Keeping a gun in an apartment with roomates

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Alex45ACP

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In about a week I am moving into an apartment with 3 roommates. I'm a college student and it's one of those just-off-campus apartment complexes. Common kitchen and living room and separate bedrooms and bathrooms.

I plan on bringing my S&W 642 with me so I can conceal carry when I'm not on campus (victim disarmament zone) and have something around just in case someone breaks in or something like that (which is very unlikely but possible).

Since I will not be able to bring my gun on campus I will need to leave it in my room. I was thinking I would just hide it locked up in my room and leave the ammo for it in my car, that way if someone somehow comes across it at least they won't have a loaded gun. I also plan on NEVER telling ANYONE about the gun EVER.

I know that in general it's a bad idea to have firearms in a college roommate situation but I really want to be able to conceal carry. The city has a moderately high crime rate and while the school is nice, it is located in a relatively bad part of town. Does anyone have any advice on how I can do this safely?
 
What good is your gun for HD if its not loaded with ammo? Without ammo its just a blunt object just keep a loaded mag near it but not in it then your perfectly safe and lock them in the same place. I do this with my CX4 so it wont ever accidently go off but in less than 20 seconds i could be locked and loaded.
 
Another vote for a quick-open mini vault.

I'd lived with roommates while I owned a pistol, kept it hidden but unlocked with loaded magazines nearby, and had a sit-down with (all of) the roomies to explain the "no touching unless someone breaks in" policy. The first set of roommates were mature and responsible (AFAIK), and we had a blast with it at the range.

The next and last roommate later took my pistol, loaded it, and called my squadron's first shirt, threating to commit suicide with it. That was the end of leaving the pistol unlocked. And of roommates.
 
+1 on www.gunvault.com

I would take as much precaution as possible especially if you're going to keep it loaded for HD. Get a decent safe and bolt it down, make it as difficult as possible for people to handle your gun without your knowledge. Having a handgun for home defense is great but the last thing you want is someone to have an accident with it and get injured or killed. I personally would place safe secure storage above home defense if I lived with roommates.

One thing to keep in mind when living with roommates is you can never be sure who they might invite over, sometimes people you know, sometimes people you don't. They might be very responsible just like yourself but one thing I've noticed about places where multiple roommates live is that they tend to be high traffic areas with people coming and going often. If there is the slightest chance that your gun could be home while you are not then I would take every precaution to keep locked up securely.
 
Yet another vote for a mini-vault. I strongly recommend the electronic lock type that uses several buttons (usually four) that must be pushed in a certain sequence. I can open mine in a couple seconds, much faster than picking up and inserting a key or turning a knob combo. They do come with a back-up key, which you can deep hide.

It's a good idea to bolt it down to the floor or cabinet or closet shelf.

Shop around and use the internet to find the best deal. Even the lower cost brands will provide good security. The peace of mind that your gun is secure, yet readily available will be worth the price.

You just *can't* trust roommates not to get snoopy when you're not around. Or, their guests.

K
 
Weedwhacker,

That's a scary story, about the suicidal roommate. It's a good cautionary tale for this situation. Dollars to donuts you could have been charged with some sort of contributory negligence, not to mention sued by the family. Thank goodness he didn't go through with it.

K
 
Since it's a college apartment, there's a good chance his landlord won't allow him to bolt anything to the floor.

Do what everyone else has said and get a gunvault. More importantly, replace the lock to your room with a real one (since you likely can't drill for a deadbolt, a normal single keyed doorknob will be fine.) If these aren't people you already know (and it doesn't sound like they are), the best plan is to make sure they don't even find out you have a gun. Bring the gun and the safe into the house packed inside of other boxes, and don't unpack them until you're alone.
 
When I was in college, I bought a small, cheap safe from walmart ($50 or less) with an electronic keypad and bolted it to my desk. It was not foolproof, but it kept roomates and drunk visitors out and since it was attached to a whole desk couldn't be easily picked up and stolen.
 
If you share a place with roomate it is a good idea to have a safe or some type of locking container for ALL your valuables - not just firearms.

You can get all sorts of metal cabinets to lock a small handgun in - even a metal (lockable) toolbox could be screwed to the wall or floor.
 
A quad? OH man I remember those. GET A SAFE!! It's those sort of situations where a safe is actually useful. And don't let them know you have firearms or anything else of value. Hide the safe, too.
 
I just got my roomates into guns. Now one has a CCW and the other is about to get his. If you dont trust them get a mini-safe. Problem solved.
 
I have to concur with getting a safe-- not just a handgun locker.

If I could re-do college, I can only imagine how much of my items would NOT have been stolen by roommates and fraternity brothers if I had gotten one.

Even something like this would work better than nothing. It weighs 75 pounds.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=359227


-- John
 
Being that you have a revolver, forget the magazine comments. Keep it loaded and locked in something bolted down. Don't tell room-thieves (room-mates) about anything valuable. Best to leave anything you don't need for school/valuable with your parents. Make sure that you can't get in trouble for ammo in your car. Some schools have rediculous policies. Spent cases can leave you expelled at McDonalds begging a job.
 
I'm in a similar situation as Alex45ACP, and live in apartment with three PHD students. I keep my rifles in a small safe and my "just in case" loaded CZ in a very small safe all in my room. All my roommates know I have guns but no one makes a fuss since I was honest upfront. None of them are party animals and they study more then I sleep so I'm not worried.

I would suggest being honest up front, it can save a lot headache later.
 
Ohh god quads i used to get all my food stolen and eaten. I learned to lock up food even as a valuble lol. Quads are also a ton of drama as roomates take sides etc. Lock anything remotely valuble up not only your gun also get a decent foot locker.
 
I agree with the rest. Either lock it to something immobile or get some type of safe/lock/cabinet and attempt to bolt That down. I kept a PPK in my dorm room but in those years no one cared (the 60s). Later on - no one knew (the 70s). :D
 
It definately needs to be locked in something immoble....If you are going to carry though, what if one of your roommates sees it on accident?

Are they not good friends? If they were, you might as well tell them about it if they would be understanding.
 
Dont take ANYTHING to a college apartment or even a dorm that you'd feel at all bad losing. Anything you have even a sentimental attachment to should be left at home.
As far as your weapon goes... Use a quick access gun safe of some sort. Even if your roommates have their heads on straight, assume that there will be people visiting that have never been around guns at all, and know absolutely nothing about them. Some of these people will be worse than hyperactive grade school kids, think that self destructive stupidity is the hight of hilarity, and have absolutely no common sense at all. Beavis and Butthead live.
Marty
 
Buy the mini gun safe.
Keep your mouth shut about it. word spreads to easy. not only will it probably get to the campus police, that you have one, it will also give somebody who is looking to steal a handgun where to get one. Bolt it to the inside of your closet.
Most of them can be mounted in any position. even upside down.
Plus i'm not sure about other brands, but the one i own it's possible to get extra mounting plates. get an extra and mount it in the trunk of your car, then just transfer the safe when you go. it may be come tedious, but it may give you an alternative way of getting it in, and out without anyone noticing.
 
Shared Living Quarters?

You will need a safe of some kind for your valuables.

Hey, guys, nothing personal, but as much as I trust y'all, I don't know your friends well enough, so everything worth more than $20 goes in my box.

You may want something with a main section and a smaller fast-access section (don't know of any, you'll have to search).

Your favorite music can go in there. Your keepsakes can go in there. Hell, if you have a nice pair of dress shoes and a $400 dollar tie (why would I mention that?) you would keep those in there.

Your fine cutlery, including that commemorative knife your dad gave you. Your iPod and its accessories. Your tape (or digital) recorder. Your favorite coffee mug. That cool deck of cards your buddy gave you. Your blank CDs and DVDs. Your phone charger and spare battery.

Shall I go on?

My 19-year-old daughter has lost at least one of everything I mentioned above (except the tie). Her friends have other friends. Some of these kids just have no concept of private ownership.

You don't know your roommates. You don't know their friends.

It only takes one psycho klepto nothing-is-really-owned jerk to ruin your day.

Yes, lock up the pistol.

Along with everything else you don't want to lose.
 
I'm getting ready to move in with some room mates off campus for the first time. i lived with them last year(on campus) and have known one for 15+ years. i know them pretty well, they own guns and hunt. But i just hate the idea of having too easy access to a loaded gun. none of us are drinkers, we dont hang out with drinkers (etc), but you just never know. i'll deff. look into having a pistol in the room, but i dont want it to just be setting out on the bedstand.
 
I just moved into a new apartment. Nobody at my old place (3 roommates) knew about my pistol. I kept it especially hidden since the roommate on my side had tried to commit suicide with a pistol a few years back.

I finally got out of that hell-hole and into a new place. I still have 3 roommates, but I know the one on my side well. He already knows I keep firearms with me pretty much everywhere, so I'm sure he will know I have one in my room :p

I don't know what I'll do with the other roommates. I haven't met them yet. If they seem semi-mature enough (hahah.. uni students and mature... right) I'll have a little sit-down explaining not to mess with my stuff, or set foot in my room, ever. In fact, I'll already be having that conversation with them, but not mention the firearms probably.

I have security cameras and other things in my room to detect and record entry, so I'll be able to tell if they try to do anything.
 
I am currently in the same situation. All of my roommates are gun owners themselves save for 1 pascifist. I'm the "nut" out of the bunch and am the only one who carries. We've talked about gun safety and have an understanding. I don't have to worry about them at all.

I don't have a safe either.
 
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