Are you in possession of NFA-regulated guns? If so, you're well aware that these pieces are highly regulated and that possession of them is prohibited in some states. If you're caught transporting your guns to a state that doesn't allow them, you could face 10 years of imprisonment in a federal penitentiary. If you have to travel to a state in which your weapons are prohibited, and you don't have a trusted friend or relative who you can leave your weapons with, here are some tips to keep them safe and secure in a storage rental unit at a facility like Stor-King.

1. Definitely Get A Gun Safe

As an NFA-regulated weapon owner, you have a responsibility to keep the highly destructive weapons you've purchased secure at all times. Opt for a high-security storage unit that is monitored 24 hours a day, and purchase a heavy-duty gun safe to place in it for an added level of protection.

If your storage unit is broken into, the thief isn't going to be too worried about you coming home and catching them. They'll have plenty of time to tinker with your gun safe's lock(s), so you'll want a unit that's durable enough to stand up to a fair amount of abuse. And the bigger, heavier gun safe you get, the better; you don't want a safe that one or two people could pick up and toss in the back of their truck.

2. Practice Rust Prevention

While they're in storage, you'll want to prevent the rusting of your guns by limiting the moisture in your storage unit. A storage unit with just temperature control won't do the job -- you need one with humidity control. Humidity-controlled storage units keep the humidity levels of the air within the units at about 55 percent, creating a safe environment for most rust-sensitive belongings.

For further rust prevention, wipe all of your pieces down with a gun lubricant immediately before bringing them to your storage unit. If your gun cases are impregnated with a rust preventative, it's okay to leave your guns in them before placing them in your gun safe. If they aren't, though, you'll want to take your guns out of their cases before placing them in your safe, and store them in silicone-impregnated gun socks instead.

3. Transport Discreetly

Once you purchase your gun safe, you'll want to move it into your storage unit in a way that doesn't draw attention. It's a good idea to hire a moving company to take care of this. Certified movers are trained to get the job done smoothly and quickly. Ask the movers to place the gun safe at the back of your storage facility and, before you depart on your trip, place some of your other belongings in front of the safe. This will make your safe more difficult to see when your storage unit door is open, and in the event of a break-in, the safe will be more difficult to access.

Only once your gun safe is in place should you deliver your weapons to your storage unit. Ask the storage facility operator what peak times are for people accessing storage, and avoid these times when delivering your guns. Make quick work of transporting your guns to storage, and keep them in their cases while doing so. 

4. Get Insurance

Your storage facility's property insurance will not cover your goods in the event that they are damaged or stolen. With your NFA-regulated weapons being expensive and difficult to replace, you'll want to make sure that you have some type of coverage on them. 

Contact your home insurance provider and ask if your personal effects are covered while in storage -- in some cases, they will be. If not, though, ask your storage facility owner for storage insurance. Some storage businesses offer as much as $75,000 worth of coverage for just a couple of hundred dollars a month.

If you own NFA-regulated guns, you have a duty to keep those guns safe and secure, no matter where you are. If you need to place your weapons in storage so that you may travel to a different state, do it responsibly by following the above 4 tips.