locked at all times. Even if I'm in the same room and will open it again in a couple of minutes - which is why I like electronic locks - takes 2 seconds. I can't take the chance of an urgent/emergent phone call, (Mom or wife is on her way to the hospital), distracting me to the point I leave it unlocked and hurry out of the house.

The Alaska trooper who couldn't get the shotgun out of the lock should have better gear checks.
I'll bet that lock was finicky before and people let is slide or 'they couldn't fix it yet'.
I've seen it with fire trucks where something wasn't working right and they kept the truck in service "waiting for parts" or "it's under warranty, we have it scheduled 6 months from now".