sauer1911
Member
Can't use it if its left in the car, and If its not on me, someone can steal it and use it against me.
be safe.
be safe.
Leaving a handgun in your car 24/7?
- Thread starter Peter M. Eick
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ljnowell
Member
The value if the gun is irrelevant to me. The fear that I would be arming a criminal who could use it to rib or murder someone would be my fear.
DeepSouth
Random Guy
I generally keep one handgun and one long gun in my truck, if I lived in a larger town I may not. But honestly, I probably would. It's just not a big deal to me, I don't live in fear of it being stolen.
Twiki357
Member
I keep a P-11 in my truck all the time. I don’t worry much about it since the only time anyone would have access to break in is when I’m at a store. In my area, probably 1 out of every 5 cars in a lot is sitting there with all the windows open so I figure they would be a more likely target than my locked and alarmed 15 year old truck.
herrwalther
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Even though I live in a rural area, car break ins are very common lately. Cars being broke into during broad daylight while parked in your driveway, locked or non. Several car firearms, mostly rifles last hunting season, have been stolen. So no I am not really fond of storing a firearm in my car.
CoalTrain49
Member
Depends on where you live. Here one needs a CPL to do it which I have. I leave one in my truck 24/7 but it stays in my driveway most days. I don't have a problem with it because I don't have kids and my truck stays locked when it's parked.
Capt. Obvious
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Its legal where I am, but I usually don't because I have no internal locking compartments, which is strange for a new car. My old 05 had a locking glove box and it never bothered me to leave one in there. The glove box locked and it had an unusual alarm which I could recognize in an instant, unlike my new car that has the honking horn alarm. How boring. 
HRnightmare
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Carrying a handgun in and out of the car is too much trouble? Your not disassembling it, cleaning it and reloading the magazines. You take your keys in with you every night I assume? What is the difference? About 7 ounces? Sorry to be rude but this just seems pure lazy. You literally have to reach over, grab it and walk the same way and to the same place you would walk anyway.
Unless it is in a gunvault or similar lockbox a gun that weights 1-2 lbs is A LOT easier to walk off with then a car. Also, a gun does not need to be hotwired to use, can be hidden much easier and probably a much higher likelihood of being found at a crime scene.
My neighborhood, a usually very good neighborhood in a good area was hit a few weeks back and 8 cars were broken into. Well there are only about 200 homes in the neighborhood. I would say 8 was a pretty good percentage for the burglars. Well guess what? They realized they had such a soft target and they came back. I think the second time was like 15 (they went on the day before a holiday when there was a lot of cars spending the night at people's houses. I don't think it is a coincidence that a few weeks later, several homes were burglarized.
Now I am by no means saying you would or should be legally responsible But imagine if someone took that gun and killed a neighbor, a child, how about used it to come into your house and shoot you or your wife? Think of how easily that could be avoided.
THIS!
and THIS!
ApacheCoTodd
member
Some personal experience perspectives on this:
If you leave it in the car you're less likely to be seen transporting it to and from as well as manipulating whatever stow-away concept you utilize.
Car washes with attendants running the car through!
Vehicle is stolen.
Vehicle is broken into.
If you wanna do it, it's got to be very secure. Once a miscreant has come across the security device - he'll be back better prepared next time in anticipation of what "might" be in there.
So, me? Back and forth concealed without a big dramatic operation of stowing it or recovering it once home.
Todd.
If you leave it in the car you're less likely to be seen transporting it to and from as well as manipulating whatever stow-away concept you utilize.
Car washes with attendants running the car through!
Vehicle is stolen.
Vehicle is broken into.
If you wanna do it, it's got to be very secure. Once a miscreant has come across the security device - he'll be back better prepared next time in anticipation of what "might" be in there.
So, me? Back and forth concealed without a big dramatic operation of stowing it or recovering it once home.
Todd.
km101
Member
I have noticed several replies that say: No, don't leave it in the car. You should have your gun on you!
My thinking is that a "car gun" is one that stays in the car/truck/van and is IN ADDITION to my carry gun. I have my EDC and I also have a gun in the vehicle at all times, usually a S&W model 64 stainless.
I have had a firearm of some type in most of my vehicles for years without incident and see no reason to change. I even keep a couple of long guns in my pickup 24/7. They are cased and concealed and are serviced regularly, but they stay in the truck.
My thinking is that a "car gun" is one that stays in the car/truck/van and is IN ADDITION to my carry gun. I have my EDC and I also have a gun in the vehicle at all times, usually a S&W model 64 stainless.
I have had a firearm of some type in most of my vehicles for years without incident and see no reason to change. I even keep a couple of long guns in my pickup 24/7. They are cased and concealed and are serviced regularly, but they stay in the truck.
Jim NE
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Was kind of moving in that direction....till my brother got his car stolen a few weeks ago. I still keep a gun in my car a lot of the time, but my car's mostly in the garage and I'm home. Even then, I keep the car locked so the kids can't get to it. If I do leave a gun in the car while I'm out and about, it isn't for long, and I either have a real good hiding place or it's in a cabled lock box. Sometimes in the locked console, but that's not real secure.
If I was out and about town a lot, however, and the car spent a lot of time by itself out on the street or in parking lots, I would never keep a gun in the car. Remember, the worst thing about as stolen gun isn't your monetary loss...it's what that thief might intend to do with your weapon.
I am rarely without my concealed handgun so I really don't have a need for a truck gun. I live in a mid-sized city and do not leave my handgun in my truck overnight or for any extended period of time, however, I wouldn't have a problem with storing a handgun in a GunVault style gun safe that was securely mounted through the floorboards to a steel plate. I have seen the cable mounts and IMO, that wouldn't provide quite enough security for my peace of mind.
chicharrones
needs more ammo
I've had my wive's (yes plural) cars broken into on four occasions. All were for part or all of the stereo system and all in Houston. My own work truck that I had years ago got some tools stolen out of the "camper" shell in the south side of downtown Dallas years ago on a job site. A co-worker with a truck got his under-the-seat revolver stolen out his truck in Houston a few years ago.
From my own experience and others, what I noticed is that in cars or (non-work) trucks is that thieves are attracted to what they see that may be valuable. The under-the-seat revolver in the truck was found by thieves due to a laptop bag left on the clearly visible rear seat.
For work truck thefts, thieves automatically assume there are tools to be had. Even rental U-Hauls with locks on them get broken into for the potential contents.
Not one of these vehicles I've seen had locks picked. All had locks destroyed with tools, or windows smashed to gain entry.
In all those years my wive's and my cars or trucks that never got broken into had humdrum stereos and nothing left on a seat of floorboard. I mean nothing. No paper bags, no earphones, no address books, etc. Also, the plainer the car or older the car was, it seemed to fall off the thieves "want" list pretty fast, too.
For my line of work, I found it better to pack my tools in a car as it has been much less tempting to thieves than my tools in a truck. Of course, I can't haul much of anything, but oh well.
I say all that, but with the places I travel for work in the city and to other Texas cities, I do have a nearly full time car handgun. I've personally just seen too much serious crap to not have one with me in my pocket and one in the car since I can't draw from my pocket while in the driver's seat.
Here's the thing though, I do park in my locked attached garage every night. The car is locked and the keys are with me, not on some key holder in the kitchen. If I do have to leave the car outside in the evening in any location, the car handgun goes into my laptop bag into my home or into a hotel. If my wife needs to use my car, I remove the gun. She does know it's there, so if there was an emergency she knows what to do.
From my own experience and others, what I noticed is that in cars or (non-work) trucks is that thieves are attracted to what they see that may be valuable. The under-the-seat revolver in the truck was found by thieves due to a laptop bag left on the clearly visible rear seat.
For work truck thefts, thieves automatically assume there are tools to be had. Even rental U-Hauls with locks on them get broken into for the potential contents.
Not one of these vehicles I've seen had locks picked. All had locks destroyed with tools, or windows smashed to gain entry.
In all those years my wive's and my cars or trucks that never got broken into had humdrum stereos and nothing left on a seat of floorboard. I mean nothing. No paper bags, no earphones, no address books, etc. Also, the plainer the car or older the car was, it seemed to fall off the thieves "want" list pretty fast, too.
For my line of work, I found it better to pack my tools in a car as it has been much less tempting to thieves than my tools in a truck. Of course, I can't haul much of anything, but oh well.
I say all that, but with the places I travel for work in the city and to other Texas cities, I do have a nearly full time car handgun. I've personally just seen too much serious crap to not have one with me in my pocket and one in the car since I can't draw from my pocket while in the driver's seat.
Here's the thing though, I do park in my locked attached garage every night. The car is locked and the keys are with me, not on some key holder in the kitchen. If I do have to leave the car outside in the evening in any location, the car handgun goes into my laptop bag into my home or into a hotel. If my wife needs to use my car, I remove the gun. She does know it's there, so if there was an emergency she knows what to do.
justice06rr
Member
The 2 major things to consider when deciding to leave a firearm in your vehicle are:
1. The cost of the firearm
2. The manner it is stored in the vehicle.
The best way IMO is to have some sort of gun safe in your vehicle if you choose to leave a firearm in it. The gun you choose to leave can also be something of lower value; I would not put a $900 1911 or H&K handgun in a car. But a $200-300 Ruger, S&W, or Taurus is ok.
Lastly, do not make it known that you keep a firearm in your vehicle as much as possible. Who will know what objects you keep in your car? Other things of value may be stolen even if you didn't leave a gun in your vehicle i.e. stereo systems, electronic devices, etc.
1. The cost of the firearm
2. The manner it is stored in the vehicle.
The best way IMO is to have some sort of gun safe in your vehicle if you choose to leave a firearm in it. The gun you choose to leave can also be something of lower value; I would not put a $900 1911 or H&K handgun in a car. But a $200-300 Ruger, S&W, or Taurus is ok.
Lastly, do not make it known that you keep a firearm in your vehicle as much as possible. Who will know what objects you keep in your car? Other things of value may be stolen even if you didn't leave a gun in your vehicle i.e. stereo systems, electronic devices, etc.
"more concerned about what a thief could potentially do with the gun that was just taken from your vehicle."
Hey, I resemble that
In addition to not wanting it stolen and misused, I think a gun in the glovebox is a lot less useful than on body carry. It would be great if a defensive situation happens where using the gun is obviously justifiable while you're still in the car - but what about all the other situations? For example, you stop to help the young lady with a breakdown. You're out of the car when the accomplice appears - the gun in your glovebox isn't much help. Ditto for the robber who walks up when you're getting gas or whatever. Suzanna Hupp had a gun in her car at Luby's, after all.
In general, if trouble happens when I'm in the driver's seat, my first inclination is to use the gas pedal to be somewhere else, and if I'm even a little ways from the driver's seat, the glovebox might be too far away to be useful.
I'm not saying that you can't have a situation where a gun in the glovebox wouldn't help; just that there are a lot where it's a distant second to on body carry.
Hey, I resemble that
In addition to not wanting it stolen and misused, I think a gun in the glovebox is a lot less useful than on body carry. It would be great if a defensive situation happens where using the gun is obviously justifiable while you're still in the car - but what about all the other situations? For example, you stop to help the young lady with a breakdown. You're out of the car when the accomplice appears - the gun in your glovebox isn't much help. Ditto for the robber who walks up when you're getting gas or whatever. Suzanna Hupp had a gun in her car at Luby's, after all.
In general, if trouble happens when I'm in the driver's seat, my first inclination is to use the gas pedal to be somewhere else, and if I'm even a little ways from the driver's seat, the glovebox might be too far away to be useful.
I'm not saying that you can't have a situation where a gun in the glovebox wouldn't help; just that there are a lot where it's a distant second to on body carry.
Speedo66
Member
Consider what the legal/financial consequences may be if the attorney of a person injured or killed with your stolen gun convinces a jury you failed to adequately safeguard your weapon.
They probably won't be going after the dirtbag who stole it, who's likely unemployed and doesn't own property. Which leaves you holding the bag.
They probably won't be going after the dirtbag who stole it, who's likely unemployed and doesn't own property. Which leaves you holding the bag.
GBExpat
Member
Yeah, and if it was loaded with your handloaded SD ammo they will next go after you for that ...Consider what the legal/financial consequences may be if the attorney of a person injured or killed with your stolen gun convinces a jury you failed to adequately safeguard your weapon.
They probably won't be going after the dirtbag who stole it, who's likely unemployed and doesn't own property. Which leaves you holding the bag.
Good Grief. Adam Carolla is right.
chicharrones
needs more ammo
Consider what the legal/financial consequences may be if the attorney of a person injured or killed with your stolen gun convinces a jury you failed to adequately safeguard your weapon.
They probably won't be going after the dirtbag who stole it, who's likely unemployed and doesn't own property. Which leaves you holding the bag.
While some may not want to have a gun in there car due to potential theft, I consider a gun out of sight in a locked car (and only you have the keys) as properly securing it in regards to legal issues. Moral issues are different.
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
The legal issues may slightly vary from state to state, and civil cases have a distressing tendency to go who knows where before everyone is done paying off their lawyers.
But from a practical standpoint, I've had a vehicle stolen that (along with the tools I'd stored in it) was used over a period of weeks in burglarizing many other people.
No way I'm ever leaving a gun in my vehicle as a regular habit, or overnight.
But from a practical standpoint, I've had a vehicle stolen that (along with the tools I'd stored in it) was used over a period of weeks in burglarizing many other people.
No way I'm ever leaving a gun in my vehicle as a regular habit, or overnight.
FAS1
Member
What I see a lot of is the need to store a handgun during the day (at work) but wanting to have it more secure than placing their gun in an 18ga lock box with an 1/8" cable securing it to the seat. Many cars don't have much extra space in the passenger cabin for something larger and more robust. The trunk or rear hatch area might be a better choice, but then it's hard to put it away or get it out without being noticed.
After all, you are trying just buy enough time that if someone does break in, they can't just use a regular size screwdriver of pair of dikes to get you gun in under a minute (maybe less than 30 seconds) for some lock boxes. If they have to work at it a little longer or use bigger tools you probably will accomplish your goal with the typical smash and grab thief that concerns most of us.
This guy (also Houston area) can't carry at work. I don't think it stays there at night or when he gets out of work. It uses tamper resistant hardware from McMaster-Carr to bolt through the trunk's floor and to attach it to the car.
I'm glad it's not an issue for me and at night I don't even leave my Oakley sunglasses in my vehicle.
After all, you are trying just buy enough time that if someone does break in, they can't just use a regular size screwdriver of pair of dikes to get you gun in under a minute (maybe less than 30 seconds) for some lock boxes. If they have to work at it a little longer or use bigger tools you probably will accomplish your goal with the typical smash and grab thief that concerns most of us.
This guy (also Houston area) can't carry at work. I don't think it stays there at night or when he gets out of work. It uses tamper resistant hardware from McMaster-Carr to bolt through the trunk's floor and to attach it to the car.
I'm glad it's not an issue for me and at night I don't even leave my Oakley sunglasses in my vehicle.
chicharrones
needs more ammo
Good point. I always think of my area, not others.
I figure if a lawyer ever represents me, I'm screwed (whether in the right or in the wrong) due to my relative lack of finances.
P5 Guy
Member
I drive a convertible, it would be stupid for me to leave anything of value in a car with a soft top. I do not even lock the doors, there is nothing in there that would cost as much as replacing the top.
chicharrones
needs more ammo
I felt the same way with my 1st wife's convertible. That car was left unlocked and the stereo was taken once and the rear speakers were taken another time. It was still much cheaper than replacing a slashed top.
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