CCW Car Storage - How to secure your weapon in an automobile

[Experimentalist]

I think Palmaris was referencing the CA DOJ security container roster. Not the CA DOJ handgun roster.

I believe the Governor recently signed legislation mandating storage of firearms within a security container on the CA DOJ approved container list, with some exceptions.

 

[SomeOne]

I don’t think those are legal in California for gun storage. California wants them locked in the trunk of your car or in the case of an SUV or truck as far back to the rear, locked/secured and out of reach.

It must be in a locked container, but not necessarily in the trunk.

 

[Rickvs]

I have a locking container attached via aircraft cable to a support of the back seat in my pickup. I just make sure that I can discretely place or retrieve my firearm when needed. It is either covered by the back seat when down or a moving blanket when the seat is folded up.

 

[SheepDog45]

Console vault is good. I second that

 

[Mash43rd]

A little late to the party, but CRPA has a very thorough 3 page document written by CRPA president Chuck Michel authored regarding gun storage in unattended vehicle.

https://crpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Info-Bulletin-Storing-Handguns-In-Vehicles.pdf

A lot of misinformation in online forums and even CCW classes on this subject. I would tend to trust Chuck's analysis over anyone else's. Hope this helps someone who may be looking for answer to this question.

 

[Dvrjon]

The Michel and Associates article provides a deep dive into this, but the first subdivision of the gun storage in vehicles statute is pretty succinct:

25140. ​

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), a person shall, when leaving a handgun in an unattended vehicle, lock the handgun in the vehicle’s trunk, lock the handgun in a locked container and place the container out of plain view, lock the handgun in a locked container that is permanently affixed to the vehicle’s interior and not in plain view, or lock the handgun in a locked toolbox or utility box.

The statute (Ca PEN 25140) goes on to discuss what those particular aspects entail. Two of the big take-aways are: 1. the container need not be attached to the vehicle and, 2. the firearm need not be unloaded.

 

[Woodman500]

I tried the console vault, but even for my Hellcat Pro, it was small. I went with a lock box from Harbor Freight

https://www.harborfreight.com/personal-portable-security-safe-64079.html

 

[EM2...]

To reiterate the OP...
OP has a CCW
OP with CCW can carry while traveling in car WITHOUT need to lock up the pistola
OP gets out of car to go into CCW prohibited location, NOW OP has need to lock up pistola. 18 USC or whatever is not applicable.

OP is asking how and by what means to lock up pistola without Karen taking notice


I utilize a lock box with cable tether located under driver's seat, accessible from rear seat. Not enough space under my seat to be reachable while in driver's seat.
I have never had Karen take notice, usually she is too busy picking her nose or telling other people how to park.
Sometimes I will remove my pistol & holster while seated, and place it in the back before I get out, then open back door and lock it up.
After carrying daily for almost 20 years I have learned that NOBODY is paying any attention to a middle/oldish aged white dude with a pot belly.

 

[EM2...]

The Michel and Associates article provides a deep dive into this, but the first subdivision of the gun storage in vehicles statute is pretty succinct:

The statute (Ca PEN 25140) goes on to discuss what those particular aspects entail. Two of the big take-aways are: 1. the container need not be attached to the vehicle and, 2. the firearm need not be unloaded.

Thanks for that code section, mostly seems like common sense anyway.

 

[NorCalBusa]

Thanks for that code section, mostly seems like common sense anyway.

That's why it caught notice- common sense in a California code??? Must have been hacked.

 

[kdub1290]

This has been the best source I’ve found for information about handgun safes.

Handgun Safes | Handgun Safe Research

HandgunSafeResearch.com is a security-testing resource that evaluates firearm safety devices.

www.handgunsaferesearch.com

Unfortunately, anything that isn’t actually bolted down is not that difficult to remove from the vehicle. Bolting a lock box down makes it more difficult to access while seated in the vehicle, so it’s kind of a catch 22.

 

[EM2...]

I view my EDC CCW as a tool, not an heirloom, so bolting down a box is not important to me at all.
My goal is to do what I can within reason and move on.

 

[Dvrjon]

Thanks for that code section, mostly seems like common sense anyway.

It started out being focused only on the theft of guns left in vehicles owned/used by LEOs but it ultimately resolved a long-standing question on “storage” vs. “transport” in a vehicle. Up to this point, the Code was silent on the issue of storage). It also resolved the issue of after-market containers for firearms not being included in the prohibition against using the “utility container” (center console) in a vehicle for storage of a firearm. The Code now allows the use of a “locked container that is permanently affixed to the vehicle’s interior”. Later input resulted in the locked tool box or utility box to cover pickup trucks.

That's why it caught notice- common sense in a California code??? Must have been hacked.

The author received and used input from the firearms community explaining the need for the clarification of the utility container, not requiring the firearm be unloaded (safety issues), and not requiring the case be bolted down (cable locks on the case can deter theft).

 

[Jimi Jah]

I drive a Jeep Wrangler so no locking trunk.
I installed a locking vault under the driver's seat. Works great, legal here.

 

[guncurious]

I don't remember, in this situation where you need to lock your CCW in the car does it need to be unloaded first? I know for guns that are not on your permit they must be unloaded but is there an exemption for guns on the permit?

 

[Dvrjon]

I don't remember, in this situation where you need to lock your CCW in the car does it need to be unloaded first? I know for guns that are not on your permit they must be unloaded but is there an exemption for guns on the permit?

This is answered twice in recent posts (33 and 26).

Transportation of firearms requires them to be unloaded unless they are on a CCW. The caveat here is that you can only carry 2 CCW guns at a time, so if you are transporting other CCW guns, they must be unloaded and locked up under the transport rules.

General storage of the firearm does not require unloading as CA PEN 25140 is silent on the matter.

Rules for schools are more constraining.

 

[xblax619]

to add on to the last: the firearm must be unloaded if there are other occupants in the car if u were to leave the vehicle, i.e. u step out of the vehicle when getting gas leaving the occupants in the vehicle with a loaded firearm.

 

[NATEWA]

LifePod | Vaultek Safe

vaulteksafe.com

 

[tundraboomer]

Too bad the other site isn't working worth a crap. Librarian had a very detailed, California-specific thread on this topic posted there.

When I did my research on this I recall that neither the glove box, nor the center console was legal but a locking container (safe) inside either was acceptable. I ended up mounting a small safe inside the cavernous center console of my pick-up. Not very convenient and useless if you need your piece in a hurry. But legal (at the time anyway).

 

[Dvrjon]

Too bad the other site isn't working worth a crap. Librarian had a very detailed, California-specific thread on this topic posted there.

When I did my research on this I recall that neither the glove box, nor the center console was legal but a locking container (safe) inside either was acceptable. I ended up mounting a small safe inside the cavernous center console of my pick-up. Not very convenient and useless if you need your piece in a hurry. But legal (at the time anyway).

PC 25140, discussed above, is still in force.