Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Question: I recently purchased a S&W 642 Airweight .38 Special to keep in the small console next to my seat in the car (btw, I am a CHL holder.) Here is the dilemma.

I am a big proponent that if you have a CHL you should always be armed. You never know when danger will strike.

I drive to a Metro station everyday so I want to keep the gun close to me in the console. However, I commute to DC where, of course, no concealed weapons are allowed.

That leaves me with a loaded weapon in the car. But it is there when I get back to Metro.

Worst case, someone breaks into my car which itself is illegal and finds the gun.

Is there a regulation concerning keeping a loaded handgun in an unattended vehicle? Do I need to unload it first and then lock it in the trunk and keep the ammo with me?

With all the people in metro, I would rather not do that lest someone see me.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

TheEqualizer wrote:Question: I recently purchased a S&W 642 Airweight .38 Special to keep in the small console next to my seat in the car (btw, I am a CHL holder.) Here is the dilemma.

I am a big proponent that if you have a CHL you should always be armed. You never know when danger will strike.

I drive to a Metro station everyday so I want to keep the gun close to me in the console. However, I commute to DC where, of course, no concealed weapons are allowed.

That leaves me with a loaded weapon in the car. But it is there when I get back to Metro.

Worst case, someone breaks into my car which itself is illegal and finds the gun.

Is there a regulation concerning keeping a loaded handgun in an unattended vehicle? Do I need to unload it first and then lock it in the trunk and keep the ammo with me?

There is a another recent thread about this here:
http://vagunforum.net/carrying/carrying ... t6399.html

But the short answer is, yes you can keep it in your car without unloaded it or putting it in your trunk, etc... so long as Metro does not have any rules about it. And if you don't see any "No Guns" signs, I wouldn't bother asking them either.

TheEqualizer wrote:
With all the people in metro, I would rather not do that lest someone see me.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

You should probably consider getting a lockable metal pistol case with an integrated security cable. Perhaps something like this: http://www.gunvault.com/handgun-safes/microvault.html

The first thing that comes to mind is, buy a small, inexpensive foam lined case to keep in the car. Put the sidearm in the case before exiting the car, go straight to the trunk and lock it.
Another way of securing the sidearm is to put a long staple padlock through one of the chambers with the cylinder open. If the sidearm is stolen, the thief will not be able to use it immediately.
If you want to go even farther with your security plan, buy a plastic coated cable with loops made into the cable by the factory. Pass one end of the cable through or around something in the trunk and lock the sidearm to the cable by means of the same long staple lock through the chamber.
Another step, even farther, is to buy a steel box of some type that will accept a padlock. Lock the sidearm in the box with the cable fastening the box to something in the trunk. The idea is to make removal by unauthorized persons as difficult as possible.
The cost of a box, a good padlock and a cable is cheap insurance.
If a thief is adamantly intent on stealing your sidearm, there's not much you can do about it if you're not there. However, if you do the very best you can to secure it, the chances of it being stolen are lessened significantly.
I'm very sure others will post with alternative methods. Sort through the suggestions and pick the one that you feel best suits your situation.
I hope this helps you in some way.

LFS wrote:
But the short answer is, yes you can keep it in your car without unloaded it or putting it in your trunk, etc... so long as Metro does not have any rules about it. And if you don't see any "No Guns" signs, I wouldn't bother asking them either.

Since the Metro is not a private corporation, can they have rules about it? Since it's government owned wouldn't the prohibition have to be by statute?

[quote="Jim"]The first thing that comes to mind is, buy a small, inexpensive foam lined case to keep in the car. Put the sidearm in the case before exiting the car, go straight to the trunk and lock it.

I would do as Jim has stated above so that noone can get to the weapon without ripping off your trunk lid to get it.
Bill

SgtBill wrote:

Jim wrote:The first thing that comes to mind is, buy a small, inexpensive foam lined case to keep in the car. Put the sidearm in the case before exiting the car, go straight to the trunk and lock it.

I would do as Jim has stated above so that noone can get to the weapon without ripping off your trunk lid to get it.
Bill

Yes, but with most modern cars you can easily get to the trunk unless he take precautions to disable it (sometimes a key, sometimes you have to remove the fuse). The problem I would see with doing that, is anyone watching the lot (likely given the theft scenario) would be tipped off that his car had something valuable in it.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?p ... ber=274442

Secure-It Large Pistol Security Box 9-1/2" x 6-1/2" x 1-3/4" Steel Black

19.99 through the 31st at Midwayusa.

Comes with a cable that can go under your seat around the bars there.

They are in all my vehicles, works for guns or anything of value.

Great tips everyone.

I am definitely going to get a lock box or other device to place it in and then move it to the trunk and secure it.

I'll probably then put the box in an innocuous looking shopping bag so no one with prying eyes gets suspicious.

I assume if a gun gets stolen from a car and is used in a theft or murder that the owner is not responsible??

I guess that would be like suing Phillip Morris when someone dies of cancer from smoking a cigarette.

Thanks.

Dreamerx4 wrote:http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?p ... ber=274442

Secure-It Large Pistol Security Box 9-1/2" x 6-1/2" x 1-3/4" Steel Black

19.99 through the 31st at Midwayusa.

Comes with a cable that can go under your seat around the bars there.

They are in all my vehicles, works for guns or anything of value.

Just checked this out at Midway and it got really good reviews and the price can't be beat. It's a deterrent and does what it is supposed to do. Will be ordering one today.

Thanks for the tip.

TheEqualizer wrote:Great tips everyone.

I am definitely going to get a lock box or other device to place it in and then move it to the trunk and secure it.

I'll probably then put the box in an innocuous looking shopping bag so no one with prying eyes gets suspicious.

I assume if a gun gets stolen from a car and is used in a theft or murder that the owner is not responsible??

I guess that would be like suing Phillip Morris when someone dies of cancer from smoking a cigarette.

Thanks.

I think as long as you tried to secure it, and notified police as soon as you found it stolen, the whole "due diligence thing" you would be fine, of course you can be sued for almost anything nowadays.

If, however, it was not secured, ie: out in open, not locked, loaded etc... I think you may be held at least partially liable... thinking out loud as I am not an attorney... You are required to secure your firearms in the state of virginia from unauthorized persons, this includes children. If you have a firearm out where a child can get to it, you can be held responsible for their actions. So with this in mind, that is why I believe there could possibly be some liability assigned.

I would be curious as to "User's" thoughts.

I am very happy with the safes I gave a link for as well. I have them in each vehicle, they are very versatile. Not really a Safe, but definetly a deterrent to most smash and grabs. And Midway is a great place to do business with.

Dreamerx4 wrote:

TheEqualizer wrote:Great tips everyone.

I am definitely going to get a lock box or other device to place it in and then move it to the trunk and secure it.

I'll probably then put the box in an innocuous looking shopping bag so no one with prying eyes gets suspicious.

I assume if a gun gets stolen from a car and is used in a theft or murder that the owner is not responsible??

I guess that would be like suing Phillip Morris when someone dies of cancer from smoking a cigarette.

Thanks.

You are required to secure your firearms in the state of virginia from unauthorized persons, this includes children. If you have a firearm out where a child can get to it, you can be held responsible for their actions. So with this in mind, that is why I believe there could possibly be some liability assigned.

He does lock his car when he goes to work right?

How much does the victim of a crime have to do...

As I said in the rest of the post, I think there is enough grey area that as long as he is doing due diligence in securing it from unauthorized folks, he should be just fine.

If not, then I think there is reason to believe that some liability could be assigned to him.

How much??? I would believe that the "average person" litmus test would likely be used. Was car locked? Was it out of sight? Was it secured? etc.

Locking the car and leaving it on the seat would be an invitation in most places.

Not trying to be difficult, just saying that it is not I believe a clear cut yes or no as far as liability.

The Metro is an "authority" and as such is covered by the statute that says localities can't prohibit firearms. As long as you're not on the train when it goes into DC, I'm thinking you ought to be, well, legally defensible, anyway. (I haven't researched Metro regulations, and don't know offhand what their statutory authority is in Va. - though the Metro cops function as Virginia State Troopers when in Virginia Metro facilities.)

The statute requiring that you keep the gun locked when there's kids around simply says, "It shall be unlawful for any person to recklessly leave a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any child under the age of fourteen." So don't do that.

My first thought was that the OP is probably doing as well as he can, if he locks the car - I use the long-staple padlock method myself (I bought eight of them keyed alike so I don't have to mess with a bunch of different keys that all look alike). But at the same time, the worst thing you can do in a parking lot is be obvious about hiding a gun. And the most important thing is to lock the car.