Gun Insurance: Complete Guide

If you plan to buy or already own a firearm, you will have to know more about gun insurance than you probably do. Most people look at gun insurance as a form of gun control, but no insurer will issue a stand-alone firearm liability coverage. And as trends suggest, you should not expect such coverage soon. 

Insurers are never interested in your guns, and most will consider them as properties. When you are applying for your home insurance, owning a firearm may change the terms of the policy. You must understand how this will impact you financially and the liabilities that you intend to cover.  

What Is Gun Insurance?

Many people own or live with a person who has a gun. According to 2019 statistics, 37% of homeowners have a firearm.  Firearms possess both value and risk, which makes them dangerous objects to have around you and your home. Gun insurance, therefore, means getting protection for yourself and your firearm.  

Guns are assets in any home. Similar to taking insurance for other expensive possessions in your home that carry a high value, gun insurance is a must. It will protect your firearm from damage or theft, among other gun liabilities. 

The threats of any firearm you have in your house is water, thieves, wind, and fire. There is little protection against natural calamities like lightning and hailstorms. 

Different states have different gun policies. At the Federal level, you are not required by law to reveal if you possess a firearm when getting home insurance. In some states like New York, owners need to have up to $1 million of liability insurance. 

What Determines the Liability Costs of Gun Insurance?

Gun Value

Some guns are expensive, and gun owners may take stand-alone insurance for their pricey firearms the same way they take for jewelry and art. The liability costs will be higher depending on the policy you take on an individual or a collection of firearms. 

Gun value introduces the concept of insurance sub-limits, which apply to and affect specific property losses. For example, because guns are considered valuable property, most insurers will have a standard coverage limit of $2500 for all of your gun collection. 

Some people have many guns that are valuable to them and will need more coverage. The option is getting a rider insurance protection. It will give you more insurance cover, but they attract increased insurance rates. 

Owning many guns will not automatically increase your insurance rates. But when you overstate the value of your pieces, you will pay higher premium costs. The prices also increase when you purchase a rider coverage. There are different levels of rider coverages, and payment will differ from one insurance company to another. 

You can have more protection for your firearms by taking stand-alone insurance policies offered by the National Rifles Association- NRA gun insurance.

Risks

Firearms possess a lot of risks when you own them. They vary from personal injuries to third party claims. Accidents happen, and sometimes a gun owner may harm himself or others. 

The risks also determine insurance rates. For example, statistics show that gun deaths, suicides, and homicides increase with gun ownership. As a factor, when taking a life insurance policy, possession of firearms may influence the insurance rates. However, this differs from one insurance company to another. 

When insurers calculate risk for home policy insurance, they evaluate by what you own. Things like a trampoline and swimming pool will give a higher risk evaluation leading to increased insurance rates. You can take safety measures if you want to reduce insurance risks and costs. Going for a firearm training at a gun range may influence the insurance costs. 

However, gun insurance has no special offers and discounts. 

What are the Types of Gun Insurance Available for Gun Owners?

Gun owners need special cover for their weapons. There are many reasons why gun owners need insurance. Lots of considerations should take place before settling for a policy. The policies include

Concealed Carry Insurance

It is the best CCW Insurance that will provide legal protection when you finally use your firearm. The number of registered firearm owners are increasingly making the demands for individual gun insurance protection to rise. 

The concealed weapons insurance is custom to every owner. There is a need for concealed carry weapons cover depending on the job you have or personal preferences. Sometimes the job you do can give you CCW insurance, but it is always safer to take a separate gun insurance policy if you can afford it.  

When applying for a concealed carry weapon protection policy, you must give some personal information about the use of guns. You must state if it is a job requirement. 

• Where will you carry the gun to
• How many weapons do  you carry, 
• The times you will be armed, 
• A schedule of different firearms you carry.

Such policies aim to protect you from both civil and criminal gun incident cases. Legal fees are high and always costly. If you have a gun, you must get a cover, as you may use it in self-defense.

Individual insurance companies have different concealed carry weapon insurance policies. Some offer self-defense cover that also varies with each policyholder. Some companies will settle the costs after the court battle, while others offer to pay upfront for any legal tussles. 

When choosing a gun insurance company, look out for the ones with attractive policies at better rates. Some are cheap, offer no protection at all, and will refer you to defense lawyers when you have an incident with your firearm. 

What to Consider before Getting a Concealed Carry Insurance

• Check that it covers both criminal and civil cases.
• Ensure that your policy also covers attorney fees, court fees, appeals and mistrials
• Some insurers have bail bonds.
• Will it cover witness and investigation fees?
• Is there an initial solicitor retainer fee?
• Do you have coverage across all or some of the state lines?
• What are the maximum and minimum amount it will cover for all the elements of your case?
• Will it cover your spouse, or should you get an extra cover for that?

Gun Range Insurance

Because of the nature of their business, gun range owners must get gun insurance covers for their ranges. All shooting ranges are lawsuits waiting to happen. When you enter a game range, you will find many safety and warning signs. Precaution is mandatory, yet accidents can still occur.

The risks range from injuries and sometimes death when a member misfires.  As the owner, you should take a cover to prevent your business from going under when members accidentally injure or kill one another. Sometimes, slipping and accidentally discharging your firearm may lead to costly lawsuits. 

Other risks for gun range owners include the weather, trespass by non-club members, and confrontation among members while in your shooting range. Different companies will vary in the protection level they offer. 

Gun Store Insurance

All shops will benefit from the business liability insurance cover. But when you own a gun store, it is different. You will be liable for all accidents and deaths that happen in your gun store. Any medical expenses or lawsuits are expensive for any business. 

When choosing what insurance to take for your gun store, check all the parameters for compensations. Only one gun incident can put you out of business, so you should ensure that your risks are covered. 

How Do I Get Gun Insurance?

The process is relatively simple, and if done correctly, you will find very competitive insurance rates. 

Contact an Agent. 

You can get contacts with many insurance agents and compare the prices and different policies that each has to offer you. Afterward, you can schedule a meeting to cover the rates of the firearms in your possession. 

List Your Firearms

When making the list of all the firearms you wish to insure, you must get down all the details of each gun right. Make a point to include the serial number, the model of your pistols and rifles. You can further document your firearms by taking photos and storing them in a safe or the cloud. 

Valuations

For all your firearms, you must give the right valuations. You must be able to value each item under your collection. When making valuations, you should be careful not to undervalue or overprice your collection. The value of your guns determines the premium you will pay the insurance company for coverage. 

When getting the value of your prized possessions, you should also include the prices of other accessories. Guns need magazines, scopes, rings, and shoulder straps. 

Compare Different Insurance Companies.

Making a list of all potential insurers in your area will give you an insight into who has the best rates and cover. Gun insurance can be costly, and when the danger is not too severe, you can opt for affordable insurance solutions. 

Who Qualifies for Gun insurance?

Anybody of sound mental health and is above the age of 18 can own a gun in most states. For you to take gun insurance, you must own a firearm. People under the legal age should not possess firearms unless under the supervision of a licensed gun owner. 

Gun insurance, therefore, is reserved for gun owners. If you possess a licensed firearm, then you can get insurance cover for it. There are illegal guns, and some have unregistered guns. Most insurers will not register unlicensed firearms. 

Reasons Why Gun Owners Must have Gun Insurance

Gun insurance is protection for both the shooter and the victim. Anybody who owns or carries a gun runs the risk of shooting it. A responsible gun owner knows that accidents can happen when least expected. When they do, you should be able to cover your costs without losing your livelihood. 

To inspire additional responsibility.

Paying for insurance exposes the dangers of firearm possession to the owner. Once you know the consequences of discharging your weapon and causing harm with it, you will be careful.

Gun insurance is a form of gun control in many states. Locking your arms away to preserve their value has other benefits. You will have proper gun storage maintenance and therefore be less privy to accidental misfiring. 

Medical costs for victims and owner

Gun insurance provides victims of accidental shootings with medical coverage costs. You can never tell the extent of damage your firearm can cause to your victim or yourself. Most people with gun insurance have licensed firearms. 

It is unlawful in many states to possess an unregistered firearm. Most insurers will not register an unlicensed firearm. Medical expenses are costly, and if you don’t have a good cover, you may be overwhelmed with costs or, worse, get incarcerated. 

It’s also not uncommon for hunting dogs to get injured by friendly fire during hunting, you can read more about common hunting dog injuries in our article here.

Fair Compensation

Every person should be held accountable for all their gun shooting activities. People who cause death and injuries must be able to pay for their victims’ compensation and treatment. It is an individual undertaking that the public should not pay for through medical Aids and taxes.

The Balance between Private Insurance and Public Regulatory Oversight

You will soon understand the public regulatory oversight over private insurance when you undertake a gun insurance policy. For starters, the public regulatory gun policies are safety and standard measures of gun handling and possession.

The private insurance company also mandates terms of weapons discharge compensation. You must understand all the clauses in your gun insurance contract before committing to one. 

Technological Advancements

Gun insurance as a form of gun control can also lead to advanced technological improvements in firearms. Gun manufacturers owe gun makers safe guns. When you have more safety protocols, you reduce your chances of accidental shootings. 

Safe guns are a concept that ensures the safety of all gun handlers, whether you are experienced or a beginner. When people pay hefty insurance costs, it is because they value their property. Expensive guns will need better safekeeping, hence the use of biometric safe gun boxes. 

What are the Homeowners Policies of Handling Firearms?

Firearms fall under the personal property policy under most home insurance cover. As such, it means your gun collection is like all your property and possessions.  For most insurers, owning a gun will not affect the premiums of your home insurance policy. 

There are sub-limits when gun coverage is inclusive in a home insurance cover. In case of damage, theft, or loss of your gun collection, the insurer will compensate the value based on the sub-limit you are allowed. Most insurers offer $2500 as the sub-limit. 

Some homeowner policies are simple and may lack the extent you need to get good insurance cover for your gun collection. Most people take other umbrella policies for specific protection. 

What is Liability Insurance

A homeowner’s policy does not protect or cover your loss to property and belongings alone. It also includes liability from your gun activities. Therefore, liability insurance ensures that you are protected from damages, injuries, and legal costs. 

Sometimes your actions, conditions of the property, and your negligence may lead to the injuries or death of people within your premise. 

What are Some of the Liabilities that Involve Firearms

When you own a gun, things can escalate from mild to life-threatening in an instant. These are some of the eventualities that can take place, and you need protection against them. 

• Supposes a criminal breaks into your house and takes your gun. Later the criminal uses your gun to commit a crime. The family of the victim can sue you for negligence. The claim is that you failed to secure your rifle. 
• If a member of your family takes your gun and uses it to commit a crime, you will be liable for negligence. The victim of the crime will target the owner of the firearm for compensation.
• If a person other than you gets your gun and accidentally fires it, it can injure or kill another person. In such instances, you are still liable as the owner of the firearm, and you will be charged for negligence. 
• If and when a family member uses your gun to commit suicide, you will be held accountable. The parents or family of the victim should sue you for negligence. 

What are Some of the Most Useful Gun Liability Insurance Products?

Most insurance and gun companies design products that are useful for policyholders, especially gun owners. When you fire your weapon at someone, it can be self-defense, accidental, or intentional. Regardless of the situation, you will need a good defense. 

Self-defense

The law permits the use of necessary force to defend your life or property. If you have an aggressor and believe that you and your family are facing imminent danger, you can shoot at them. Cases of self-defense are serious, and you may be required to defend yourself in court. It is a criminal offense, and if found guilty, you may face conviction. 

In some cases, the family of the victim may sue you even in clear cases of self-defense. A stand-alone defense cover also protects you from acts of self-defense not included in homeowner policies. 

The Benefits of a Self-defense Policy

• It will protect you when you use your licensed and legally owned firearm without a concealed weapon carry permit. 
• If acquitted, this policy reimburses all your legal fees and court charges. 
• It will cover for your damages and the defense of your civil suit.
• Self-defense policies include loss or damage to property and bodily harm. 

Reckless Discharge and Negligence

Firing your weapon should be done in a safe environment. If you fail to take safety measures, you must be liable for all costs and consequences when you fire, injure or kill another person. Sometimes reckless discharge may cause loss of property and result in civil cases. 

Unlawful Firearm Use

It refers to when you fire your gun under the conditions not allowed by the gun laws of your area. This includes places like stadiums, highways, or in crowded areas. It is unlawful, and you will be arrested and charged in a civil court for your offense. 

When Are There Exceptions to Your Coverage?

Most insurers will cover and compensate for any legitimate case of accidental shootings, loss, and damage to property. 

For most, whenever alcohol and drugs are involved, you might not get compensation. The law on this varies from state to state, and it must be evidence-based. 

There are no exceptions when you leave a loaded firearm where a child can easily access and accidentally injure or kill a person. The gun owner becomes liable, and all costs rest squarely on their shoulders. 

All criminal acts and intentional shootings will be excluded from the cover. If you are committing a crime and shoot someone accidentally, you will be responsible for all damages and costs. 

All policies under the home insurance will deny all intentional injuries that you inflict on yourself. It will also not be liable to the damage and deliberate loss of property. You must ensure that all your claims can be substantiated because most insurers have investigators to warrant a claim. 

Does Home Insurance Cover my Guns Away From my Home?

Sometimes when hunting in the woods, you may lose your firearm. Or when you place it in your truck, someone may steal it. Some insurance companies will cover and compensate for the loss of your gun. However, the terms of the policy will vary from one insurer to another. You should establish with your insurance provider on what is covered and to which extent you get protection.

The best gun insurance policy is the one that covers most liabilities that are associated with the possessions of a firearm. All gun owners must be responsible and expert gun handlers. It will reduce the chances of accidental discharges and liability to costs that you could avoid. 

Before you commit to an insurer for your gun insurance, check the state laws, and know the limitations of firearm use in that area.