Major Scott Myers, with two decades of SWAT experience, responded to an active shooter at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School to assist the neighboring jurisdiction of Parkland, Florida, on February 14, 2018. He arrived in his unmarked vehicle, which had a SWAT rifle and a sniper rifle secured in a trunk enclosure. That’s a common practice for law enforcement vehicles not intended for routine enforcement, like those used by administrators or detectives. It’s particularly true of narcotics officers who don’t want to be recognized as law enforcement at all.
In that moment, Myers had to make the agonizing decision to either waste precious seconds retrieving a much more effective long gun from the trunk or enter the school with only his sidearm. Every second of an active shooter event is precious to the response. Deploying with the proper tool to end the violence more quickly and effectively is also critical to the response. What a terrible choice to have to make.
Response after the response
A few months after the Parkland school shooting, Scott Myers and his friend and fellow officer, Scott Levin, designed a portable locking device for AR-15s where all great cop inventions are born — inside the garage. The Scotts approached the project with the idea of increasing both weapon security and ease of deployment. After they were satisfied with their invention, their spouses named it SCOTTLOCK.
The SCOTTLOCK is designed to render rifles inoperable and inaccessible while still allowing the firearm to remain in a carry-ready (patrol ready) condition. Unlike common rifle racks, which are more vulnerable to theft, the SCOTTLOCK device is engineered to resist common burglary tools, requiring a significant amount of time to defeat. Constructed from hardened steel, the unit’s patented pin geometry ensures it cannot be easily pried open or cut through without conspicuous tools and time, making it a formidable barrier against theft.
Make no mistake, this system is a big chunk of hardened steel, but it’s not as awkward as it appears — the padlock, especially. It’s very easy to use after some familiarization, unlocks smoothly and with little pressure.
The system is designed to be locked in one of two ways when using the cable option (there is also a chain option, which is more pliable but shorter):
Tactical application:
- Secure the cable to something solid in the vehicle, like seat mounts, and feed one end through the other.
- Secure the loop onto the rear pin.
- Insert the rifle over the pins on the lower plate.
- Secure the system with the top plate and padlock.
This method is a little bit quicker to deploy the rifle.
Convenient application:
- Same as above, except the padlock and cable loop stay outside the plates and are secured directly to the padlock.
This application makes it easier to move the rifle from one location to another while keeping it secured in the SCOTTLOCK.
Whichever method you choose, it’s imperative you practice deploying your rifle from the device.
The lock’s portability makes it ideal for securing rifles in diverse environments — whether under a bed, on a wall, or in a vehicle — without permanent mounting. SCOTTLOCK USA sells steel floor and wall anchors for home or RV use, and magnets for convenient in-home storage. This system is not just for law enforcement; it’s also great for responsible gun owners, including those with Jeeps, RVs, or motorhomes where gun safes are impractical.
Turning pain into purpose
The SCOTTLOCK is compatible with all Mil-spec AR rifles and is proudly made in America. It allows officers to keep their rifle secure yet readily accessible for rapid deployment. SCOTTLOCK USA emphasizes their commitment to preventing stolen firearms from being used against law enforcement or citizens and offers a discount to individual officer purchases. Scott Myers and Scott Levin are great examples of how two cops with a purpose and a garage can turn pain into purpose. Please check out www.scottlockusa.com.
