Is packing a gun big trouble??

[Brandon Goforth]

First, the best and only advice to give is to check out each state that you're going to be traveling in to find out what their laws are.

The bad thing about asking a question such as this in a non-gun forum is that you're going to get a lot of answers, and some may be from misinformed individuals.

Second, keeping a gun out on your seat is a VERY BAD idea. If a passing motorist sees it they'll probably call 911 on you. Also, if you do get pulled over (speeding, changing lanes w/ no signal, whatever) and a cop walks up and sees a gun out on the seat, you'll probably be taken out at gun point and cuffed until he/she figures out what is going on. Trying to cover it up will only make matters worse.

Getting a Concealed Weapons Permit or a Personal Protection Permit (or any variation of it) will probably be your best bet. It will show that you care about the law and you're not just some gun toting madman.

Oh, and for everyone's sake, take some classes on how to shoot. No one likes random bullets flying through the air.

You have every right to carry a handgun in your vehicle with a concealed carry permit, but at least in OK, it's not illegal to transport firearms including handguns in your vehicle without a permit...BUT you HAVE to keep the handgun in open sight, and yes, the seat is the best place for it, not hidden in the back, not under the seat, not in the glove box. It HAS to be in plain sight. If you get pulled over and you have a handgun in your vehicle you must notify the officer of this immediately, but you also have to do that even if you have a permit. I've been planning on getting a concealed carry permit myself for quite some time now and just haven't taken the time to do it, but I know a lot of people that have them, and this is some of the first things they talk to you about when you take the class. With a handgun, it must be in complete open view and unconcealed, and separate from the ammo. It's the law.

 

[david diehl]

Also remember, just because you have a permit in one state, dosen't mean you can carry it anywhere. Fourtunately I have never had an issue while chasing, but have had a few issues while at home that caused me to perform a search of the property while being armed.

 

[Brandon Goforth]

Oh, if I didn't have a CCW permit, I certainly wouldn't lay it on the seat. Actually, I wouldn't do that regardless of whether I have a permit or not. As has been stated already, someone will call you in and you could possibly face assault w/ deadly weapon charge if that someone chose to bend the story. Don't put yourself in that position. It should probably be kept in its case, unloaded, and locked in your trunk. Keeping it locked in your console--even if it's unloaded--could constitute carrying concealed. Please don't do that without a permit. You could go up before an "anti-second amendment" DA and judge and find yourself charged with a felony. Ugh.

Geo

You guys aren't listening to me though, it's against OK law to conceal a firearm without a permit, you MUST keep it in plain sight. It HAS to be in the open. Yeah, someone might see it if your car sits down low and it's easy to see what's in the seat when you're driving around, but it is illegal to hide it without a permit. That's the law and I didn't write it.

 

[Tim Stoecklein]

...I know Kansas does not have CCW...

I'm not stepping into this debate, but for the sake of correct information, you may want to dig a little deeper on this statement. Before moving from KS last fall, I'm almost certain they passed the law okay'ing CCW in KS. It should have taken effect last summer, or even the summer of '06.

 

[Dennis Sherrod]

I am a believer that any law abiding citizen that wants, should be able to carry a firearm for personal protection, but only as long as it is lawfully done.
I personally would recommend not trying to use the 2nd Amendment right as this is a highly controversal subject in the courts. The right of an individual to carry or keep a firearm according to the 2nd Amendment has only been upheld in a very small percentage of the District Federal Courts as the 2nd Amendment was originally written and intended to rightfully arm a "well regulated militia."
Check with the various states you intend to travel and follow the laws.
A few words of advice that may help save a life and not cause a lot of unnecessary troubles.
Do Not keep your firearm in the glovebox or center console if you carry any ID, or Vehicle papers in the same place. There has been many instances over the years where someone was stopped by the police and asked for the vehicle registration or proof of insurance and then had a gun pulled on them. As the person opened the glovebox or console to get these papers, the Officer saw the firearm and rightfully and understandably so pulled his weapon fearing there may be a confrontation. There was even an instance in the mid 80's in N. Florida where a state trooper shot and killed a State Representative who was stopped and then did what I just said above, yet his hand was on the pistol. It was later determined the vehicle papers requested were underneath the pistol. Possibly he was trying to move the pistol to get them or not, but that will never be known for sure.
If you do carry one in plain view and get stopped, I would highly recommend telling the Officer as soon as gets near you that you have a pistol in view, the entire time having your hands resting on the steering wheel.
I do not know all the states laws, but I know that MA. does not recognize any other state's permits and NY really frowns on the idea of someone carrying one. But again, check each state's laws.

 

[George Grant]

You guys aren't listening to me though, it's against OK law to conceal a firearm without a permit, you MUST keep it in plain sight. It HAS to be in the open. Yeah, someone might see it if your car sits down low and it's easy to see what's in the seat when you're driving around, but it is illegal to hide it without a permit. That's the law and I didn't write it.

As has been mentioned several times, every state has its version of gun laws. Take a look at these sites for further info:

http://www.handgunlaw.us/
http://carryconcealed.net/legal/reciprocity.php

Also, please check with your state officials. Here in Nebraska, the State Patrol administers the CCW program:

http://www.nsp.state.ne.us/findfile.asp?id2=252

Kansas has a much better site:

http://www.ksag.org/content/page/id/90

Geo

 

[Jay Cazel]

I'm not stepping into this debate, but for the sake of correct information, you may want to dig a little deeper on this statement. Before moving from KS last fall, I'm almost certain they passed the law okay'ing CCW in KS. It should have taken effect last summer, or even the summer of '06.

Yes Kansas does have CCW well it is called CCH....I took the class back in Jan 2007.

 

[Chris Lott]

You might be better off purchasing one of these. I talked with an LEO in my hometown, and these are perfectly legal, and you don't have to worry about killing someone if you use it.
http://www.taser.com/products/consumers/Pages/C2.aspx

 

[John Erwin]

You might be better off purchasing one of these. I talked with an LEO in my hometown, and these are perfectly legal, and you don't have to worry about killing someone if you use it.
http://www.taser.com/products/consumers/Pages/C2.aspx

Heheh the website shows a slideshow including somebody waiting in an air terminal.... somehow I don't think airport security would take too kindly to somebody trying to take one of these on-board..

 

[Jim Saueressig]

I carry a gun in my vehicle all the time, including chasing.
I had an attempted car jacking in Tulsa back when I was 17. It scared the living crap out of me and as soon as I was old enough to carry, I started.
One thing that has not been brought up is the injured animal scenerio. A few years ago while chasing, we hit a deer. The deer had broken legs and other injuries that would eventually kill it. We were out in the middle of nowhere and the animal was suffering greatly therefore I put it out of its misory with a .38 snub nose revolver. I would have felt terrible just leaving it there in pain, only to end up dead anyway.
I have gone to a Glock 27 (.40 compact) for my vehicle now and really like it - in case anyone is shopping guns.

Steve be very careful of that. I questioned that locally once and in that case you can be charged with poaching regardless of whether or not you hit the deer if some officer decided to do so. I would recommend letting law enforcement do that for legal reasons. Granted I would probably still kill the deer for humane purposes but it could really really land you in some trouble in the wrong circumstances.

Also for the main topic at hand yes leaving it out in the open can be a legal way to have your gun but it can land you in some bad situations with LEO's and not to mention if a thief is coming up to rob you and sees the gun just lying there he may just shoot you while you sleep to solve his problem of you being armed........ Remember thieves are often drugged or drunk and they will not be thinking like you.

Personally when I was driving a truck I wanted to carry a weapon whether it was concealed or not, sadly as a truck driver you lose some of your rights anyway and a firearm in a commercial truck was a serious federal offense so I dropped that idea. I do know that there have been some changes in the laws regarding a weapon out in the open as well since many of us old school gun owners used to have the back window gun racks with a few weapons and I have heard that even that is illegal in some places now.

Your damned if you do and your damned if you don't. The bottom line will end up being that you will be at risk for legal problems if you carry a gun. (welcome to the New America ) so its going to be a matter of whether you want to risk carrying a weapon in a case in the trunk or something while driving in order to secure your safety at night. Parking in well lit areas and common sense will alleviate most of the risks but sadly there is still that risk. For the record I am Pro Gun and well armed so I can tell you that being armed does intimidate some people and when its an LEO it can be a bad deal for you.

 

[David Drummond]

You might be better off purchasing one of these. I talked with an LEO in my hometown, and these are perfectly legal, and you don't have to worry about killing someone if you use it.
http://www.taser.com/products/consumers/Pages/C2.aspx

Or even good ol pepper spray (not the foam). I accidentally shot myself in the face on time putting mine back in the case and I thought my face was going to EXPLODE! Get shot with that, you won't be much of anything but bawling and slinging snot for an hour. Don't get the foam though, police noticed that subjects sprayed with that sometimes would grab a handful off their face and sling it back on them.

 

[Jim Saueressig]

I accidentally shot myself in the face on time putting mine back in the case and I thought my face was going to EXPLODE! Get shot with that, you won't be much of anything but bawling and slinging snot for an hour.

LMAO, Dave I have decided you are your own worst enemy. Luckily your pepper spray hasn't exploded on one of the occasions you are collecting lightning strike samples via your body while out chasing........ I am laughing so hard I am teared up because I can actually picture that scene and as funny as it would look it would really suck to be you....... LOL

 

[David Drummond]

Well that was years ago when I first got it and was bouncing in a bar. I quickly learned to be more careful with it. I don't carry it on my body though since those days, Being 6'2" and well over 200# I just generally don't have run ins with people.

 

[Jason Boggs]

Out at the prison where I work I carry pepper spray. I'm telling you, you don't want to get sprayed with that stuff. If you ever have, then you know what I mean.

 

[Darrin Rasberry]

This actually raises a very good question that I have been pondering for a few years now. Have any of you had an experience while chasing in which you became more concerned about another individual than the weather? I have had two encounters while chasing that have caused me to consider arming myself while chasing. Both of mine occured while I was on a public street or highway (not on private property) and involved a territorial local who didn't like the idea of me sitting near their property observing the weather. Both were armed when they confronted me. Both threatened me by making it clear that they were armed and telling me to leave. I complied because I refuse to be the first chaser to die from being shot in the face instead of tornadoes, lightning, gorilla hail, or floods.

I know they were on their home property, but I think this describes menacing, since they had no reasonable belief that you were committing a crime on or near their property nor that you were a threat to put them in danger.

Any presentation of a firearm except in self-defense or sales to another individual is generally menacing, which can be a felony in some cases. For you or anyone else, if you are on public property and someone from a nearby private property removes you under threat of a gun, they are committing a high misdemeanor or a felony, and should be turned into the police immediately.

As a solution for firearms, they are an extremely sensitive political topic, so I won't get into my views on them here. But practically, since stormchasing almost always necessitates crossing state borders while traveling or chasing (particularly for us Iowans) then the best solution is to carry pepper spray (although one should check individual state laws for regulation, see Wisconsin for example).