Range shoot after work - dilemma

[dschwartz69]

Hello all,
Planning on heading to the range on the way home from work today but I'm a bit stumped on the best place for the gun during the day?

Should I leave (unloaded with no ammo) in the trunk of my car while at work. Its a pretty good neighborhood but there have been a couple break ins/stolen vehicles in the past 10 years...

Or ---

Put the unloaded gun (no ammo) in my laptop back and keep with me at work during the day (company policy prohibits firearms on property).

I know an option would be to leave the gun at home, but it is a 45 minute ride home from work and then a 30 minute ride back down to the range (I almost have to pass the range driving home from work :banghead: )

What would you do?

 

[hso]

If it's a semiauto take the gun apart and leave the slide in the car. While ATF may consider the frame to be the "gun" your employer is interested in keeping workers safe and a gun part can't hurt anyone. This may comply with the intent of the company rule, but someone ignorant of firearms might feel it violates the letter so keep it secret that you've got a gun part in your bag. If caught you were compling with the letter and intent of the rule from your perspective since an incomplete set of gun parts can't be used to shoot anyone.

 

[madmattmd]

I agree with the previous response. If possible, disassemble the firearm and take part (the frame) of it into work. I'd also suggest leaving the other parts in different areas of the vehicle (glove box, under seat, console, trunk) if possible.

Most vehicle burglaries are "smash & grab" opportunities. If the thief doesn't see anything of value exposed (or even a closed bag), they'll probably move on to a more attractive target.

Matt

 

[dschwartz69]

Thanks - seems like a reasonable alternative...

 

[Erebus]

Becareful what you leave where...

If all the parts are on the property you may be in violation. If the slide is in the car in the company parking lot and the rest is in your bag in the building then that may be construed as a complete gun on the property.

And as far as theft goes if the car(with the gun in it) or the gun alone are stolen off company property it has to be reported and if you try and claim a loss it goes against the insurance of the property not your car insurance. In other words if it gets ripped off you are going to have a real situation on your hands because if you report the gun stolen on company property your employer will likely request a copy of the police report for insurance reasons. If it's just a slide in the car that gets stolen then you don't have to report that and you can just replace it.

Either way be careful, unless you don't like your job.

 

[dschwartz69]

good point.

David.

 

[bigbore442001]

I would have it disassembled in some fashion so it isn't readily useable. The other thing I would do is never,never, ever say a word to anyone about it being in your vehicle.

All it will take is someone with a grudge to complain and you may be on the outside looking in.

 

[HankB]

. . . never,never, ever say a word to anyone about it . . .

Best advice yet.

 

[cmidkiff]

The best place would be in a holster... on my person... and loaded. Then again, my employer isn't anti CCW.

If I _must_ leave a weapon in my vehicle, I have a vehicle safe for just such a purpose. They're not secure against a determined attack, but in a 'smash and grab' type attack, it should be fine. How many street punks carry bolt cutters around with them?

 

[qlajlu]

I'm a bit stumped on the best place for the gun during the day?...(company policy prohibits firearms on property).

Check out the safes at Center-of-Mass (be sure to scroll clear to the bottom of the page). The cable can be secured to one of the seat mounts in your car and the safe can then be slipped under your seat or covered with a floor mat or a towel, rag, or some other convenient item to keep it out of sight.

If you are discreet the company will not know you have a weapon in the parking lot. Just remember, "Loose lips sink battleships." Just hope your car is not stolen, but even then it is doubtful the perp could get to your gun without a torch.

 

[Smurfslayer]

read the fine print

If all the parts are on the property you may be in violation. If the slide is in the car in the company parking lot and the rest is in your bag in the building then that may be construed as a complete gun on the property.

And as far as theft goes if the car(with the gun in it) or the gun alone are stolen off company property it has to be reported and if you try and claim a loss it goes against the insurance of the property not your car insurance. In other words if it gets ripped off you are going to have a real situation on your hands because if you report the gun stolen on company property your employer will likely request a copy of the police report for insurance reasons. If it's just a slide in the car that gets stolen then you don't have to report that and you can just replace it.

Either way be careful, unless you don't like your job.

First off, read your employee agreement or check your HR Policies online. If your car/truck/minivan, etc is stolen, or damaged, the company won't have an insurance interest even if it happened on their property because they will have an indemnity clause. Subsequent to this will be a denial of coverage where other coverage exists - such as auto insurance.

Now, that is not to say that they won't ever obtain a copy of the hypothetical police report, but it wouldn't be for insurance.

As for the 'policy'. Bigbore hit the nail on the head. It's not like the company is going to send vandals around to b&e your vehicles to check for contraband. That's illegal itself so it would be stupid of them.

I'm not a big fan of vehicle storage, but the reality is it's necessary sometimes. The biggest thing you can do is keep a tidy vehicle that doesn't draw unneeded attention, don't leave any 'wealth' clues visible etc. After that, all security measures you take are simply to delay the would be thief a longer amount of time. Eventually, a determined thief will be able to get your vehicle and anything in it.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

I suspect most vehicle break-ins during the day in a business parking lot are more of the smash and grab variety. Smash the window, grab the laptop case on the seat, walk away. I would think that you'd be in much better shape to keep it in the trunk. Even better, as suggested, keep the car completely clean and empty so there's no reason to suspect you have anything in there.

Also, for an added bit of security, you might consider a few other things. My car has a switch in the trunk to disable to the remote unlocking, as well as two locks on the folddown rear seats that disable them from folding down to access the trunk. So, essentially, you'd have to pry open the trunk or destroy the lock to get in. That's a lot of work unless someone knows for sure there are goodies in there, especially in the middle of the day in an parking lot with many people around.

My trunk also has a compartment near the spare tire which would be large enough to hold a couple of pistols or even one of those small "safes" linked above. Again, to get to it, you'd have to break into the trunk, remove any things that would be on top of the floor panel that covers the spare, then fold back the carpet, pull out the cover and grab it. That's a whole lot of work unless you expect to find something there. The trick then becomes how to subtly retrieve it, which might include stopping somewhere along the way.

As you can see, keeping your mouth shut is a critical part of this.

However, I live less than 10 minutes from work, so I don't have this problem.

 

[dschwartz69]

Thanks all - the compartment in the trunk (beneath the mounted CD changer) would be ideal for temporary storage and might even hold small safe or cable-lock box.

Good ideas from all - much appreciated!

David.

 

[Nhsport]

Wise ass answer---get a new job that allows carry! Or carry untill you get canned and then find a new job.

 

[dschwartz69]

Ha! I hear ya.

I've been there 10+ years and they pay me well. I'd rather not risk that, thank you very much.

David.

 

[carpettbaggerr]

(company policy prohibits firearms on property)

I'm sure they mean illegal firearms. But I wouldn't bother HR by asking for their interpretation of that rule.

Therefore, I would keep it with me in an unobtrusive locked case. And I would tell absolutely NO ONE I had it, or even that I was going to the range after work.

 

[Cowgunner]

If your worried enough to ask about this situation on the internent, than go in to work early and leave early to pick your guns up at home.

 

[dschwartz69]

Was not really 'worried' about - just wanting to hear what opinions others had or what some of you might have chosen to do in a similar situation.

I don't need to go in early in order to leave early - I set my own hours and work from home most days.

As far as asking questions like this on the internent(sic) - isn't that the entire point of sites like this? To utilize the experience and knowledge of others?

I just don't understand some folks sometimes...

David.

 

[Majic]

Depending on what constitutes your range why not check with your rangemaster and see if he can do a short term storage for you. Then take them to him one evening and pick them up the next evening after work to shoot.