133,000 gun safes are recalled today. Instead of only opening with a biometric scan of the owner’s fingerprints, as intended, the safes can open when anyone places their fingers on the scanner. There are 77 reports of the gun safes being opened by unintended users.
This deadly hazard appears to be widespread among biometric gun safes, and across manufacturers. Today marks the third wave of biometric gun safe recalls for this problem. In October 2023, the first 61,000 gun safes were recalled.[1] There, the malfunction left a 12-year-old boy dead. In February 2024, over 120,000 more biometric gun safes were recalled from four additional manufacturers.[2] These hazardous safes are ticking time bombs.
At this point, I can understand how it would be hard to trust the safety of biometric gun safes, in general. Don’t be surprised if there are more biometric gun safe recalls coming.
Today’s recall covers the:
- Sports Afield Home Defense 4-Gun Biometric Safe; and the
- Sanctuary Quick Access Biometric Home Safe.
ACT NOW: Immediately stop using the biometric feature of the recalled safes, remove the batteries from the safe, and only use the key. Then, get a free repair kit by either:
- Calling SA Consumer Products toll-free at 855-215-5822 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday;
- Emailing saconsumer6983@sedgwick.com;
- Visiting https://sabiometricsaferecall.expertinquiry.com; or
- Going online at www.saproducts.com and clicking on the “Recall” tab at the top right corner of the home page for more information.
Is Yours One of the Recalled Gun Safes?
The Sports Afield Home Defense 4-Gun Biometric Safe was sold at firearm and sporting goods stores nationwide and online for between $500 and $600 between July 2020 and November 2023. It is 55 inches high by 12 inches wide by 11 inches deep. Pictured here:
The Sanctuary Quick Access Biometric Home Safe was sold at Costco and other stores nationwide, and online at Costco.com, for between $75 and $100 between July 2020 and November 2023. It is 10 inches high by 14 inches wide by 10 inches deep. Pictured here:
Faithfully,
Your consumer advocate at the Consumer Product Safety Commission
Commissioner Richard L. Trumka Jr.
[1] Statement of Commissioner Richard L. Trumka Jr. (October 29, 2023) (available at https://www.cpsc.gov/About-CPSC/Commissioner/Richard-Trumka/Statement/Malfunctioning-Gun-Safes-Sold-by-Cabela%E2%80%99s-Bass-Pro-and-Lowe%E2%80%99s-Allow-Anyone-to-Open-One-Child-Dead).
[2] Statement of Commissioner Richard L. Trumka Jr. (February 22, 2024) (available at Biometric Gunsafes Malfunction, Allowing Anyone to Open; CPSC Widens Recall to 120,000 More Safes Sold by 4 Manufacturers at Walmart, Amazon, and Bass Pro Shops; Serious Risk of Death | CPSC.gov).