Locking a Firearm in your Car

[DustinB]

I know I can't just stick it under the seat. Do I really have to have a vehicle safe/lock box or is it legal to put it in a locking glove box?

EDIT: Also am I allowed to enter a college campus still wearing my holster or is that a bad idea even though I left the gun in the car?

[txinvestigator]

I know I can't just stick it under the seat. Do I really have to have a vehicle safe/lock box or is it legal to put it in a locking glove box?

EDIT: Also am I allowed to enter a college campus still wearing my holster or is that a bad idea even though I left the gun in the car?

There is no LAW requiring you to lock your gun up inside your vehicle. However, be sure you don't keep ANYTHING of value visible that would draw a burglar. CD's, backpacks, laptops, cameras, radar detectors, IPODS, MP3 players, PDAs, cell phones......pretty much ANYTHING.

No law restricts the carrying of holsters. Again, common sense would dictate that we want as few chances as possible to draw unwanted attention to ourselves.

[Venus Pax]

There's no law saying it has to be in a locked box or anything. (What he said.)

I normally keep mine in a lifejacket safe in an old, ugly lunch box. During the school day, it's in the trunk of the car.

I don't see a problem keeping your holster on. I've never heard of a law against it. Sounds a bit ridiculous to have a law against holsters. Then again, maybe some of the Brady bunch might be afraid you might lose it and kydex someone to death. Who knows.

[DustinB]

Thanks for the replies. I was under the impression it had to be 'secured' when left in a vehicle, but I know it is a good idea. I found a thread someone posted about some $30 lock boxes on ebay with the cable strap. Will likely go that route.

The reason I ask about the holster is I have an OWB belt holster. I don't want to have to take my belt pretty much completely off and back on every time I leave it in the car.

Thanks

[night4creeper]

I don't believe there is a law for locking it up inside a car, but it is a good idea. I use a cable that has loops at both ends and is wrapped around a seat bracket on one end and the other is through the mag well of the gun. This causes me to have to unload and reload each time, but I'd rather the gun be disabled while left unsupervised in the car. I really don't want to give a thief access to a loaded gun.

[stevie_d_64]

Thanks for the replies. I was under the impression it had to be 'secured' when left in a vehicle, but I know it is a good idea. I found a thread someone posted about some $30 lock boxes on ebay with the cable strap. Will likely go that route.

The reason I ask about the holster is I have an OWB belt holster. I don't want to have to take my belt pretty much completely off and back on every time I leave it in the car.

Thanks

That safe (lock-box) system I and a few others have purchased is called the "Secure-It" safe...

I don't have the website, or the link on my computer here at the office, but I have it at the house...

I'm sure if you google'd or Yahoo'd the name of the system, you'd get hits...

Whatever you do decide to do, the intent is to slow down as much as possible, if not outright deter the theft of a firearm locked up inside your vehicle...

It is a very reasonable thing to do, and one I applaude people for doing...

[kw5kw]

No law restricts the carrying of holsters. Again, common sense would dictate that we want as few chances as possible to draw unwanted attention to ourselves.

Actually, because my work place has a restriction on carry inside while on the job I leave my weapon in my vehicle--locked up. I carry to work, disarm, and wear my empy holster inside, everyone sees it, a few have commented, but that's as far as it's gone. If I go into a 30.06 signed place I wear an empy holster as a form of 'protest' if I really have to go in.

[stevie_d_64]

Here's the link I found real quick that will get you to something to look at...

http://www.fsguns.com/safes.html

I actually bought mine (3) from a group in Michigan, IIRC...

I also posted some information here with a modification on how to better secure it inside the safe...It involved buying a small "sleeve" type caribener from your local hardware store and hoooking that around the internal hook for the keyed latch that closes and locks the safe itself...

The cable loops into that caribener, and runs through the slot on the side of the safe as usual...That way the load if someone starts yanking on the safe is not totally dependent on the "metal crimp" that loops the cable...

I felt that improvement would add an extra level of frustration to a car thief or your average smash and grabber thug...

All in all I believe this to be the most cost effective, low vis way to secure your firearm in your vehicle if you have to...

Good luck, let us know how it goes...

[Boma]

Here's the link I found real quick that will get you to something to look at...

http://www.fsguns.com/safes.html

I actually bought mine (3) from a group in Michigan, IIRC...

I also posted some information here with a modification on how to better secure it inside the safe...It involved buying a small "sleeve" type caribener from your local hardware store and hoooking that around the internal hook for the keyed latch that closes and locks the safe itself...

The cable loops into that caribener, and runs through the slot on the side of the safe as usual...That way the load if someone starts yanking on the safe is not totally dependent on the "metal crimp" that loops the cable...

I felt that improvement would add an extra level of frustration to a car thief or your average smash and grabber thug...

All in all I believe this to be the most cost effective, low vis way to secure your firearm in your vehicle if you have to...

Good luck, let us know how it goes...

I have one of those safes in the car, but I find it much more convenient to use my locking glovebox. You easiest to use two hands to lock the safe; one to hold the lip shut and the other to turn the key. Using that safe one handed is cumbersome.

[stevie_d_64]

It sometimes is...I do agree...

[wo5m]

I was under the impression it had to be 'secured' when left in a vehicle, but I know it is a good idea.

This may sound dumb, but isn't it presumed secured when you lock your car? When you lock it in a safe your just making a extra hoop for the bad guy(and you) to jump though to get it. If he's smart(granted most of them are lacking in this) he will bust the safe open thinking its something valuable.

I have several small gun safes that I keep my guns when I'm not carrying, but I don't think any of them will hold up to a crowbar. If they want to, they will get into it.

[wo5m]

If I go into a 30.06 signed place I wear an empy holster as a form of 'protest' if I really have to go in.

I love it!!

Now I know why why you where wearing that holster at the meeting at few months ago! I wondered because it didn't seem like a good concealed holster at the time. Trust me its was discussed after you left!

Not that the sign is any close to a 30.06, but like you I never carry when I'm there out of respect.

[KBCraig]

I was under the impression it had to be 'secured' when left in a vehicle, but I know it is a good idea.

This may sound dumb, but isn't it presumed secured when you lock your car?

"Presumed" implies some legal requirement, and is very different from "actually secured".

Since there isn't a legal requirement, we're looking for actual security.

When you lock it in a safe your just making a extra hoop for the bad guy(and you) to jump though to get it. If he's smart(granted most of them are lacking in this) he will bust the safe open thinking its something valuable.

A car burglar wants to smash and grab. A good car safe is tethered to something solid, and can't be taken easily. Time matters more than value for the car burglar.

I have several small gun safes that I keep my guns when I'm not carrying, but I don't think any of them will hold up to a crowbar. If they want to, they will get into it.

A car burglar is typically equipped with a slim-jim at best; a rock at worst. And maybe a dent puller if he's after the car instead of the contents.

Regardless, none of them are going to be taking a crowbar to a tethered car safe, when other contents are easier to smash and grab.

Kevin

[Skiprr]

Dustin, you could always follow kw5kw's lead, but just drop your cell phone into your holster if you leave the gun the car. If someone wonders, ask incredulously if they haven't been keeping up with the latest fashion trends out of New York.

(A small slam at New York's non-NRA-friendly mayor... )

[Lodge2004]

Dustin, you could always follow kw5kw's lead, but just drop your cell phone into your holster if you leave the gun the car. If someone wonders, ask incredulously if they haven't been keeping up with the latest fashion trends out of New York.

(A small slam at New York's non-NRA-friendly mayor... )

I don't think many would even wonder or ask. I was in a jury last year and the Asst. DA exposed his empty holster (OWB kydex) on purpose to the jury while making a point about the bad guy. Later in the day I asked the other jurors about it and all 11 of them were convinced it was a cell phone or PDA holder. They simply would not believe me when I explained what they actually saw.