Storing Loaded Pistol in Car?
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2016 3:56 pm
When I am at work, I store my pistol in a lockbox inside my car. Can I leave the pistol loaded while its stored in the lockbox?
The focal point for Texas firearms information and discussions
https://texaschlforum.com/
Yes.tbryanh wrote:When I am at work, I store my pistol in a lockbox inside my car. Can I leave the pistol loaded while its stored in the lockbox?
And as long as it's not one of the exceptions to the parking lot bill, like a school district.Soccerdad1995 wrote:Yes.tbryanh wrote:When I am at work, I store my pistol in a lockbox inside my car. Can I leave the pistol loaded while its stored in the lockbox?
This assumes that you can legally possess a gun in the first place. The law does not distinguish between loaded and unloaded guns for this purpose.
It's "legal" to leave in your car on a school campus, but if you work there it could be against the rules and get you fired.casp625 wrote:And as long as it's not one of the exceptions to the parking lot bill, like a school district.Soccerdad1995 wrote:Yes.tbryanh wrote:When I am at work, I store my pistol in a lockbox inside my car. Can I leave the pistol loaded while its stored in the lockbox?
This assumes that you can legally possess a gun in the first place. The law does not distinguish between loaded and unloaded guns for this purpose.
If you have an LTC. If you do not, and are carrying in your vehicle under the MPA, you would be violating the GFSZA.ScottDLS wrote:It's "legal" to leave in your car on a school campus, but if you work there it could be against the rules and get you fired.casp625 wrote:And as long as it's not one of the exceptions to the parking lot bill, like a school district.Soccerdad1995 wrote:Yes.tbryanh wrote:When I am at work, I store my pistol in a lockbox inside my car. Can I leave the pistol loaded while its stored in the lockbox?
This assumes that you can legally possess a gun in the first place. The law does not distinguish between loaded and unloaded guns for this purpose.
locke_n_load wrote:If you have an LTC. If you do not, and are carrying in your vehicle under the MPA, you would be violating the GFSZA.ScottDLS wrote:It's "legal" to leave in your car on a school campus, but if you work there it could be against the rules and get you fired.casp625 wrote:And as long as it's not one of the exceptions to the parking lot bill, like a school district.Soccerdad1995 wrote:Yes.tbryanh wrote:When I am at work, I store my pistol in a lockbox inside my car. Can I leave the pistol loaded while its stored in the lockbox?
This assumes that you can legally possess a gun in the first place. The law does not distinguish between loaded and unloaded guns for this purpose.
Had to throw that out there for Scott!
Agoraphobic Penguin wrote:Just be mindful of the fact that your car can be broken into. Whenever I have to disarm myself, I leave the gun in a lockbox with cable attached to my car seat frame and hidde from view. I also take the mags and clear the chambers so if stolen it won't be able to be fired immediately. I also think that while showing support for the NRA and 2nd ammendment rights with stickers is great, it is also a sign for criminals to break into your car looking for guns. Please help keep guns out of criminal hands, and don't forget to record te serial numbers of your guns in case of theft.
I understand the value of unloading when disarming, but weighed against the increased possibility of an accidental discharge, leaving the gun loaded wins out for me.Agoraphobic Penguin wrote:Whenever I have to disarm myself, I leave the gun in a lockbox with cable attached to my car seat frame and hidde from view. I also take the mags and clear the chambers so if stolen it won't be able to be fired immediately.
I've always put my NRA stickers on cars that belong to people I know are Anti-2a. I thought that's what they're for, isn't it?Agoraphobic Penguin wrote: I also think that while showing support for the NRA and 2nd amendment rights with stickers is great, it is also a sign for criminals to break into your car looking for guns.
I do take the ammo with me into the places where I am not allowedto carry, I have only encountered metal detectors once at the Travis County District Clerk Office/courthouse and ended up leaving my mags in my glovebox locked. I agree that your ccw should not be handled regularly but I still follow the safety rules when I unload my guns. I aim down at my brake pedal and keep my finger off the trigger. Both the guns I carry now do not have a magazine disconnect safety, if they did I would leave a round chambered and keep my weapons holstered, trigger guards covered ad just remove mags. I understand not wanting a ND, cause I really don't want to have one and I realize I'm human and humans make mistakes but I am constantly drilling the safety rules into my head. I just would feel horrible to find that a criminal used my gun on another person. I also drive a stick to further deter criminals, ad because I like driving stick, a lot.allisji wrote:Agoraphobic Penguin wrote:Just be mindful of the fact that your car can be broken into. Whenever I have to disarm myself, I leave the gun in a lockbox with cable attached to my car seat frame and hidde from view. I also take the mags and clear the chambers so if stolen it won't be able to be fired immediately. I also think that while showing support for the NRA and 2nd ammendment rights with stickers is great, it is also a sign for criminals to break into your car looking for guns. Please help keep guns out of criminal hands, and don't forget to record te serial numbers of your guns in case of theft.
Just curious, when you leave your gun in the car in this condition, do you take the magazines and ammo with you? Or do you hide/stash it in a different location in the car? What if you are going into a place where guns are forbidden or with metal detectors?
I also leave my gun in a locked box, cabled to the underside of the seat, and hidden from view. But mine remains loaded and loaded magazines inserted. I do tend to agree about the NRA/Pro-2A stickers. I have considered adding an NRA sticker to my car, but for this reason I likely never will.
tbryanh wrote:I understand the value of unloading when disarming, but weighed against the increased possibility of an accidental discharge, leaving the gun loaded wins out for me.Agoraphobic Penguin wrote:Whenever I have to disarm myself, I leave the gun in a lockbox with cable attached to my car seat frame and hidde from view. I also take the mags and clear the chambers so if stolen it won't be able to be fired immediately.
I am also one of those who is against press checking to see if your weapon is loaded.
I believe the safest way to handle a semi auto pistol is to load it and leave it alone.
Good answer. I've never had a car broken into, but I do worry about it sometimes when I park my car in Houston. My lock box is not impenetrable. A smash and grab robber with bolt cutters could easily cut the cable and be off with my gun. It would take a bit more effort for him to break the lock or pry open the box enough to get the gun out. Usually I don't leave my gun in car unless I'm at work, as I don't see many 30.06 postings where I normally do business. Car break-ins at my work parking lot are very rare. I work at a chemical plant with 24hr security and ample and fairly conspicuous security cameras and lighting on the parking lot.Agoraphobic Penguin wrote:I do take the ammo with me into the places where I am not allowedto carry, I have only encountered metal detectors once at the Travis County District Clerk Office/courthouse and ended up leaving my mags in my glovebox locked. I agree that your ccw should not be handled regularly but I still follow the safety rules when I unload my guns. I aim down at my brake pedal and keep my finger off the trigger. Both the guns I carry now do not have a magazine disconnect safety, if they did I would leave a round chambered and keep my weapons holstered, trigger guards covered ad just remove mags. I understand not wanting a ND, cause I really don't want to have one and I realize I'm human and humans make mistakes but I am constantly drilling the safety rules into my head. I just would feel horrible to find that a criminal used my gun on another person. I also drive a stick to further deter criminals, ad because I like driving stick, a lot.allisji wrote:Agoraphobic Penguin wrote:Just be mindful of the fact that your car can be broken into. Whenever I have to disarm myself, I leave the gun in a lockbox with cable attached to my car seat frame and hidde from view. I also take the mags and clear the chambers so if stolen it won't be able to be fired immediately. I also think that while showing support for the NRA and 2nd ammendment rights with stickers is great, it is also a sign for criminals to break into your car looking for guns. Please help keep guns out of criminal hands, and don't forget to record te serial numbers of your guns in case of theft.
Just curious, when you leave your gun in the car in this condition, do you take the magazines and ammo with you? Or do you hide/stash it in a different location in the car? What if you are going into a place where guns are forbidden or with metal detectors?
I also leave my gun in a locked box, cabled to the underside of the seat, and hidden from view. But mine remains loaded and loaded magazines inserted. I do tend to agree about the NRA/Pro-2A stickers. I have considered adding an NRA sticker to my car, but for this reason I likely never will.
This is a very good theory but I have a NRA sticker on my vehicle and Knock on wood it has never been broken into. But If I go by the theory my vehicle should be broken into on a daily basis.I also think that while showing support for the NRA and 2nd ammendment rights with stickers is great, it is also a sign for criminals to break into your car looking for guns.