Comments about how I transport my guns

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Maybe they're just trying to let you know that much security isn't necessary, in their opinion. But you know how opinions are.....

Personally, I just toss the guns in the back of my vehicle on a blanket so they can cool off while I drive back home. Ammo goes in an ammo can, if there's any left, usually isn't except in my carrry gun.
 
parsimonious_instead said:
My local range is a pretty friendly place - I find that I personally like just about everyone that goes there.
Interestingly, I get comments all the time about how I transport my guns.
As I understand the law, I'm actually well above compliance by having a hard-shelled locked case, and hard-shelled ammo box (also padlocked).
Guns in the trunk, ammo in back seat. Lockable bicycle chain looped around trunk hinge and thru the handle of the gun case.
No one's being nasty, but why are people being busybodys and telling me that I'm taking unnecessary steps? Or that if someone really wants to get into my cases, then can still do it fairly easily?
We all need to do what makes us feel comfortable. I don't feel particularly inconvenienced by the extra precautions, and even if I did, how I transport my firearms and ammo doesn't affect anyone else's enjoyment of the range...
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Not my cup of tea, but it's yours. Really, why would you care what others say about your method. Like you said, "We all need to do what makes us feel comfortable". That's all that matters.
 
The ammo "cans" look more like toolboxes and are in the back floorwell of my car, covered with random non-gun related stuff.


The comments are usually in the clubhouse, which is where I sometimes clean my guns, and do my final "reorg" of shooting related items before packing it all in at the end of a range visit.

I appreciate everyone's feedback.
 
In Canada we have fairly strict transport regulations.
But you exceed them by a long shot.

For non restricted firearms such as most long guns unloaded is all that is required. It can be sitting in your passenger seat and still be legal.
This doesn't mean that you won't get pulled over if you're driving in a city but it is legal.

For restricted firearms such as handguns and "military derived long guns" such as AR's they must be in an opaque container with a trigger lock and a lock on the container transported out of sight such as in the trunk or in absence of a trunk under a tarp or blanket.

If you feel better transporting them in that manner you are free to do so.
It is your right and if someone tries to steal your firearms he is less likely to succeed compared to others at your range.
 
"why are people being busybodys"

It's idle chit chat. Buy a really huge padlock and show it to them the next time. Then laugh when they do.

I'd lend you my grandfather's 30-foot logging chain, but it's too heavy to mail.

John
 
parsimonious_instead said:
No one's being nasty, but why are people being busybodys and telling me that I'm taking unnecessary steps?
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Why anybody at your range or here on the forum has a problem with how you secure your firearms is beyond me. They are your firearms and it's your time and effort. Some folks tend to worry more about others than about themselves.

parsimonious_instead said:
We all need to do what makes us feel comfortable.
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Exactly. Many times how one secures their possessions is a product of how they were taught, or because of negative experiences. A few years back a good friend of mine road his motorcycle from NYC to our small town in Wisconsin. In one of his saddlebags was a 20ft length of heavy log chain. He had used it to chain his bike to light poles in the parking lots of the motels he stayed in. Overkill? Maybe here in rural Wisconsin, but since he has had two bikes stolen over the years, he tends not to think so. Over the years I have friends that have had guns stolen from locked cars/trunks when stopped somewhere after hunting or the range. Maybe if they had taken better precautions such as yours, they would still have them.
 
Different states have very different laws governing the storage and transportation of guns.
If you're in compliance with your state laws, what you do beyond that is your own business.

It's hard to comment on the appropriateness of what you do since you don't identify where you live.

Tinpig
 
Just people being people. If you do things differently, folks notice, and folks talk about it, and some will be annoying about it. Don't let it bother you. Laugh it off and go about your business.
 
Quite frankly, what you're doing is weird and that's why people are noticing and making comments. If all I'm doing is transporting guns (unlike the article you linked to where guns were left in vehicles overnight) I would never go to the trouble of chaining them up. Seems excessive to me and apparently, others too.
 
Quite frankly, what you're doing is weird and that's why people are noticing and making comments. If all I'm doing is transporting guns (unlike the article you linked to where guns were left in vehicles overnight) I would never go to the trouble of chaining them up. Seems excessive to me and apparently, others too.
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I agree, you (the OP) is going way over the top. Sorta like filtering bottled water. But then again------------------
 
Interestingly, I get comments all the time about how I transport my guns.
As I understand the law, I'm actually well above compliance by having a hard-shelled locked case, and hard-shelled ammo box (also padlocked).
Guns in the trunk, ammo in back seat. Lockable bicycle chain looped around trunk hinge and thru the handle of the gun case.
No one's being nasty, but why are people being busybodys and telling me that I'm taking unnecessary steps? Or that if someone really wants to get into my cases, then can still do it fairly easily?
Click to expand...

Perhaps they are trying to tell you that the extra steps you are taking are not significantly increasing the security of your weapons. "Lockable bicycle chain...thru the handle of the gun case" adds no security - the handle is easily torn off, and lockable bicycle chains might as well be zip-ties.

Ammo boxes in the back seat draw attention. Put them in the trunk. That will do much more for your security than the bike lock.

As far as locking the cases themselves, you're only keeping your range buddies out of your stuff. Is that the message you wish to send?
 
In Illinois, that is pretty much the only way to transport your firearms. I live right on the edge of MO and I have family in IL, & I don't even carry my ccw when I travel there because of the strict rules and regulations.
 
Teachu2 said:
Perhaps they are trying to tell you that the extra steps you are taking are not significantly increasing the security of your weapons.

As far as locking the cases themselves, you're only keeping your range buddies out of your stuff. Is that the message you wish to send?
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This is just transport we're talking about. It's a pretty friendly range - I buy guys coffee, they buy me coffee. We handle and shoot each other's guns all the time. If someone needs a target, a few rounds of ammo, or a cleaning patch or two, they're welcome to it. I'm not trying to "lock my friends out" I just feel that it's in my best interests to be thorough.
Most thefts out of vehicles in my area tend to be small electronics carelessly left in plain view - easy smash and grab, so stuff in the trunk is left alone.
As for the ammo boxes, I still would rather they be separate from the guns, in the floorwell, where they're covered up by various items, like beat-up floor mats, etc...
 
I'm not trying to "lock my friends out" I just feel that it's in my best interests to be thorough.
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You're missing the point.
Anyone planning on stealing your stuff will come with tools to easily defeat your security measures.
Leaving ammo in the cabin and putting guns in the trunk is pointless, ammo in boxes or an ammo can will not suddenly self-animate and load itself into a gun just because it is one less layer of springs.foam/fabric away. More than a couple retail boxes of ammo in the cabin WILL hint to someone burgling your car that there might be more vlauables in the trunk. And for someone unconcerned with damaging your trunk/cases, you've put hardly any barrier at all in their way.

Theft prevention through obscurity is pretty effective, while using half-assed security measures in multiple layers just makes you spend more time farting around in the parking lot, which makes your stuff more visible for a longer period. You'd probably be better off using a less obvious transport container, or at least a cover on the cases you do use (big duffel bag or backpack) and casually slinging it into the trunk, rather than wandering about in public with an obvious case of valuables, then dinking around (un)locking it at each end of your trip.
 
No one's being nasty, but why are people being busybodys and telling me that I'm taking unnecessary steps?
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They're not being busybodys, they're making conversation with other people with like interests. The range is a social place as well as a place to hone your skills and have a good time shooting.

I get along quite well with them. In fact, one of the reasons I love the range so much is the social atmosphere.
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See, you even said it yourself. :)

When I go to the range, my rifles are usually in the passenger's seat beside me, or in the back if I have someone with me. The handguns are in the range bag with the ammo behind the seat as well. However, I don't usually go anywhere else besides the range, due to it's location.
 
I took my first gun safety course in the early '60s, and as I recall the O.P's method of haveing the ammunition and Firearms in seprate locked compartments or containers was what they taught in accordance with Washington State Law.

These days, as a CPL Holder ( Wash State ) I carry the handguns and
ammo in my range bag, usually with the guns loaded. and may be carrying my 1911 in a Milt Sparks OWB #Axiom. Note: My range is 30 miles south in Idaho. My shooting buddy lives in Idaho 8 miles east of me, and has an Idaho CPL. Wash State does not Recips CPLs from Idaho but Idaho
recips Wash State CPL's in Idaho.

I do have two pistol and one rifle hard cases ( Cabelas "bulletproof" Aluminum with Steel hasps and a hefty brass padlocks when/if needed but
usually I keep them unlocked but it's a good way to ensure the guns don't get banged around. Most others who notice those cases, admire and complement the quality of the cases.

Nice indoor range in Lewiston, Diamondback Shooters, 4 lanes and
waiting around for my shooting buddy to finish up good banter with other members and you get walk-ins in-state or from out-of-state who
ask about membership fees, and getting a CPL, etc.

If anybody makes light of one's preferred whay to transport firearms perhaps knowing the exact law - get the RCW nnnnnnnn in Wash State to quote and it'll perhaps educate but there's always the occasional old know it alll who does not in fact know-it-all.

Randall
 
To each their own. I ride around with a half dozen guns in my truck sometimes and go everywhere. Unloaded of course. I've never had any issues, just laughs from friends/co workers that I'm a mobile armory.
 
The only rule in Texas is that they not be visible to someone that might walk past the vehicle. Full loaded is legal and recommended, as long as out of sight. No license or registration is required for home or vehicle.
Most ranges request that you carry the guns into their establishment un-loaded and cased, so that is a consideration when in route to your range.
 
Maybe if some of the people who think you are doing too much had some of their guns stolen they would change their tune.I had 22 guns stolen from my house several years ago. I now have a safe and alarm system.When I travel good locked cases with cables thru the handles and locked to the seat(four door pickup)
 
Do whatever you are comfortable with. Your life. Your rules. Works for me.
 
Maybe you should just tell the " core group of gregarious" to kiss off and not worry how you transport thing's. It sound's to me you are only after attention though. :eek:
 
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