TexasCHLforum.com

jbirds1210 wrote:This is not a flame! I just didn't know if you had ever read what the law in Texas says about having a round in the chamber. Good luck!

Texas Penal Code:

46.13. MAKING A FIREARM ACCESSIBLE TO A CHILD. (a) In
this section:
(1) "Child" means a person younger than 17 years of
age.
(2) "Readily dischargeable firearm" means a firearm
that is loaded with ammunition, whether or not a round is in the
chamber. (3) "Secure" means to take steps that a reasonable
person would take to prevent the access to a readily dischargeable
firearm by a child, including but not limited to placing a firearm
in a locked container or temporarily rendering the firearm
inoperable by a trigger lock or other means. <SNIP>

Thanks jbirds - good reminder. Personally, I don't feel a firearm is readily dischargeable if there is no round in the chamber, and the child holding the gun is physically unable to chamber a round. I know that's not taken into consideration in the law, but I think I'm probably in pretty good company on this board when I say I choose to keep a firearm unlocked next to my bed - but I'd like to think there are plenty out there that also keep the chamber empty if there are kids in the house. When my children are older, I will certainly rethink the how/where I keep my home protection weapon. I'm an amputee, so getting up in the middle of the night to defend my family takes a bit more effort (have to first put my leg on... I doubt the bad guy will wait until I make it a "fair fight"...

Abraham wrote:I would guess that car burglars won't take the time to attempt opening a car safe so the most important part of a handgun/car safe is how well it'll stay attached to the car...?

Yes?

No?

I may buy that Cabelas safe if the answer is yes.

I have the Cabela's safe - I personally don't endorse it. I usually keep mine next to the bed, but I don't keep my gun in it anymore... My gun is either on the nightstand beside the bed, or on my hip. 3 or 4 times now, my children have come into my room early in the morning and stepped on the "safe" while it was propped open with the locking latch with my gun in it sitting on the floor next to me. When they step on it, the locking latch slips down over the locking plate, and the thing binds shut because the mechanisms get bent slightly. I can't open it with a key, and I have to pry it open with a screwdriver - I've done this several times... It may slow a thief down, but they're not very secure. I don't keep it totally unlocked because the case closes so tightly (the metal rubs) that I can't hardly open it without prying it open with my fingernails.

Regarding how well it'll stay attached to the car - it comes with the cable to secure it to the vehicle. However, I don't imagine it'd stand a chance against bolt cutters, and it can still be pried open in seconds.

Now, before the flaming starts for keeping a loaded firearm on my nightstand with children in the house - relax. I don't keep a round in the chamber because my children aren't strong enough to cycle the slide. Heck, my wife can barely cycle it!