Question about keeping firearm in vehicle

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38-45 Special

38-45 Special

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A friend of mine recently bought a single shot shotgun to keep in his vehicle. He has mentioned keeping it in the back of his car (a hatchback) with the locking cable through the barrel with a loaded shell sleeve on the stock. However, (and this is where my concern for legality comes in) in order to prevent it getting stolen from his vehicle due to having to keep it unconcealed, he mentioned looping the locking cable through these loops on the back of the seat. The loops are made onto the seat and appear to be for strapping something in for hauling, canopy ties, etc.

Now, I'm not asking for legal advice, just looking for some other opinions. To me, it doesn't look like a good idea and like it could lead to some trouble if encountered by law enforcement. We live in Kentucky if that helps any. Thanks in advance.
 
Sounds like a bad idea. Why go through all the trouble locking a firearm down to your vehicle? Get your Concealed Carry permit and be done. Leaving a firearm in a vehicle is typically not smart no matter how much you lock it down.
 
An unloaded firearm in a locked case seems less likely to come to harm, or be stolen, and probably just as easy to use as fiddling with a cable lock.

I don’t know specifically about Kentucky law.
 
As always , check your state laws. Each state is different.

As far as leaving a long gun exposed and locked with a cable, It does not sound like a wise decision to me. I would rather have in in a hard case in the back seat and ammo in the glove box. Out of sight out of mind.

I know here in Missouri we can have a loaded handgun concealed in the vehicle. Shotguns and rifles must be unloaded while being transported.
 
It's rather pointless to have a long gun in your car unless you are going hunting. Best thing to do is find out how you can obtain a concealed weapons permit, what the rules are in your state, and along with taking some proper firearm safety courses.
 
Well, I'm sure it will give him peace of mind that if someone breaks into his car because he's got a shotgun lying in plain view in the car, that they won't be able to actually get the shotgun unless they have bolt cutters or some other method of cutting the cable. It will probably make the sting of having to repair the break-in damage almost disappear--at least the first few times.
 
JohnKSa said:
Well, I'm sure it will give him peace of mind that if someone breaks into his car because he's got a shotgun lying in plain view in the car, that they won't be able to actually get the shotgun unless they have bolt cutters or some other method of cutting the cable.
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Depends on what the "loops" are made of. Whatever this gun is strapped to, could be just seat belt material, should be easy enough to remove.
 
grampster said:
It's rather pointless to have a long gun in your car unless you are going hunting. Best thing to do is find out how you can obtain a concealed weapons permit, what the rules are in your state, and along with taking some proper firearm safety courses.
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Wow. I guess some people live in a bubble. I keep an braced AR pistol in my vehicle all the time. Along with six loaded mags.

One never knows when trouble will come. The AR pistol gives me much longer range if needed.
 
Weigh the risks and benefits. Having a firearm and ammunition in plain sight, even if secured by a cable, makes for a very tempting target to have the vehicle broken into. Very high risk.

You have at hand a single shot shotgun, which isn’t very effective for self-defense, and has limited use for spur-of-the-moment hunting opportunities. Little benefit.

I fail to see why your friend thinks this is a good idea.
 
Sounds like a blanket over the back of the rear seats would solve the problem. I can't fathom why the gun would need to remain "unconcealed" (is that some backwards state law for encouraging vehicle break-ins?). But if no one can see it, no one can see it.
 
Blanket over the back of the rear seats just screams "something of value". As was stated, KY is a constitutional carry state. I would, and have, in that state, carry a handgun.
 
Edcnh said:
Insigficant Bill seems to have the perfect answer.
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That depends on the answer to Kleanbore’s question. It’s easy to assume self defense but he might have a job where he regularly drives past places that are legal to hunt small game, and wants to be able to stop on his way home and try to take a rabbit or squirrel for the pot.

I can think of far worse ways to unwind after a day at work.
 
If it's not concealed, laying in plain sight it would make a tempting target of opportunity. Even if the thief couldn't cut the lock, just having the window broken out would suck.
 
In Florida, I keep a H&R partner ($140 at Walmart) in a case under the back seat of my jeep, mag loaded. The gun/case is also covered up with a bunch of random junk. I live in a low crime area.
 
Not everyone can carry a handgun into their work. Leaving the gun in the vehicle is not a absurd idea. Leaving it in plain view is.

As far as long guns it's not legal in my state to carry loaded long guns concealed (hidden in a vehicle). Given the current climate I have been debating on a braced pistol for a car gun but I cant bring myself to spend the coin on one as everything's crazy expensive right now.
 
Most single shot shotguns are easy to break down. Why not take it apart and put t in a black bag of some sort. Chances are the interior is dark. It might blend n fairly well
 
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