Storing Handgun in a Vehicle

[skrazo]

How/where do you guys/gals store your handgun when it has to be left in a vehicle as you enter a place that prohibits weapons?

I stop a couple blocks away from my destination, discreetly hide it in the trunk of my car, so no one can sit in the parking lot of my destination and watch me do it.

Does anyone have any experience with those automobile gun safes that are advertised?

 

[JonF]

I have a cable connected gun safe under both front seats of my vehicle. Each has a different key number. My wife and I have our own set of keys for both safes.

We can pull the safe out from under the seat and place our weapon in it, without getting out of the car and/or looking conspicuous.

Our J-frame snubbies fit just nicely, with room for a speed loader or strip if needed.

 

[bp231986]

I rarely I mean RARELY go to a place I can't carry. But for those rare occasions i lock it up in the car compartment.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[chief38]

I NEVER leave a HG in a vehicle - NEVER! Not to mention it's illegal here in my State anyway.

Not withstanding the fact that it's illegal, IMHO it's NOT a good idea anyway. Vehicles DO get stolen, towed, broken into, etc. Just not smart IMHO. But that's just me.........

 

[Ransom]

I very rarely need to leave my handgun in my vehicle. When I do, if it's for a short time (< 1 hr), I lock it in the glove box.

If it's for longer, I have a cabled gun safe that I use to lock it in the trunk. If I can't lock in the trunk without being observed, then I just lock it in the glove box because not being observed outweighs the slightly more secure trunk/safe. If my vehicle is stolen or broken into, I've got insurance and my guns are replaceable. But it is a very rare occasion that I lock my handgun in my vehicle.

If it were illegal in my state, then I would never lock it in my vehicle. However I would be looking for a way to escape that state. (I escaped the Socialist State of Illinois into the Free State of Missouri decades ago.)

 

[Larry from Bend]

I'm guessing at least 1/4 of the rigs in this county have some type of firearm in them. I lock mine in the console. This time of year I have a rifle tucked in front of the rear seat, also. I've never had a problem, but my brother (many years ago) foolishly left a 22 and a shotgun displayed on a rack in the rear pickup window and lost both of them.

I like the cable gun lock idea and need to pursue it. I cable lock my shovels into the pickup box to keep them from disappearing. It's not that they are expensive; it's that they might not be there when I need them.

 

[Motorsporting]

Regardless of the reason for locking a weapon in a car, over time (if it was a routine situation) wouldn't the ammo become problematic? I just saw a show regarding ammo left in extreme heat (such as inside a car in the summer) and how it degrades. Thoughts?

 

[Donn]

Rarely leave a weapon in the truck. When I do, I have a TSA approved lock box cabled to the seat frame. On the odd occasion I do lock it up, NEVER leave it loaded. Places might have "No Weapons" signs posted, doesn't say "No Ammo." Slip the mag or loose rounds if I'm carrying a J frame, in my pocket.

 

[Hodgin]

I go armless if I know I'm going to a "no firearms" place. Fortunately, there aren't many of those around here. I have keep my gun in the trunk while going to the range before I got my permit.

Keeping it in the trunk would seem to be safer than inside the vehicle but you're right by being careful. My daughter used to work at a VA hospital in Memphis and she'd put her purse in the trunk while at work because a lot of women had their's stolen in the hospital. Someone apparently saw her and got it out of the trunk. She later found out that it was pretty common for trunks to be broken into.

Of course this was Memphis and it's nearly impossible to keep stuff save. My late uncle moved from the city years ago to get away from the crime. He moved to a suburb but still had his car stolen twice. Once in his driveway and the other at church.

 

[Retired LTC USAR]

Regardless of the reason for locking a weapon in a car, over time (if it was a routine situation) wouldn't the ammo become problematic? I just saw a show regarding ammo left in extreme heat (such as inside a car in the summer) and how it degrades. Thoughts?

I thought this had been discussed before and heat caused no damage to the ammo. What about military ammo that is stored in milvans in the desert?

 

[skrazo]

Rarely leave a weapon in the truck. When I do, I have a TSA approved lock box cabled to the seat frame. On the odd occasion I do lock it up, NEVER leave it loaded. Places might have "No Weapons" signs posted, doesn't say "No Ammo." Slip the mag or loose rounds if I'm carrying a J frame, in my pocket.

Thanks for all the responses. I only leave my handgun in the car for short periods (usually less than 1 hr). I always carry my ammo with me..........never leave it in the car. Will follow up on the cabled gun safes.

 

[Smoke]

If someone is breaking into your car for your gun a lock box won't stop them but it will stop most of the smash and grab guys.I bought a lock box at Wal Mart for 20 bucks and cabled it to the seat cheap insurance

 

[steelslaver]

Most thieves are lazy or they wouldn't be thieves. Things like lock boxes etc make things difficult and 95% of them are not into difficult. Around here there are lots of cars and trucks with guns in them and very very few thefts. I sometimes go away for a month or more on out of state jobs and leave my car setting in the driveway with the keys in it. Why make them want to break into the house to find the keys. I do have a motion detection camera that uploads to the net.

 

[Don 73]

Most thieves are lazy or they wouldn't be thieves. Things like lock boxes etc make things difficult and 95% of them are not into difficult.

I agree, and since 99% of the time thieves are not going to be walking around with bolt cutters, using a cable lock and securing the firearm in the trunk of a car to a frame or body part would be the most secure thing to do. You could do the same inside the car too, just use a part of the seat bracket and stow the gun under the seat.

 

[arjay]

The 1st time my truck was broken into they were not concerned about the thousands of dollars in tools I lost.They were very concerned about any guns that may have been in there.It happens every day folks.Cables are very easy to cut.If you're going to do it,bolt a good lockbox in the trunk.

 

[Smoke]

The 1st time my truck was broken into they were not concerned about the thousands of dollars in tools I lost.They were very concerned about any guns that may have been in there.It happens every day folks.Cables are very easy to cut.If you're going to do it,bolt a good lockbox in the trunk.

Who are "They" ?

 

[roo_ster]

If I am toting a smallish CCW and must leave it in the car, it goes out of sight in the center console of my car. Otherwise, under stuff in the hatchback.

If in my truck, my truck doors do not lock, so I used the truck box, which has a serious hasp & padlock. (I also lock down the steering wheel as I would in an Army vehicle.)

I don't get all wound around the axle, since I think of guns as tools, not as some sort of item that is extra-sinful to get stolen. The one committing the crime and acting immorally is the thief, not the victim of theft.

 

[AGoyette]

(I escaped the Socialist State of Illinois into the Free State of Missouri decades ago.)

Hey, I am in MO too. What part of the state are you in?

 

[ChefAl]

I have a Small storage space under the rear seat. I keep a Gun vault under the seat for times when it is necessary to store it. It is cable locked to the seat frame.
Completely out of sight, NO decals on car, combination locked. Not completely theft proof, but enough to seriously slow down a thief.

 

[Ransom]

Hey, I am in MO too. What part of the state are you in?

St. Louis County.