Abstract: A safety housing for a firearm includes a biometric or other access authentication device, an enclosure, a frame assembly, a slide assembly, and a door. The frame and the slide assemblies nest within the enclosure, the frame assembly affixes to the enclosure, and the slide assembly moves relative to the frame assembly. The door moves between an open position in which the firearm is removable through an access opening in the housing, and a closed position covering the access opening. The housing has cooperating internal components that operate to lock the door closed when the slide assembly is locked in place, to unlock the door when the slide assembly is released, to move the door open when the slide assembly is moved upwards, and to move the door closed when the slide assembly is moved downwards. Also, the frame assembly has adjustably positionable support elements for different firearms.

Abstract: A securing mechanism for use in a holster, gun safe, base station, recharging/docking station, gun rack, or other safety housing for a firearm or other item, including one or more retaining members that engage the trigger guard, barrel, or other part of the firearm to prevent withdrawal of the firearm from the safety housing by anyone other than an authorized user of the firearm. The securing mechanism includes a biometric identification mechanism such as a fingerprint sensor for scanning fingerprint information of a prospective user of the firearm, and a processor for comparing the scanned biometric information with stored biometric information of an authorized user and releasing the retaining member only if the scanned biometric information matches that of the authorized user.