Why a "truck gun"?

[chhodge69]

Whenever I'm forced to lock my pistol in my truck for CCH prohibition reasons I use a lock box and still don't feel right about it. I'm obviously missing something because many smart people choose to keep a gun in their vehicle, so educate me - why?

My thoughts on this are from the SD perspective:
- A handgun in your truck can be stolen easily.
- If it's in your truck when you need it you just lost a gunfight.
- If you go get it and come back to the gunfight you're going to jail.
- If you need it while driving are you going to dig around under the seat or in the glove box for it?

 

[CoRoMo]

This is somewhat of a hotly debated topic. Both sides have immovable opinions, so expect nothing other than that.

My thoughts on this are from the SD perspective:
- A handgun in your truck can be stolen easily. Sure, but that also goes for all the tools I keep in my truck. I'd bet that the thief will likely grab the stuff that is readily accessible (i.e. not hidden) and run. That's what they've always done to me in the past anyway.
- If it's in your truck when you need it you just lost a gunfight. Right. That's why I carry as well.
- If you go get it and come back to the gunfight you're going to jail. Maybe; Google 'Joel Myrick'.
- If you need it while driving are you going to dig around under the seat or in the glove box for it? If I'm carrying, I'd go for that one. If not, yes, I'd get the 'truck gun'.

 

[Warp]

There are a lot of potential scenarios where having it in the passenger compartment of your vehicle would help. Have you seen the video from the gas station recently where the guy got assaulted by two guys while pumping gas? He got into the driver seat, retrieved a pistol (.45 Glock, IIRC) from the center console, shot one of the attackers twice in the gut and ended the assault as they were continuing to assault him and trying to pull him out of the car. Granted I would never count on being able to do that and would MUCH rather have it on my person, but he did indeed justifiably defend himself by retrieving a pistol from his center console.

I keep a pistol in both of our vehicles. The one in my wife's vehicle is because she won't carry one on her person. It is better than having it in the safe at home.

The one in my vehicle is a 642 in a pocket holster in a safe under the floor mat. I lock it when I park the car somewhere and unlock it when driving. This is very easy to do. I do this because I am a full time student who also works part time on campus and in GA I can legally have a pistol in my vehicle, even on campus, but I cannot carry it on my person while there. This way I can be 'armed' going to and from.

To me a truck gun is a rifle or shotgun, though.



If you haven't already check out www.center-of-mass.com They have some decent inexpensive safes, including some with a simple combination lock and more expensive biometric options.

 

[CoRoMo]

Here is the thread I last recall on this topic.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=521420

The few posts I made sum up my view, but here's one in particular...

I don't think there is a whole lot to debate here. This is a subject of preference. Some people prefer to do this, some don't. I'm sure each person's reasons for or against the idea will vary. My reasons to have a gun in each of my vehicles won't apply to the next guy. I think I would ALWAYS recommend carrying on your body; everywhere you go, whenever you can. I won't always recommend having a dedicated vehicle gun, but I see the advantages to it.

The most often used argument against the 'truck gun' position is the notion of theft. I get it, but like I said, I keep a good bit of other roadside necessaries in each of my vehicles. True, it can all get stolen quite easily I suppose, but I want it all there. Just like my house, I'll try to make the vehicle less attractive to criminals to begin with. After that, there's no way to stop all of them all the time.

One anecdotal story I'd add... When my wife and I were on our first date, back in college, my car got broken into and the thieves stole a couple things. Her purse was in the floorboard, and her coat was covering it up. They grabbed her coat and fled, leaving her purse right there. It was obviously out of their sight, and so I suppose out of their thoughts as well.

Some first date, eh? She still married me though!!

 

[oldfool]

- A handgun in your truck can be stolen easily.
it doesn't have to live there 24x365, when you are not there, just when you want it there
- If it's in your truck when you need it you just lost a gunfight.
not if you happen to be in your truck when the gunfight starts
- If you go get it and come back to the gunfight you're going to jail.
depends on whether you are running to, or being chased to
- If you need it while driving are you going to dig around under the seat or in the glove box for it?
not if it rides in the driver side door pocket

other circumstances - your CCW may give you time to get to the shotgun or rifle in truck; rifles tend to print when carried under a tee shirt

But yeah, it could get stolen, so choose one that is reliable and durable, but not extremely
expensive. If you win a gunfight, your gun is going to the evidence room anyway, and you may not see it again for a very very long time. Keep the Korth at home for range day.

LEOs tend to carry a variety of weapons in their cars these days, not just the one on their hip. You can do same, if apply common sense to when and how. Given a choice, though, stand aside, seek cover, and wait on SWAT.

 

[Owen Sparks]

What if you were leaving the state fair and rioters were pulling people out of their cars and beating them? That is the time that you need an AR behind the seat that you can grab without opening the door.

 

[we are not amused]

I also keep a "truck gun", and two small cabled tied lock boxes, one for my carry gun, when I can't carry it. (School,Post office, library, courthouse...) and one for my "truck gun",a larger less concealable one for "just in case". the cabled lock box makes it easy pull out from under the seat in a hurry with no fumbling. I usually have the truck box easily accessible, and unlocked. It is easy to set the combination lock when I leave the vehicle and slip under the seat or fold down center armrest, and almost as easy to unlock it when I get back in.

Why do I carry it? It is larger caliber and much more powerful than my carry gun. Never know when an army of zombies might attack!

 

[FourTeeFive]

When I see that term I think of a long-arm, for whatever reason. I like the idea of having a rifle in case I'm stuck somewhere in a situation with a dangerous animal, or worse. Or maybe just stuck somewhere for a long period of time and I need to get food. My "truck gun" is a Marlin 70PSS take-down .22LR rifle. Although I've considered keeping my H&R 30-06 single shot in there too. It is compact and I never seem to shoot it anyway.

 

[CTPhil]

When I see that term I think of a long-arm, for whatever reason. I like the idea of having a rifle in case I'm stuck someone in a situation with a dangerous animal, or worse. Or maybe just stuck somewhere for a long period of time and I need to get food. My "truck gun" is a Marlin 70PSS take-down .22LR rifle. Although I've considered keeping my H&R 30-06 single shot in there too. It is compact and I never seem to shoot it anyway.

Same here. To me, a gun for SD and a truck gun are 2 different things. I don't like to leave a pistol in the truck (liability if stolen), but feel less uneasy about a rifle. When you live in the country, there are lots of reasons to carry a long gun in your vehicle.

 

[CoRoMo]

I know a few people who keep long guns in their vehicles. Mostly for dispatching coyotes on site, but there's at least one individual whose motives are defense. I always take a couple long guns when I'm traveling more than an hour or so from home. The stranded/food gathering logic is something you run into a lot up in the mountains, where there is almost zero cell phone service. A cheap little .22 rifle in the truck is almost a must in that regard.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

I don't keep to any certain regimen in how or what I carry, nor do I always take the same path to work. A gun in a vehicle is often a backup or heavier artillery for the one I am packing. The element of surprise, or preparedness, often wins the battle without firing a shot, but can further tip the win over by way of superior firepower.

 

[FourTeeFive]

The stranded/food gathering logic is something you run into a lot up in the mountains, where there is almost zero cell phone service. A cheap little .22 rifle in the truck is almost a must in that regard.

I do some pretty remote and long drives through the middle of nowhere. If I ever had a major vehicle breakdown or was stranded due to weather or other events, at least I've got some survival gear and a .22 rifle in the truck.

 

[tbutera2112]

i wish i could carry a loaded long gun in the my truck.....ohio doesnt allow this...i could put a shotgun behind my seat and put some shells in the center console, but i have to get out of the truck to get behind my seat anyways (single cab)...i mean...i could get back there withotu getting out if i had to, its just not easy

"concealed handgun license" is better than nothing, but its no CWP

 

[FourTeeFive]

i wish i could carry a loaded long gun in the my truck.....ohio doesnt allow this...i could put a shotgun behind my seat and put some shells in the center console, but i have to get out of the truck to get behind my seat anyways (single cab)...i mean...i could get back there withotu getting out if i had to, its just not easy

In WA we can't have loaded long guns in our vehicles. It is a hunting regulation more than anything. But you can have a long gun and a loaded magazine, just not the gun with the magazine in it.

 

[RaceM]

Well, for me a truck gun is one that I don't mind getting banged up bouncing around behind the seat, say when I'm out for firewood. The current one is a cut down 870 (bobbed barrel) that I got cheap at a pawn shop. At the end of the run it comes out of the truck.

 

[tbutera2112]

In WA we can't have loaded long guns in our vehicles. It is a hunting regulation more than anything. But you can have a long gun and a loaded magazine, just not the gun with the magazine in it.

i was always told that a loaded magazine is the same as a loaded gun...going to have to look into the legalities of this in ohio

 

[FourTeeFive]

i was always told that a loaded magazine is the same as a loaded gun...going to have to look into the legalities of this in ohio

In Washington state:

RCW 77.15.460
Loaded firearm in vehicle — Unlawful use or possession — Penalty.

(1) A person is guilty of unlawful possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle if:

(a) The person carries, transports, conveys, possesses, or controls a rifle or shotgun in or on a motor vehicle; and

(b) The rifle or shotgun contains shells or cartridges in the magazine or chamber, or is a muzzle-loading firearm that is loaded and capped or primed.

(2) A person is guilty of unlawful use of a loaded firearm if the person negligently shoots a firearm from, across, or along the maintained portion of a public highway.

(3) Unlawful possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle or unlawful use of a loaded firearm is a misdemeanor.

(4) This section does not apply if the person:

(a) Is a law enforcement officer who is authorized to carry a firearm and is on duty within the officer's respective jurisdiction;

(b) Possesses a disabled hunter's permit as provided by RCW 77.32.237 and complies with all rules of the department concerning hunting by persons with disabilities.

(5) For purposes of this section, a firearm shall not be considered loaded if the detachable clip or magazine is not inserted in or attached to the firearm.

 

[Pacsd]

In my state it is NOT illegal to have a loaded (in the chamber) rifle in the cab of a vehicle, thank God for common sense.

 

[Bobson]

What if you were leaving the state fair and rioters were pulling people out of their cars and beating them? That is the time that you need an AR behind the seat that you can grab without opening the door.

That's funny. Should make for an excellent headline to aid the liberal agenda:

"Protest at County Fair Turns Deadly When Armed Man Fires into Crowd in 'Self Defense'."

Bottom line here is if you have the ability to retrieve a gun from your vehicle, you could have driven off in it too. Whether you start out in your car or not is irrelevant.

 

[CoRoMo]

...if you have the ability to retrieve a gun from your vehicle, you could have driven off in it too.

No, not really. You've never read about this story then... http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=599536

His own account: http://ohioccwforums.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=53502&sid=3330a093c7fbdfdd1a5211124d887b42

The video: http://www.whiotv.com/video/28315602/index.html


Whether you start out in your car or not, is quite paramount. In his case, having the gun accessible, and one in the chamber, was extremely critical.

 

[DeepSouth]

I think us country folks are much more likely to have a "truck gun" At any given time I will have 3-5 guns in my truck. As I type this I "think" there are 4 in there. I always have a rifle of some kind in there, most of the time I'll have two, one being a 22. I've been this way for as long as I have been driving. Never had a vehicle broken into, so obviously I've never had a gun stolen from me. I guess since I live in rural AL the LEO's don't even think much of it, they just want to see them.

Here in the country, living on a farm, you never know when you will need a gun. When you see a hog, you shoot it. When you see a coyote, you shoot it. When you see a poisonous snake, you shoot it. When are in the pasture and just feel like plinkin, you get a gun out of the truck. When a buddy at work invites you to go hunting after work you have to have a gun in the truck. As much as us country/farm folks use a gun it's best just keep a couple handy....AKA... "In the truck" For the most part the only reason not to is theft, that's just a part of life you hope never happens to you. It is a risk, it's just one I'm willing to take. After all it is illegal to break into someones vehicle so no one does that, right? In all seriousness I do keep my truck locked and in the unlikely event I go to "town" I leave the truck home and ride with the wife in her car.

BTW: I always have my CCW on my person as well, so I have a gun when I need it for a defensive situation. On that note a truck gun is still a good thing to have, it is easier to get a pistol out of the console than it is to get one out of say, your pocket.

 

[Owen Sparks]

My state has a "stand your ground" policy. This includes while you are sitting in your car.

 

[Kliegl]

Dang, and here I thought Washington was part of the USA. That law is retarded.

 

[klutchless]

In Ohio it is illegal to keep a loaded magazine in your vehicle unless you have a ccw permit and that is only for your pistol.Plus ammo and guns must be stored in different locations of the vehicle.I do have truck guns a rifle and a shotgun they stay behind the seat and the ammo stays in the center console.I don't believe I would ever use one in self defense but is a good option to have in defense of others.My neighbor is a single lady who has her own guns but isn't home alot of times and I am the only one close enough to hear her alarm go off so when it does she told me to go check it out.I have never had a encounter with a bad guy but it was alot of comfort having that 12ga while doing a room to room clear of her house when I was coming home from work and noticed her alarm was tripped.We have a procedure as I call her three times if she doesn't answer I go in I have a key and her written permission to do so.The alarm is conected to the police as well but normal response time is around 35 minutes.My response time thanks to my coon dog that likes to bark at sirens is about 5 minutes yes I have went over and reset the alarm in my pj's before.

 

[montanaoffroader]

My current truck gun is a Marlin .30-30. I've also used an SKS, and before that an old .303 Enfield someone had "sporterized". There is always a long gun in the truck whenever I head out, never know when you will see a coyote or something.

Around here quite a few people have a truck gun, it's a pretty common thing. Lots of wide open country, and if you have a problem help could be a long time in coming. It makes sense to have a firearm, along with a few tools, a first aid kit, and some other basic essentials.