Gun safes recalled after 12-year-old’s death

Krysyan Edler
·2 min read
3
A company is recalling over 60,000 biometric gun safes after a 12-year-old died from a gun allegedly stored in one of the safes, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
A company is recalling over 60,000 biometric gun safes after a 12-year-old died from a gun allegedly stored in one of the safes, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. | Adobe.com

Fortress Safe is recalling over 60,000 biometric gun safes after a 12-year-old died from a gun allegedly stored in one of the safes, the company announced in conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Thursday.

The recall announcement from the CPSC cited “serious injury hazard and risk of death” as the reason for the recall.

One of the biometric safe’s programming features allows unauthorized users to open the safe and access its contents.

The CPSC urges owners of the gun safes to remove the batteries and only open the safe with its key.

Owners can contact Fortress Safe to learn how to disable the safe to prevent further use of the safe or an unsuspecting customer purchasing it off the secondhand market. Fortress Safe will provide a free replacement.

What gun safes were recalled?

The recall applies to “portable lock boxes, personal safes, pistol vaults and gun cabinets” sold under the following brand names, per CPSC:

  • Fortress.

  • Cabela’s.

  • Gettysburg.

  • Legend Range & Field.

The safes with the following model numbers have been recalled:

  • Fortress Portable Safe with Biometric Lock: 11B20.

  • Fortress Personal Safe with Pop up door and Biometric Lock: 44B10.

  • Legend Range & Field Personal Safe with Pop up door and Biometric Lock: 44B10L.

  • Fortress Medium Personal Safe with Biometric Lock: 44B20.

  • Fortress Quick Access Safe with Biometric Lock: 55B20.

  • Fortress Large Quick Access Safe with Biometric Lock: 55B30.

  • Gettysburg Large Quick Access Safe with Biometric Lock: 55B30G.

  • Cabela’s 4 Gun Safe with Biometric Lock: 4BGGBP.

  • Cabela’s Biometric Personal Safe: 55B30BP.

Has anyone been injured?

A recent lawsuit alleges a 12-year-old’s death resulted from unauthorized access to the safe through the programming feature, according to CPSC. Thirty-nine customers reported unauthorized users being able to open the safe. No other fatalities or injuries were included in the recall announcement.

Where were the safes sold?

The recalled safes were sold across the country in the following stores:

  • Bass Pro Shops.

  • Cabela’s.

  • Scheel’s.

  • Sportsman’s Guide.

  • Optics Planet.

  • Dick’s Sporting Goods.

  • Gander.

  • Rural King.

  • Lowe’s.

They were also sold online through Amazon and eBay.