anyone regularly carry a handgun in their truck? if so, where do you keep it? how accessible is it (e.g. locked or unlocked, within reach, etc.)? any pics?

i am required to carry a backup gun when off-duty (glock 27), but the wife doesn't like the idea of the gun sitting in the armrest/console thing (she's afraid of guns--go figure why she married me)

any suggestions (esp pics) would be greatly appreciated

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"flexible hips mean higher steps"

2001 F-150 Supercab XLT 4x4 5.4L Auto w/carpet delete, tow package, power adjustable pedals, CB and law enforcement scanner, Speedliner, Streamlight, Graco infant car seat

 

How about in the sunglasses? holder under the steering wheel at knee level? If that isn't big enough, you could try modifying it some how.

theone

 

In March of 1998 I was licensed by the state of Indiana to carry a concealed weapon. Ever since then I have always kept it in my holster under the middle part of the seat just behind the stick shift. I have never had a problem with it getting stuck or sliding out when braking hard. If I am in a rough neighborhood, I always bring it up and wedge it in between the 60/40 space just next to my leg and then cover it with my jacket or something. I carry a .40 Ruger P84 semi-automatic (large frame) just in case you were wondering. Hope this helps, Justin.

 

I am a concealed carry permit holder, and I routinely carry. Where I stow it when in the truck depends on what I am carrying at the time: my Colt Govt Model .45 wedges nicely in the seam between my seat and the center portion (40/20/40 split bench) and is easily accessible. If I am carrying my Govt Model .380, it is either in the glove box, under the center seat in a pistol rug, or in a kidney-carry holster on my person (frame is a little narrow to ride between the seats). Occasionally it might end up in the map pocket on the drivers door. The .380 is not as easy to get to as the .45, but still easy enough if needed.

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Y2K SD250 SC XLT, 4x4, 5.4L, Auto; SWB; Off Road Pkg; Towing Pkg; Torreador Red; Sliding Back Glass; Tinted Windows

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[This message has been edited by JDMnAR (edited 03-30-2001).]

 

CCW licensed in AZ---Ported .357 2" snub
in stealth fanny pac, lying on trans hump.

EVEN BETTER QUESTION! HOW HAS EVER PULLED A GUN TO PREVENT THE THEFT OF YOUR TRUCK, I DID.I DID.

I'll see if I can cut & copy it here. So good I was paid $75.00 by combat handgun magazine.

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2001 Lariat SCrew / Oxford White / Sunset Orange Pearl (House of Kolor)
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sorry. i apologize for not explaining properly before. if it's just me, it doesn't matter where the gun is. since i am both a cop and a concealed carry permit holder it doesn't matter where or how i carry it. however, the wife does not allow it to be free in the cab unless i am wearing it in the holster (which is darn rare--if i'm off-duty, why should i?) so the gun has to be accessible to me, but locked up so the kid doesn't get it (way too small now, but not for long). plus it just bothers her not having the gun locked up (you should see gun storage at home!)

if i were to rephrase the question it would be: what method have you used to store a handgun in you vehicle that allows it to be accessible yet secure?

sorry about that.

thanks.

 

We have concealed carry here in NC for liscensed owners. If you aren't liscensed you can carry, so long as it's in plain view. I have a holster on the front of my center console, high enough that the grip is very visible (and easily grabbed "if necessary").
I was pulled over once by a State Trooper, who are very definately no-nonsense kind of guys. I kept my hands on the wheel, and notified him immediately I was carrying. He saw my rig, asked for me to unlock the passenger door, whereupon he walked to the other side, opened door and removed my weapon while we had our chat. I was not ticketed for my driving infraction, thankfully. I was treated courteously, and was even thanked that I told him right away about my piece. When we were finished, he returned my weapon to the seat (again, from the pass. side) and he went back to his vehicle (from my pass. side as well). I carry a Beretta 9mm.

 

This happened in July of 1992

It was a "HOT" July day, at approximately 4:40pm. I had been doing some shopping at a local warehouse (Sam's club) type of store. As I left the store, pushing a cart with my purchases in it I was admiring my six-month-old pickup truck. But something just didn't look right. My passenger window was way too dark.
Just then the window shattered and my trucks burglar alarm went off. I started running, still with the cart of groceries. I ran around the rear of the truck just in time to see a Black Pontiac Gran Prix, with 2 people in it, leaving the area at a high rate of speed. I yelled to a passing female in a Ford mini-van to "Watch my cart, someone just tried to steal my truck, I'll be back".

I used the remote control from the alarm, to turn off the alarm and unlock the doors. I watched the Black Gran Prix head north out of the lot and onto Gilbert road. I gave chase in my truck. I saw the Black Pontiac turn left into another grocery store parking lot, I never lost visual contact. I observed the Gran Prix turn right down an aisle, I followed. As I pulled up alongside the Black Pontiac Gran Prix the passenger through open the door and exited the vehicle and started running away. I yelled for him to "Get back here". The driver was sliding across the seat to exit out of the passenger door too. At which time I upholstered a .380 semi-automatic pistol, chambered a round, and stuck it in the driver’s face and said "Don't you fu&*%ng move, or I will blow your brains all over this parking lot, stay right where you are". I exited my truck, looked in the direction where the first person had fled, he was gone. I told the second person (driver) to get out and get on the ground. He got out, but did not get on the ground, he just stood there and stared at me. The outside temperature was about 115 degrees, which made the temperature of the blacktop about 160-180 degrees. Again I told him to get on the ground, again he refused. I then took him by the hair and pulled him to the rear of our vehicles. I kicked his feet out from under him, and slammed his head to the ground. Then I knelt down and put my knee in the back of his neck, leaned over, stuck the barrel of the gun into his ear and told him, You have just Fu%&ed with the wrong Amigo!.

I had drawn quite a crowd by this time, I hollered for someone to call the Police. Then I noticed a Ford truck with a cellular antenna on it, and a male about to get in it. I asked him if he had a phone in his truck, he said yes, I asked him to call the Gilbert Police, I even gave him the telephone number.

A short time later, a Mesa Police Officer arrived on the scene (Code 3) He asked what was going on? By that time, I had stood up, removed the clip and the chambered round, and put the pistol in the back of my belt. I told him "Two guys tried to steal my truck, I caught one of them". I also told him I have a weapon in the back of my pants. He told me to go put the weapon in my truck and come back to where he was. As I was walking toward my truck, I could hear sirens coming from every direction and more officers were arriving on the scene.

We now had 5 Mesa and 3 Gilbert Squads on the scene. It seems that the call had came in as a off-duty police officer had a subject held at gunpoint, in a parking lot, unknown problem.
I was asked if I could describe the second subject that had gotten away, I said no. Just then two female witnesses spoke up and gave exact descriptions of him, both the same. Gilbert and Mesa Police searched the area looking for the second suspect who had run, but he was long gone by this time.

I found out the next day, that a Gilbert Officer was on his way home in his privately owned vehicle. He observed a male matching the description of the second subject involved in the attempted theft of my truck. Hitchhiking. He had his "walkie talkie" with him, and called for another Officer to come checkout this person he was watching. It turned out that he was the second subject, the one who ran away. He was placed under arrest and taken to the City jail.
I didn't have to use my weapon, but I am sure, if I didn't have one
I would have at least had a fist fight on my hands, maybe worse.



In Arizona it is legal to carry a handgun,if you have completed a Carry Concealed Weapons class. BUT if your ever stopped by the Police, the FIRST thing out of your mouth had better be, "I have a gun, right here".

P.S. Keep both hands on the steering wheel as you say those words.

 

XTRUKY--wow. my wife is from Tempe and i've watched the guys in action down there. suprised the first guy on the scene was pretty cool about it (although he may have thought you were a cop before he got the full skinny). what do you think of the maricopa sheriff?

MY DISCLAIMER for those reading XTRUKY's story:

be careful about your state's laws. in UT it is illegal to threaten someone with a firearm for attempting to steal your vehicle or the stuff in it. don't know about other states, but please be careful. not that i want someone messing with my truck. if it was my wife or kid...no question. my truck...no way. not worth the potential consequences (hitting a bystander, killing someone over a hunk of metal?, remorse, guilt, grief). there are circumstances when firearms are justified for protection, but (this is my opinion-->) generally that does NOT include protection of property.

again, check your local laws.

reminder, I started the topic with the intent to determine methods folks have used to secure handguns in their trucks for possible adaptation to my situation. i recognize that many good folks carry firearms in their vehicles legally, and am looking for suggestions how regarding how others have best secured a handgun.

thanks for letting me stand on the soapbox.

 

quickdraw, I've been working on a custom console for a while now and I'm just ab out ready to start building it. Basically I'm designing it so the gun isn't sitting RIGHT THERE but it isn't concealed either, and within easy reach. Unfortanetly in Colorado there is no current concealed carry permit system unless you have a legitimate reason (i.e. have a boyfriend that's stalking you and threatening to kill you repeatedly), but they do allow you to carry, as long as its not concealed. Honestly I'd rather carry and get busted and go to jail then not carry and get shot and killed. I have a niec truck and often drive through "shady" neighborhoods and have even had one of my previous vehicles shot at (my old 92 F-150, shot three times, I wasn't hit but I got the HELL Out of there!) and ever since then I've carried at least 50% of the time.

The console I am building goes in front of the stock console (I have a 2000 with the captains chairs and big ol console in between) and the gun will be between the two consoles. It's also going to serve as a cd radio base and possibly a ham radio at a later time, as well as storage for the misc stuff.

 

quickdraw -

How accessible do you feel it needs to be? If it is a matter of "gotta have it right now", then I might look at a locking pistol rug and leave the key in (or attached to) the lock. A locked glovebox would seemingly be out of the question, as you would either need a second key handy, or remove the key from your ignition, which is difficult at best to do while driving! I think most other options would hinder your ability to quickly bring your weapon to bear.

If it is more a matter of carrying simply because you are required to, then I would think a locked hardside single pistol case (either under the seat, in the glovebox, in the console, etc) would be your best bet.

Jeff

[I assume that you have looked at and ruled out the possibility of some of the newer trigger-lock type mechanisms.]

[This message has been edited by JDMnAR (edited 03-30-2001).]

[This message has been edited by JDMnAR (edited 03-30-2001).]

 

If you have a Galls catalog handy, they have a metal box that is remotely opened and has a key lock on it, I have mine under the back seat with the button up under the dash (i know where it is but anyone else would have to look hard to find it) You push the button and it pops open. or lock with the key. was about $79.00

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Folks, you need to check your local laws carefully. A reputable local gun store usually has all the answers. Your state might bar Concealed Carry unless you are first liscensed (after completing a class by permit). If not, your state may be an Open Carry state...........you can't CONCEAL a weapon on your person , but you can carry it openly in plain view. That means you can carry it in a holster on your hip, or flopping around on the front seat of your truck. When you reach your destination, you can then lock it in a box or slip it in the glove compt. In most states, it's not illegal to carry a weapon openly, and a quick check it easy to do. Obviously, if you're carrying openly, you've gotta develop the habit of secure stowage and removal at night, and learning to tell Officer Bob: "I'm carrying a weapon right over then, Officer........"

 

quickdraw -

Another option I saw last night in my Performance Products catalog - a 16guage locking steel drawer that installs underneath your front seat. Think it was $129.

Sundog -

In looking at the replies, it appears as if most respondents indicated that they already have a concealed carry permit (myself included) in their original reply. You are right in that people need to know the laws of their respective states, but I would assume if the licensing process in other states is similar to that in Arkansas, these people already know!

 

thanks for your input thus far. keep the responses coming. i have seen the gall's box several times and it may be a good alternative, but a little pricey (according to the wife). so i'm looking for a less expensive alternative.

to answer JDMnAR's question: in UT a cop has statewide jurisdiction and is sworn to act when a felony is committed in his presence. therefore, a firearm is required off-duty in the event that a felony is committed. meaning, i don't take my wife through the bad neighborhoods and we live in a nice part of town. however, since i am required to carry, i need to have a gun in the truck. but generally it will stay locked up. it will only be used if a felony is committed in my presence and i am required to act.

so far the most feasible option is the gall's box under the driver's seat. but i am looking for something less expensive, yet still out of reach of the wife or the kid. they don't need it, she's afraid of it, and the kid is too little.

any further suggestions will be greatly appreciated. your comments are, as always, invaluable.

BTW, in case anyone wonders, "quickdraw" is a reference to rock climbing equipment, not the old west's "fastdraw"