Most gun owners worry about a number of “what ifs”. Here are eight hypothetical examples of when insurance can help.

What If My Gun Is Damaged in a Fire?

Fire is one of the top threats to all types of property. Wildfires are a risk that have been in the news a lot lately, but fires can have many causes, from faulty electrical wiring to cooking mishaps to improperly discarded cigarettes. When it comes to the “what ifs” of firearm property risks, fire is a big one. If your gun were to be in a fire, it most likely would be seriously damaged. The flames could easily burn any wood parts and melt plastic pieces. Metal parts can also be damaged by intense heat. Even if your gun is not directly exposed to flames, it could still be damaged by smoke or fire extinguishing chemicals. However, the right insurance can protect your firearm property investment.

Firearm Insurance offers coverage for your guns and their attached accessories when they are damaged or destroyed by fire. Coverage is subject to the policy limit you choose, as well as a per-item limit depending on whether you chose to schedule coverage, such as for items worth more than $2,500. With an example policy of $5,000 of annual coverage, which starts at just $62.50 (before applicable fees), Firearm Insurance is a very affordable way to protect your EDC, a valuable antique or collectible and even your whole collection from the common risk of fire.

What If My Gun Collection Is Lost in a Flood?

Extreme weather seems to be more and more common. When first-hand stories come across social media about major floods, it’s natural to wonder “what if?” Imagine if you were in the path of a large flood and your gun collection was part of the property you lost. One of the reasons floods are so devastating is that the water often carries away property, so that it’s not just damaged, but swept away entirely. Most homeowner’s and renter’s insurance policies exclude flood coverage entirely. Specific flood insurance policies may provide coverage for property items lost in a flood, but coverage can be limited and most property owners are thinking first about replacing their most important items, like furniture, clothes and major appliances. However, if you also had a policy for your guns, you could have the chance to replace both your necessities and your collectibles.

Firearm Insurance offers specific coverage for the direct physical loss of your guns and their attached accessories. Coverage for such a loss due to a flood event is available up to a total limit of $30,000, while unscheduled firearm property remains limited to a maximum coverage per item of $2,500. Higher valued items you scheduled under your policy can be covered up to their designated item limit as long as it’s below the policy’s flood limit. For most gun owners, this amount of coverage would be enough to protect a fairly sizeable firearm collection. More importantly, your flood insurance coverage can be used to get you back on your feet after the flood without being impacted by your firearm property claim.

What If I Have a Loss Away From Home?

Many gun owners lead an active lifestyle. You may travel with your firearms to visit the range, attend club activities, hunt with friends, participate in competitions and more. Your guns may stay by your side on some trips, but for others they could be riding in the storage holds of planes, trains, buses, trucks or ships. With valuable property out of your sight, you may start to worry about “what ifs” — lost luggage, damage during transit, theft from your bag. Often, insurance is location dependent, but with the right insurance for your guns you can still be protected.

Firearm Insurance is based on the home address you choose, but that doesn’t mean your coverage ends there. Your firearm property can be protected away from home, when you are at another address, out in nature or just on the road. Coverage for the full limits of your policy extends to the entire United States, including its territories and possessions. Plus in most circumstances, additional worldwide coverage is included automatically that can cover up to $10,000 of firearm property for sixty days when you are out of the country.

What If My Newest Gun Isn’t on My Insurance?

Some new property, like a home or vehicle, has to be insured as soon as you take possession of it. But in other cases, it can take time after you buy a new item to get it listed on your insurance. Some gun owners may even forget to add their new gun to their property insurance for a couple of months. So if something were to happen before then, you may wonder if you would be covered. With some types of insurance policies, you may not be. But with the right insurance for your guns, you can still be protected.

Firearm Insurance comes with additional protection which covers newly acquired firearm property for up to 180 days after purchase. So if you buy a new gun and have a fire, flood, theft or other loss for it before you add it to your policy, it can still be covered. The specific coverage amount will vary depending on the policy coverage you choose. For such newly acquired property, coverage is limited to 25% of the total limit of coverage you purchased. However, you can add your new property’s value to your policy and adjust your coverage limits if they need to be higher and then be covered for your complete collection.

What If My Gun Is Stolen in a Burglary?

Theft of firearms is surprisingly common. Law enforcement estimates that over 200,000 firearms are stolen every year. In about 95% of cases, the gun is taken from a regular private owner, like you. Sometimes when there’s a break-in, the thief specifically targets the home’s gun collection. In fact, that might be the only thing taken. Most homeowner’s and renter’s policies provide fairly limited coverage for firearms. Plus, you’ll have to file a claim on a policy that’s really intended to save you from major losses, like a falling tree crashing through your house. Your premium may jump and these claims are generally a hassle to complete. But gun property insurance is available separately.

Our Firearm Insurance policy can also protect your guns in the case of theft, whether they are stolen from your home, a vehicle or somewhere else. With our policy, you don’t need to file a claim on your homeowner’s, renter’s or auto policy first to access your coverage. With our theft coverage for your firearms, you have immediate access to your full policy limits for the loss, with the limits you set for your scheduled items and up to $2,500 of coverage per item for any unscheduled items affected. If multiple items are taken in one burglary — a common occurrence — they can all be reported under a single claim with just one $250 deductible.

What If My Gun Is Used in a Crime?

One of the big worries of gun owners who experience a break-in, theft from their vehicle or other loss of their gun is what happens afterwards. Many end up in the hands of people who shouldn’t have them and go on to commit a crime. Liability involving a gun crime can be complex. While the individuals directly involved in causing harm are responsible for their own actions, the rightful gun owner may face their own legal problems. Failing to properly report the theft can occasionally result in a criminal case. Victims of a crime or their families can also sue the gun’s owner in civil court for negligence.

While Firearm Insurance can cover the property cost of a lost or stolen firearm, Personal Firearm Liability Insurance is the coverage that protects gun owners in cases where their gun is used by a third party to commit a crime. Personal Firearm Liability coverage can protect you against such claims for personal injury, bodily injury or property damage when your firearm is no longer in your possession because it has been lost, stolen or lent by you to a person legally allowed to possess it. This affordable coverage comes with several options, protecting you from the high costs of these potential claims.

What If I Have an Accident With My Firearm?

Gun owners tend to be some of the most careful and responsible people around. Whether on a hunt, practicing at an indoor or outdoor gun range, participating in a competition or attending club activities, nearly everyone pays close attention to their firearm safety practices. This greatly reduces the risk of accidents. At the same time, some firearm-related accidents do happen each year. Even conscientious gun owners worry about having an accident, but there is insurance that can protect against this risk, too.

Personal Firearm Liability Insurance offers coverage for accidental discharges, hunting accidents and shooting accidents. This protection can shield a lawful gun owner from the costs of a civil lawsuit when a third party is injured or their property is damaged due to you having an accident with your firearm. This type of liability coverage can help pay for common associated costs, such as fees for a lawyer, court judgments and out-of-court settlements. This protection is very affordable and policies are available at several levels of coverage to suit different levels of risk.

What If There Is a Case of Self-Defense?

Laws vary so significantly around the country, it’s hard to get into specifics. But imagine you found yourself in a legitimate and necessary self-defense situation with your legally possessed firearm. What would happen? It could be that everyone agrees you followed the law and did nothing wrong, from responding law enforcement officers to attorneys for the city and the local courts. Even so, you are likely to have hired an experienced lawyer to ensure your rights are protected while the facts were determined. Legal fees can be very expensive, even when a matter resolves quickly and in your favor. But if you have the right insurance, it can help with the cost.

Personal Firearm Liability offers coverage to protect against the costs associated with a lawful personal defense claim, such as the fees for a lawyer to represent you. This coverage works on a reimbursement basis, responding to a claim once all charges are dropped or you are acquitted of all charges, up to your policy’s applicable limits. It’s important to note that no type of insurance will provide coverage for things that are unlawful. However, there are those cases where a person experiences a financial loss even when the law was followed. It’s for these types of cases that the right type of insurance can give greater peace of mind.

What If I’m Sued in Civil Court?

Even when courts, police and legal experts all agree that you followed the law and committed no crime, there are still risks when you’re an everyday gun owner. Imagine if you were sued in civil court by someone or their family, whether over a self-defense incident or something else. Anyone keeping up with the news knows these civil claims are getting more and more common. While a gun owner sued in civil court won’t have to worry about a potential jail sentence, other serious consequences are possible. Risks of civil claims include monetary civil court judgments or settlements, plus big bills for lawyers, appeals and more. It’s possible to face debt or bankruptcy, even if you win at court. But with the right insurance, such risks can be minimized.

Personal Firearm Liability offers civil defense and damages coverage to protect against the costs associated with such civil suits. Unlike the policy’s coverage for criminal proceedings — which is paid out only on a reimbursement basis — the liability coverage available for civil matters is first-dollar coverage. This means that the coverage can be used along the way to help pay your legal fees for lawyers, expert witnesses, private investigators, consultants, appeal bonds, taxed costs, prejudgment interests and other typical expenses. For the everyday gun owner, defending against such civil suits is often difficult if not out of reach. But with affordable civil liability coverage, you can better defend your rights and make sure you get to have your day in court.

The Right Insurance for Your “What Ifs”

Insurance isn’t meant to be “one size fits all.” With Lockton Affinity Outdoor, you can find insurance coverage that is designed for firearm owners and their unique “what-if” types of risks. We offer a full range of policy options for gun owners, such as Firearm Insurance to protect your firearm property and Personal Firearm Liability Insurance to protect you from third-party claims. Best of all, these annual policies are available at several affordable price points so that you can choose the level of coverage that suits you.

As experts in the firearm insurance space with decades of experience, we also offer policies for firearm instructors, businesses, clubs, landowners and more. Discover more options to protect what matters to you today.