In a recent announcement, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a recall for over 60,000 biometric gun safes due to a programming feature that can potentially allow unauthorized access to the safes. According to ABC News, the safes, manufactured by Fortress Safe, have been linked to incidents where unauthorized individuals have gained access to the safes using their fingerprints.

The CPSC informed the public that they have received 39 reports from consumers who have discovered unauthorized access to their safes. This programming flaw has caused some consumers to falsely believe that they have properly programmed the biometric feature, when in reality, the safe remains in the default open mode. This poses serious safety concerns, especially for households with children, as it enables them to access hazardous contents, including firearms.

"As a precautionary measure, consumers are urged to immediately cease using the biometric feature, remove the batteries from the safe, and rely solely on the key for opening the recalled safes," advised the CPSC in their public announcement.

Fortress Safe, the company responsible for manufacturing the biometric gun safes, has officially issued a recall, citing a "serious injury hazard and risk of death." Sadly, one death has already been reported in connection with the faulty safes.

According to Fortress Safe, the recall includes various models of portable lock boxes, personal safes, pistol vaults, and gun cabinets sold under the brand names Fortress, Cabela's, Gettysburg, and Legend Range & Field. Consumers can find the list of model numbers included in the recall on Fortress Safe's website.

The affected safes were sold through various retailers such as Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's, Scheel's, Sportsman's Guide, Optics Planet, Dick's Sporting Goods, Gander, Rural King, Lowe's, as well as online platforms like Amazon.com and Ebay.com. The safes were available for purchase between January 2019 and October 2023, with prices ranging from $44 to $290.

The CPSC has taken swift action by issuing this recall to protect consumers from potential harm. They urge all owners of the affected safes to heed the instructions provided and ensure the biometric feature is discontinued immediately. Additionally, consumers are reminded to keep the recalled safes securely locked using the provided key until further updates are provided by Fortress Safe.

For more information and details regarding the recall, consumers are advised to visit the CPSC website or contact Fortress Safe directly. The paramount concern is to ensure the safety and well-being of all consumers while using gun safes to store firearms in their homes.