As a gun owner, you understand the importance of safety and responsibility. And as a responsible concealed carrier, you may be concerned with how to store your gun while traveling or commuting. Of course, the best option for self-defense would be to keep your gun on your person. However, if you encounter “no-gun” signs while out and about, you’ll have to safely tuck your handgun away in your vehicle. There are a few options to store your gun away safely and legally in your car should you need to. These may come in handy when traveling through states with concealed carry restrictions, as well. Check your local listings.
Glove Box
One of the most common places to store a gun in a vehicle is the glove box. It is an easily accessible location but should be locked for security. However, the size and shape of your firearm should be taken into consideration before choosing this option. If your gun is too large for the glove box, it may not fit properly or may be difficult to access quickly in an emergency. Additionally, some states have specific laws regarding the storage of firearms in glove boxes, so it’s important to check your local laws before using this method.
Console
Another popular option for storing a gun in a vehicle is the center console. This is a convenient location that is easily accessible by the driver but again should be locked when you’re away from the vehicle. Similar to the glove box, the size and shape of your firearm should be taken into consideration before choosing this option. If your gun is too large for the console or interferes with other objects in the console, it may not be a safe or convenient option.
Locked Under the Seat
If you have a larger firearm that does not fit in your glove box or console, storing it under the seat in your vehicle may be a good option. This location is often overlooked by thieves and is a discreet location to store your gun. You can use a chain or cable to lock it to a piece of the seat that cannot be simply lifted to remove the gun. Be sure to lock it using a part of the gun other than the trigger guard to be most secure. And keep in mind, this may not be the safest option in case of an emergency situation, as the gun may be difficult to access quickly.
Gun Safe
A gun safe is the safest and most secure option for storing your firearm in your vehicle. Gun safes come in a range of sizes and can be installed in various locations in your vehicle, including the trunk or under a seat. Investing in a quality gun safe ensures that your firearm is not only secure, but also protected against damage from external elements such as moisture or heat.
Legal Considerations
Before storing a gun in your vehicle, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the laws and regulations in your state. Some states have specific requirements for how guns should be stored in a vehicle, while others prohibit the storage of firearms in certain locations altogether. Be sure to research your state’s laws and comply with them to avoid any legal issues.
Storing a gun in your vehicle requires careful consideration of safety and legality. Whether you choose to store it in your glove box, console, under the seat or in a gun safe, make sure that the location you choose is both safe and accessible in the event of an emergency. Additionally, comply with your state’s laws and regulations to avoid any legal issues. With the right knowledge and tools, you can ensure your firearm is stored safely and securely while traveling.
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Transcript
Got a few tips for how you can properly and responsibly leave your gun in your car.
Sooner or later, you’re going to get to the point — now that you’re carrying your gun every day — that you’re going to need to leave it in your car for some reason. Ideally, you don’t want to go hang out where there are “no gun signs,” but you can’t always do that, so you’re going to have to store your gun effectively in your vehicle.
In order to do that, the best thing that you can do, bar none, is to get one of those portable gun safes that attaches to the interior of your car. There are some good ones that are hooked up with cables that you can put the gun in the safe, cable lock it right to the infrastructure at the bottom of your seat and slide it under the seat of your vehicle or you can lock it into a safe inside your center console. Not just in your center console — because I know you got some lockable center consoles or glove boxes or something like that out there — but lock it inside a locking case that is also inside your center console. You might have to get those specially made or buy one that is specially made for your vehicle, but they are out there and they are available.
So the best way to leave your gun in your vehicle is locked up and attached to something in your vehicle. You can lock it in the glove box or the center console. Then it’s kind of out of sight, and people won’t be looking in there to see it. Or lock it in your trunk. And again, that’s not quite as good as having it locked in a box inside your vehicle.
Always Use Caution
The next step is to make sure that you’re using caution when handling your gun. Doing this safely, okay, so your everyday carry gun is in your holster. It’s fully loaded, round in the chamber. That’s how we’d like you to carry it: condition one, fully loaded, round in the chamber. Now, you’re doing some administrative handling. And administrative handling is where gun handling gets the most dangerous because that’s when people tend to lose focus. But remember, you’re taking a loaded gun out of your holster, so keep your finger off the trigger. Drop it into your safe and lock it up. Lock it right in there.
Now, if you really want to be extra safe, take that loaded gun out of your holster, take the magazine out. That’s removing the source of ammunition. Lock the slide to the rear; that round will come out of your chamber. Now you have a completely empty gun. Put that in your safe along with the magazine and your Barney Bullet — that spare round that just fell out of your chamber. Put that in there and lock it up.
But remember when you get back into your car, now you’re going to have to make that pistol ready again. Inserting the magazine, racking a round into the chamber, taking the magazine out, putting that spare round that you took out before back on top of your magazine, and getting yourself ready to go. During all of that — all of that — muzzle management and trigger finger discipline! That will make sure that you are safe. Don’t point that muzzle at anything you don’t want to destroy. That means your legs, your crotch, anything else in the car. And keep your finger off the trigger because you haven’t made a conscious decision to shoot. That gun is only going to fire if you pull the trigger.
That’s how you keep your gun safe when you have to store it in your vehicle.
