Curious to what everyone thinks.Gun in room?

[chetrogers]

I just got a gun safe/cabinet and am curious to what everyone thinks about this.I put all my firearms in it and felt great that I finally did something to protect my investments even though some mite not consider it a safe but its what i could afford.But as i sit here I put my Ruger p97dc "Pistol" that i have always slept next to in the safe too.I have taken it out and put it next to my bed like it was in the past.I was thinking ok if im sleeping and somebody breaks in and try's to harm me or my family members I know its there and i would do what i have to do..But i could put the gun in the safe when i wake up and before i go to bed bring it out again..But then i got to thinking what if somebody brakes into my place at 7pm when im sitting here reading post here at THR.I dont want to fool around with the safe trying to get a firearm out.
Basicly my questions is should i have a firearm handy at all times..That would meen when i go to work and knowbody is here my Ruger wouldnt be in the safe.Somebody could steal it.Or if i go to the neighors house should i put it in the safe and when i get back put it in the drawer next to my bed?
Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[NMshooter]

Nothing wrong with keeping something handy when you are at home.

You could always lock up anything you are leaving in the house inside your safe when you leave.

Then you could open your safe when you return.

Or you could get a seperate safe for your defensive firearms.

 

[RyanM]

If you carry concealed, leave your gun on at home. Then you can take the gun off and put it on your bedside table every night at bedtime.

If you don't, start! Or if you can't, you could at least get a cheap holster that you can wear around your house.

A gun that's under your immediate control is very unlikely to get stolen, and highly likely to be there in the event that you need it.

 

[psyopspec]

Basicly my questions is should i have a firearm handy at all times..

Yes. BG's won't wait until you're ready before they take action.

That would meen when i go to work and knowbody is here my Ruger wouldnt be in the safe.Somebody could steal it.

Any chance you could just get a CHL? If you can't have the firearm on you, in the safe is the next best place.

 

[chetrogers]

If you carry concealed, leave your gun on at home. Then you can take the gun off and put it on your bedside table every night at bedtime.

I dont carry ,but that would give me a great reason to finally get my CHL here in Oregon

 

[Aguila Blanca]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think there is any state that doesn't allow you to carry, concealed or open, in the privacy of your own home. (Yes, there are some CITIES that prohibit firearms or make it necessary to register home defense firearms.) A gun locked in a safe is, as noted, of small consolation when the wolf comes smashing through the door.

Carry at home, sleep with the gun in/on the nightstand, and if you don't have a CHL lock up your piece when you go out, and retrieve it when you come home.

 

[Stickjockey]

Chet-

If you're in the Portland area, Multnomah County Sheriff's office over on 122nd gives the class on Thursdays at about 7:00 pm (IIRC) for about $20. It's the cheapest I've seen it. Go for it, man!

 

[Ringer]

As others have said, get a holster and start carrying around the house now. This way you always have the gun handy and it's good practice/preperation for when you do get your carry permit. When you leave for work or whatever, just lock it up in the safe.

 

[NHSoldier]

Second safe by bed

I had the same delema when i baught a gun safe and locked most my guns into it,, i carry daily either a SW9G or a Glock20, I locked 20 rifles and shotguns and other handguns into it, and then felt naked cos most used to hang on walls or be in drawers around house. I ended up buying a 4 finger safe, the kind u press your finger tips onto to open and i mounted it next to my bed so at night i could reach over and have a gun readily handy that only took a couple seconds to unlock. I also carry 90% of time while walking around my house or just running errands, but i feel much better with a bedside lockbox for a handgun.

 

[Strings]

for me, handguns are (mostly) in the safe (there are a couple hidden in other areas of the house). Safe's in my office (about three feet from where I'm sitting right now), and the door hangs open when we're home (everything in it is loaded, unchambered). When we go out, safe gets locked. At bedtime, our "nightstand pieces" come out, and the safe gets locked...

Works for us!

 

[Ala Dan]

I keep a firearm within reach 24/7, even when I'm sleeping. I sleep very
lightly, so the possibility of an acccident is slim too none. Never do I
sleep so sound as not to be able to identify a possible target (perp).
Likewise, I do not broadcast what I keep loaded and where said hard-
ware is placed; as I want the element of surprise on my side.

BTW, getting back on topic- it always a good idea to be able to stop
any threat's made on you or your family. I'd say keep one handy at
all times.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[motoman]

By all means

keep a gun handy when at home. I had a guy try to break into my house several years ago at about 2 in the morning (I was still awake) It was a real nice feeling having my trusty Glock by my side. I don't think he would have waited for me to go to safe and retreive a gun.

 

[P95Carry]

Even if you can't/don't carry per CCW - practice carry in the home... it'll help you decide what rig works for you and - best of all - piece is there - all the time.

At night as I have mentioned before (tho no one ever commented) ... I place piece on floor - in just such a position that an arm dropped over side gets a hold with grips positioned just right for such. Fast - easy - subtle and no gun visible as it is all but out of sight to ''wrong eyes''.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Most of my guns are locked up in the safe and bank boxes; I've got enough left over, however, for at least one in every room of my house, including the laundry room.

 

[XLMiguel]

My storage/security profile

I have more guns than hands , so aside from whatever I'm carrying, 1 in the night stand, and one or two strategically placed but well concealed, the rest are well secured.

No kids in the house, those who visit are well supervised, but stash guns are secured either prior to arrival, or gathered up upon, arrival (surprise, Uncle Mike !). Kids will be kids

Likewise with the house keeper- everything put away prior to arrival.

 

[Merchant]

Tell me what you will because im a kid, but my dad keeps a .22 Magnum Automag near his bed at all times, I guess what I'm saying is, yes, always keep a handgun ready near your bed at all times.

 

[Malamute]

Wait, you leave your gun at HOME when you go somewhere? I don't carry concealed, but I always have one in the vehicle, even in (edited) most states that don't have ccw, or if you don't have a ccw, you can have it in the vehicle (subject to local restrictions, cased, unloaded etc if required).

I thought safes were for the overflow, guns that you don't have hanging around for daily use, or at ready full time, or when you are out of town or something.

Maybe I've been living out in the sticks for too long. Everybody I know has guns in their vehicles, some guys just keep guns in all their vehicles so they dont have to change the gun from one to the other when they change vehicles. I like this idea, I figure if I have enough pre-64 Winchester 94 carbines, I can have one in every vehicle, and the motor home, and the cabin by the door, then I won't have to lug one back and forth. Hey, I guess I better start buying more Browning 1886's now too! One for every place I may conceivably need one.


Never heard of guns being stolen from vehicles around here, but I guess it is a problem in some places.

 

[P95Carry]

even in states that don't have ccw, you can have it in the vehicle.

... even in PRNJ??? MD?? Depending on what condition too I guess. Just a thought. I get paranoid about what I have in vehicle at times! Sadly.

Maybe a case of - what is in trunk, what is locked up etc ... etc ... no wonder I don't go outa state too often.!!

Yep - some paranoia!

 

[Malamute]

I guess some eastern states don't allow you to carry in a vehicle unless going to a range or something. I really like Wyoming! Most of the mountain states you can have a loaded gun on the seat next to you.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

..., even in states that don't have ccw, you can have it in the vehicle.

WRONG!

 

[Malamute]

OK, I take it you have something to share with us about this?

I only travel as far east as Illinois, A traveler or visitor CAN have an unloaded, cased firearm in their vehicle. I understand Hawaii doesn't allow you to have a pistol out of your house unless you are going to the range or that sort of thing, are there some other examples?

Our original poster is in OR.

 

[Walter]

Keep a gun handy?

Here in Texas, in recent years, has been this thing the press and LEO's
refer to as "Home Invasions". Three or four people literally kick down a front
door of somebody's house, and storm in with guns, shooting people as
they see them. Then the BGs snatch whatever it is they came for, and
get the heck out of Dodge. Many of them have never been caught.

I tend to believe it is related to the drug trade, because the story in the newspapers and on tv is always vague, and LEOs seldom have much to say
about it in public. They very often offer no reason for the break-ins, but
I can't believe it is just haphazard on the BG's part.

Regardless of why it is happening, I now keep my .40 CZ Rami tucked inside
my belt just about all the time. I may not, and I hope I never do, need it,
but if I ever do, it takes about two and a half seconds to draw and fire.
And that seems slow to me. I can't imagine "NEEDING" a gun and knowing
all my guns were locked up in a safe.

As for carrying a handgun in your vehicle without a concealed-carry license?
That is a major no-no in Texas. There are exceptions to the rule, and some
LEOs may listen to "extenuating circumstances", but since "Concealed Carry"
has become legal in Texas, carrying without a license has become a more
serious offense. And that includes carrying in your vehicle.

Walter

 

[Malamute]

Walter, when you say "carrying a handgun in your vehicle without a ccw" do you mean on you concealed, or just in the vehicle in any way, shape or form"? Even cased unloaded etc is bad?

I guess I am a bit spoiled having lived in Az and Wy for so long.

 

[Walter]

Malamute, Texas law concerning handguns in vehicles are very complicated
and very convoluted. I don't believe anyone truly understands all of them.

First, without a CCL, it it totally illegal to carry a handgun in the passenger
compartment of a vehicle. Except,{and this is where it gets vague} if you are "travelling", and crossing county lines, and spending the night outside of your county. Otherwise, if you are transporting a handgun to the range, or to a hunting site, it must be in the trunk of the vehicle, and unloaded. Does all this make since so far? Do you understand what I mean by "complicated"? :banghead:

Legalizing 'concealed-carry' went a long way in creating an understandable
handgun/vehicle carry law. But for those folks without a CCL, they are stuck
with the old, crazy laws.

They have my sympathy.

Walter
CCL holder

 

[Malamute]

Thanks for the, uh,...clarification Walter. Yes, it does sound complicated. I've traveled through Texas many times, and always had my guns cased and unloaded. I was happy to make the NM state line so I could relax and load someting up for the rest of the trip to Az.

I have heard that long guns are not as complicated in TX?

When travelling through Nebraska, they require long guns to be unloaded, but handguns loaded are OK. As I was told, this is to reduce the chances of road hunting or poaching, but enable folks to defend themselves.

I was surprised about some of the Canadian laws, in BC guns had to be unloaded, but not in Yukon Terr. Handguns are pretty tight in all of Canada, but they seem fairly decent about long guns. They are OK with visitors (non-Canadians) bringing in long guns for hunting or "defense from wild animals". Just don't say "defense from wild people", not an approved use. Last time I went through they didn't require any paperwork, but now they do. It still is fairly simple to take your guns tho.