Covert Mission
New member
Jeff Thomas:
re: "If I have my handgun unloaded, and in a locked safe on the floor behind my driver's seat, is it legal to have a loaded magazine in my console? I just bought a great Mossberg safe, so I can store my firearm with a bit more security for those few times when I just can't take it with me."
I just finished reading book called "How to Own a Gun (in CA) and Stay out of Jail". Very good. There is a section called "Locked container in a motor vehicle". The author, an attorney, says that if the gun is a) unloaded, and b) locked in the trunk or in a locked container other than the utility or glove compartment, and c) the ammunition/clip is not in the same container, you are OK. He gives an example of a workaround, but doesn't exactly go so far as to suggest it: you could have the gun in a locked briefcase, with the mag on the seat in plain sight next to it.
A cop friend suggested this: a briefcase with a dial combination lock can hold the gun on the seat while driving. You could go so far as to keep the case unlocked, and if stopped easily reach over without looking and spin the dial, locking the case. I am not sure if it would be ok to have the mag on you, in plain view.The ammunition can't be attached to the gun, or in the same case....seems ok to wear it.
The CA penal code he cites is 12026.1, which you can look up on the CA DOJ website.
PS: how do you like the Mossberg safe? It looks nice in the ads i've seen. Is yours bolted to the car?
re: "If I have my handgun unloaded, and in a locked safe on the floor behind my driver's seat, is it legal to have a loaded magazine in my console? I just bought a great Mossberg safe, so I can store my firearm with a bit more security for those few times when I just can't take it with me."
I just finished reading book called "How to Own a Gun (in CA) and Stay out of Jail". Very good. There is a section called "Locked container in a motor vehicle". The author, an attorney, says that if the gun is a) unloaded, and b) locked in the trunk or in a locked container other than the utility or glove compartment, and c) the ammunition/clip is not in the same container, you are OK. He gives an example of a workaround, but doesn't exactly go so far as to suggest it: you could have the gun in a locked briefcase, with the mag on the seat in plain sight next to it.
A cop friend suggested this: a briefcase with a dial combination lock can hold the gun on the seat while driving. You could go so far as to keep the case unlocked, and if stopped easily reach over without looking and spin the dial, locking the case. I am not sure if it would be ok to have the mag on you, in plain view.The ammunition can't be attached to the gun, or in the same case....seems ok to wear it.
The CA penal code he cites is 12026.1, which you can look up on the CA DOJ website.
PS: how do you like the Mossberg safe? It looks nice in the ads i've seen. Is yours bolted to the car?