Transporting a handgun in car in CA - legal issues?

[stogiegila]

Would someone please let me know if it is permissible to keep an unloaded handgun in your car (i.e. glove compartment in a holster) is you do not have a carry permit in the state of California.

I will be traveling there soon and would like to at least keep a handgun in the car. While unloaded, there will be ammo in the vehicle as well.

My searching only turned up that you need a permit to keep a loaded gun in a car.

I just want to make sure that I am not violating any laws.

Thanks

 

[Sam1911]

Off the top of my head I'd say the best answer is ...

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=485546
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=439615
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=417675
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=385273
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=290078
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=279287
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=276654
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=275882

Those are just from the first page of search results ... you could say the subject has come up before.

 

[stogiegila]

Thanks for the links Sam,

My search came up with nothing. I must have written my search poorly.

 

[ArmedBear]

Here's the official answer from the CHP. Scroll down:

http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/answers.html

 

[Frank Ettin]

Unloaded in a locked container, and NEVER in the glove compartment or utility compartment. Here's the story from "the horse's mouth": http://caag.state.ca.us/firearms/travel.php.

 

[stogiegila]

Thanks

 

[Zoogster]

No!

The glove box is specifically a prohibited location in California.
I know in Arizona it was specifically exempt.


You can keep a handgun anywhere in the vehicle in a fully enclosed locked container.
If you do not have or wish to use a locking container the trunk of a vehicle itself counts as a locking container, if your vehicle has a trunk.
You can also keep it unconcealed anywhere in the vehicle, but cannot go within 1,000 feet of any school zone like that, making it virtually impossible. So stick it in a locking container or the trunk.

The handgun cannot be loaded, and no internal magazine can have rounds in it. A detachable magazine can be loaded (but not in the gun).

Long guns have far fewer transport restrictions (but then you must understand the complex "assault weapon" laws which are quite different than the previous federal legislation with a similar name.)

 

[AKAMac]

You can also keep it unconcealed anywhere in the vehicle

Not to be a stick in the mud, this only applies only to long guns and them being unloaded. Hand guns must be locked and boxed.
There is also the ever present "ammo stored separately from firearm" that will be quoted from our CHP. This is correct but you can have loaded mags inside your gun case, they just can't be in the gun.
If questioned during a traffic stop about guns in the car.... Well, I'll leave that to your discretion.
Mac

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Just don't go the Communist state of Kallie.

 

[Librarian]

Not to be a stick in the mud, this only applies only to long guns and them being unloaded. Hand guns must be locked and boxed.

Well, that's the safe route, and Gun Free School Zones and poorly trained LEO are complications, but in fact unconcealed unloaded handguns are legal - it does not violate PC 12031 (loaded in public place) nor PC 12025 (concealed without CCW).

Due to 'complications' noted, "legal" is not necessarily "wise".