Keeping Your Handgun "Handy" In A Car/Truck?

[ronto]

Post Office Carry

Don,
Thanks for the references.

I'm not a lawyer and I don't want to have to hire one. The Code of Federal Regulations, Title 39, Chapter I seems pretty clear to me:
"Weapons and explosives. No person while on postal property may carry firearms, other dangeous or deadly weapons, or explosives, either openly or concealed, or store the same on postal property, except for official purposes."

Rather than argue "official purposes" in court, I think I'll leave my weapon in the car when I go into the P.O.

 

[carebear]

Double check the text of the CFR, it can't trump US Code. US Code says "lawful purposes".

But better safe than sorry.

I think this is one we all would like to see a good ruling on, but no one wants to be the test case.

 

[starshooter231]

I keep a Kel-Tec P11 in the door of my glovebox at all times. Not just when I go into a place I can't carry ( I don't go where I can't carry). I keep it there so that if I run to the store late at night or early in the morning I don't have to remember my normal carry gun. As for a thief finding it I would hope he would pick a better car to break into than mine.

 

[zoom6zoom]

If you're routinely storing a gun in the glovebox, it's probably a good idea to stash your registration and insurance papers elsewhere - you don't want to be reaching for you paperwork with a LEO at the window and remember at the last second what you've got in there. They don't like surprises. I keep my papers in a compartment in my overhead console.

 

[M2 Carbine]

This has worked for me for many years.

I usually have a concealed pistol also, but can't get it out when strapped in the seat belt. The pistol by the seat is easy to get to.
And the "car guns" are usually larger and more powerful than what I'm carrying.

 

[gezzer]

Carry in Post Offices seems to be a gray area. As far as I know, the supposed prohibition has not been legally challenged nor does there seem to be any case law specific to permitted CCW in Post Offices by non-employees. See the links below for discussion and the actual law.

Don't need case law the statute is specific , read the law.

A ccw in free states covers carry in PO. So does having a firearm in PO if you are legaly hunting (as in you stopped in to mail or pick up your mail in traveling ETC.)

Not posting a link anyone who does not read the law do your own homework.
This last line was for the link post nazis.

 

[pete f]

I am often in places of non permissive-ness and I have just gotten in the habit of pulling the slide off, and leaving the grip frame in the vehicle, The grip frame is the serial #'d part and therefore the "gun" in legal terms. I slip the slide into my pocket, the frame into the console and away i go. I even have a heavy gauge lock box built into my console, but usually i do not bother with it depending on the circumstances.


Re The Post Office, I called the local postmaster, asked him his point of view on it, and was referred to a post office legal type in DC who said he was aware of certain online lawyers saying it was kosher to carry IF you have a carry permit, however, he said it was his area of action to bring to trial any and all who carried weapons into the postoffice. I figure if they (the USPS) have a guy who is only there to prosecute this, I better just stay away. I have since gone to using a contract office (mailboxes etc<AKA UPS store) to handle my mail as they do not have a sign on the door.

 

[carebear]

You were expecting a different answer from the postmaster?

They can stand in readiness all they want. Until there's good case law on the matter, they are as qualified (and no moreso) than any other attorney to make such pronouncements.

Congress makes laws, and juries and the courts speak to their Constitutionality. Prosecutors just do what they're told by their bosses.

 

[SSN Vet]

center console/armrest in my turck works for me.....

unless we're sitting three accross with the kiddies.....then it stays IWB (and is quite uncomfortable).

wrt. the P.O.

it's called "concealed carry" for a reason.

 

[Zero_DgZ]

I keep my POS Uncle Mike's hip holster that I lost the retention strap to wedged between the passenger seat (rarely anybody in there) and the center console. Holds my gun securely, I can get it if I need it, and it's easy to take the holster with me if I want to.

For short trips or with nobody riding with I just toss it on the passenger seat (most of the places I go open carry in the vehicle is legal).

Ever try to draw from an IWB location while sitting down and strapped in with a seat belt? Doesn't work too well.

 

[carebear]

Zero,

One thing to think on. If you are involved in a wreck the gun loose on the seat is going to become a missile flying around the cab. If the accident (or even hard braking) is part of some kind of attack, your gun is not going to be to hand, it'll be on the floor or out the window or any number of places.

Remember in the Miami Shootout several of the FBI agents lost their primary sidearms in the crashes and were essentially unarmed or using backups for the fight. If it isn't in the holster, I'll wedge mine under my leg or in the seat (like with your Uncle Mikes). It still may go flying in a worst case scenario but the odds of me retaining control are at least a little higher and the access is just as good as lying out loose.

 

[Zero_DgZ]

In the holster wedged in the seat it isn't going anyplace. Lying on the seat it will, but so will ten thousand other things in my car...

 

[carebear]

True, but my gun is the heaviest (only?) chunk of loose metal in my car. And if it goes flying under the seat, that'll be the one time I need it handy.