New (to me) WA car-gun law

[ShooterMcGavin]

I have read the gun laws as written on some sites such as packing.org, concerning the storage of a handgun in your vehicle. I believe it was never mentioned that the handgun must be UNloaded to lawfully do this. Recently, I read the WA gun laws on the NRA-ILA site which state:

A person at least 18 years old who is in possession of an unloaded pistol shall not leave it in a vehicle unless the unloaded pistol is locked within the vehicle and concealed from view from outside the vehicle.

Does this mean that lawful storage of a handgun requires that the chambered round be removed?? That will be a pain, as I carry a .40. The possible bullet-setback will make my carry ammo more dangerous and require that I cycle my ammo much more frequently. I DO have a magazine disconnect. However, I bet that even the anti-gunners who insist that the mag disconnect makes the gun safe (I would never argue that), would also claim that a round in the chamber means that the gun is now loaded and illegally stored (if that is the case).
-Maybe I had read that section before, and then thought to myself "well, it doesn't apply to me since I am not storing an unloaded gun" Why don't they just say exactly what the law is, instead of writing it that way?!?!

OR...
Is that section for those who do not have a CPL, who are storing a gun in a car?? From the NRA-ILA site, it goes on to say:

A person shall not carry or place a loaded pistol in any vehicle unless he has a license to carry a concealed weapon and the pistol is on his person, or the person with the concealed carrying license is within the vehicle at all times that the pistol is there, or the person with the concealed carrying license is away from the vehicle and the pistol is locked within the vehicle and concealed from view from outside the vehicle.

Here, they are talking about a CPL holder and a loaded gun.

Am I legal, as a CPL holder, to store my gun with a round chambered (i.e. "loaded"), out of view, and locked in my car?? Can you WA people please shed some light on this law???

BTW - I work at a non-gun place, so I must leave my gun locked every day. I lock it in the trunk, leaving 1 round in the chamber, and I take the magazine with me. It is not immediately or easily ready to fire without the magazine.

 

[Bobarino]

thats not the law. the law is RCW 9.41.050(2)(a) as states the following:

(2)(a) A person shall not carry or place a loaded pistol in any vehicle unless the person has a license to carry a concealed pistol and: (i) The pistol is on the licensee's person, (ii) the licensee is within the vehicle at all times that the pistol is there, or (iii) the licensee is away from the vehicle and the pistol is locked within the vehicle and concealed from view from outside the vehicle.

you can leave a loaded gun in your car as long as the car is locked and the gun is out of view.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.41.050

Bobby

 

[dave_pro2a]

"Am I legal, as a CPL holder, to store my gun with a round chambered (i.e. "loaded"), out of view, and locked in my car?? Can you WA people please shed some light on this law???"

Yes, you can do just what police Chief Gil Kerlikowske does, leave a loaded pistol in your car. Only don't let yours get stolen like his did

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

I think I had previously read the RCW, as was posted above. The confusion was caused by the paraphrasing of the NRA-ILA site. It is quite misleading.

Thanks Bobby!!

Dave, I agree, I aim to keep it! Hopefully, my VERY humble looking car gives the impression that "there's nothing of value inside". Also, a thief would have to take a pry bar to my trunk, rather than just pull the trunk-release lever.

 

[Mainsail]

May I ask why you need to lock it in the car at all? I am guessing it's because your place of employment doesn't allow you to carry. I can't even drive onto the base with mine, so at least you have that.

 

[dave_pro2a]

Mainsail, there are lots of reasons:

1) Stopping by a bar to say hi to someone, no guns allowed.
2) Stopping by the Federal Court House to renew your CCW or to look up some records, no guns allowed.
3) Stoppig by the post office, while debatable may would say no guns allowed.
4) Stopping by a State University, no guns allowed.
5) etc.

As to why Chief Kerlikowske locked his loaded gun in his car? No idea! I don't believe he ever did give a straight answer.

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

Those are all good examples, Dave.

Mainsail - Correct, I cannot carry at work.

I can't even drive onto the base with mine, so at least you have that.

No, I wouldn't say that I have that, but let's not go there