Mountable Holsters for your car?

[Dingir]

I recently purchased a mountable holster for my car (volkswagen) The holster is to the bottom left of the steering wheel, just in front of my left knee.

My question is, is it legal to have a holster mounted (with a gun in the holster) within an arms reach while driving about and to/from work?

I currently do NOT have a CHP, but i have applied for one already and am awaiting a response.

I do NOT carry a gun in this holster currently while driving.

[OakRidgeStars]

My question is, is it legal to have a holster mounted (with a gun in the holster) within an arms reach while driving about and to/from work?

I currently do NOT have a CHP, but i have applied for one already and am awaiting a response.

You need a CHP to do this. Without a CHP, you need to have the handgun in a case or container to be legal.

[jdonovan]

Its strange you can open carry in a vehicle, if the firearm is on your person. It is also permissible if the firearm in a case/compartment

However, that same firearm openly on the passengers seat is illegal.

[dorminWS]

It occurs to me that if I were a cop doing a traffic stop and saw an empty holster on the steering column, I'd get REAL paranoid about where the damn gun was.

[TenchCoxe]

Folks, it is legal in Virginia to carry a handgun openly without a permit. The question is whether it is "hidden from common observation." If so, you need a CHP. Otherwise, you can carry openly, whether in your car or elsewhere, without a CHP.

Based on several cases intepreting that statute, I would bet that a police officer would have a very good argument that carrying in a holster down low next to your leg as described above should be considered "hidden from common observation."

There is a provision that allows you to carry a handgun "hidden from common observation" in a vehicle or vessel, without a CHP, if the handgun is "secured in a container or compartment" within the vehicle or vessel. We've had lots of discussion here whether "secured" means "locked" (I believe there is a very strong argument that it does not), but at the very least, secured almost certainly means a *closed* container or compartment, whether locked or not. I would doubt that a holster would be considered to be "secured" in a "container or compartment," but we don't yet have much at all in the way of official interpretation of that statute.

As for the statement above that having the gun openly on the passenger seat is illegal, I would like to know where that comes from? Because I don't see where there is anything making that illegal. It certainly would not be "hidden from common observation" - anyone standing next to the car and glancing in easily could see the gun lying there. I don't know of a requirement for it to be "on" your person. If you're the only person in a car, and you have a gun on the front passenger seat, it clearly is under your dominion and control and thus in your possession, and likely would be considered to be "about your person."

[dorminWS]

Folks, it is legal in Virginia to carry a handgun openly without a permit. The question is whether it is "hidden from common observation." If so, you need a CHP. Otherwise, you can carry openly, whether in your car or elsewhere, without a CHP.

Based on several cases intepreting that statute, I would bet that a police officer would have a very good argument that carrying in a holster down low next to your leg as described above should be considered "hidden from common observation."

There is a provision that allows you to carry a handgun "hidden from common observation" in a vehicle or vessel, without a CHP, if the handgun is "secured in a container or compartment" within the vehicle or vessel. We've had lots of discussion here whether "secured" means "locked" (I believe there is a very strong argument that it does not), but at the very least, secured almost certainly means a *closed* container or compartment, whether locked or not. I would doubt that a holster would be considered to be "secured" in a "container or compartment," but we don't yet have much at all in the way of official interpretation of that statute.

As for the statement above that having the gun openly on the passenger seat is illegal, I would like to know where that comes from? Because I don't see where there is anything making that illegal. It certainly would not be "hidden from common observation" - anyone standing next to the car and glancing in easily could see the gun lying there. I don't know of a requirement for it to be "on" your person. If you're the only person in a car, and you have a gun on the front passenger seat, it clearly is under your dominion and control and thus in your possession, and likely would be considered to be "about your person."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I agree that a gun openly on the passenger seat shouldn't be considered to be concealed (assuming you didn't inadvertantly throw your hat, road map, coat or something else down and cover it up - even partially).

But it's a bad idea to have it out there anyway, in my opinion. Any cop who walked up and saw it there would be justifiably nervous about it.

[Dingir]

Hope fully soon ill get a call from the local courthouse. Its been just about 3 weeks since i turned n te application.

[Diomed]

What kind of holster was this?

[Dingir]

What kind of holster was this?

http://www.texascustomholsters.com/cust ... o-gallery/

[Diomed]

Gracias! Shame you have to drill to install.

[Dingir]

Gracias! Shame you have to drill to install.

that part did suck, but you can mount them just about anywhere.
ive seen some people wrap an ankle or wais holster around their sun visor or seat.

[Dingir]

Just got my CHP too

[kevinmfduane]

This post makes me think of something I have always wanted to do in my old hot rod C10. I have always wanted to weld in a lockable shotgun holder/bracket like cop cruiser used to have, and maybe still do.

[Dingir]

This post makes me think of something I have always wanted to do in my old hot rod C10. I have always wanted to weld in a lockable shotgun holder/bracket like cop cruiser used to have, and maybe still do.

haha thatd be awesome