Truck gun

As far as a long gun being secure while in the car or truck (or trunk), several manufactures offer very secure hard steel lock-boxes of all sizes and shapes to fit the interior dimensions of your vehicle. Most, if not all, of the larger heavier units come with their floor bottoms pre-drilled for bolting them to the floor or sidewalls of the vehicle.

Once upon a time I installed a Tuffy lock-box in the rear of a Jeep. It was roughly 3.5 feet square with a lockable sliding "drawer" that you pulled out to access the contents. Resting in the floor of the Jeep, the Tuffy unit was about 12"-14" high. When closed, the drawer's handle was, maybe, an inch & a half-to-two inches from the closed tailgate of the Jeep. So you couldn't even get to the lock on the Tuffy's drawer without first breaking through the Jeep's (locked) tailgate and setting off the car alarm.

I also disguised the top and sides of the Tuffy unit with sections of carpet that matched the texture and color of the Jeep's carpet ... Anyone passing along side the vehicle and looking through the (tinted) glass for something valuable left in plain sight would've had difficulty distinguishing the shape of the Tuffy unit from the interior, at least on a quick glance, because the carpeting worked to make it somewhat less obvious what it was.

The usable interior space of the Tuffy easily allowed for storing handguns, mags, ammunition, other valuables, etc., as well as the separated upper/lower receivers of an AR (optics mounted & pre-zero-ed of course). As I recall, my 5.56 SBR fit in there very nicely without need for breakdown (if positioned correctly).

Never had a problem, ... although I never left my Jeep parked overnight in high-crime/gang-infested neighborhoods either.

Just FYI gang, ... ;)
 
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If you are a parent with a teenage driver or an unlicensed (concealed carry) person might also drive your vehicle, again depending on your state laws, you've got a loaded handgun in a vehicle for them to snag a felony. There's also potential situations out of your control when a friend or family member simply must be forced to take or move your vehicle for you, if you are otherwise "out of service" for whatever reason. Or even a simple situation where you have passengers in your vehicle AND you choose to or need to exit your vehicle.

Definitely depends on state laws with regards to possession, etc.

Are these scenarios a "long shot" ? Sure, you could argue that. Are these scenarios more or less likely then you needing a SECOND packed-away handgun beyond the one you are always carrying on person, every day?

So that's the legal angle. You've also got the theft angle... and if it's stowed well, WHEN might you even actually notice it is missing? Again, getting stolen from a vehicle -- how likely? (I don't know how likely but MORE likely than you "needing a second gun")

Another angle: your stowed gun... how's your climate? Temperature and humidity swings? Is your gun going to rust or corrode? I'm not worried about the pretty slide, I'm curious about internal bits, maybe a firing pin lock or linkage? How about your ammo, good to go after being forgotten over three seasons?

Again, it's likely "okay", but which is more likely... corrosion trouble/failure or you needing a second handgun?

My answers are not THE answers but they make sense to me (in Ohio.) Someone else may certainly have a different answer to the "truck gun?" question.
 
My answer to "the truck gun question":

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I don't understand all the hoopla over having truck guns myself, but I live in Texas where it's commonplace. I have a gun or two in my vehicles most days...but then I head out to the woods most days, which a lot of folks don't. I don't leave guns in the cars at night normally, but as long as a guy locks up his vehicles he is not the person breaking any laws (leastways in normal states).
 
I guess I have a different definition of truck gun than many others. I live in a very rural part of California(the part colored red, not blue). It's much more like Arizona and Texas than San Francisco and Los Angeles to the south.(the folks down there aren't allowed to carry concealed or otherwise, anything.
When I used the term "truck gun", I was referring to the firearms I have with me while I'm out and about, not ever stored in the vehicle. As far as someone using my vehicles, never happens, ever! If my grandsons want a rig to drive, they can use the quads. If some one is brave enough to come up the 1/4 mile drive uninvited, and sneak past a 110 LB. dobie, for a 25 yr old Jeep , "good luck amigo". There is certainly nothing in that old rig worth a trip to the nearest hospital.(22 miles away)
Only with a CCW permit can you carry any loaded gun in a vehicle in California on a public road. Any gun you carry must be listed on your License to carry, our Sheriff allows five different guns. The county Sheriff has all sway over who gets a CCW in California, and if he wants to, let a city police Dept have a say as well. It's right in the state constituition, thank the Lord .f I suppose I could list my model 94, but I wouldn't be able to conceal it and it must be concealed. Laws don't have to make sense, they're just the law..
If you don't have a CCW in the Golden State, all firearms must be unloaded and locked in a case in your trunk. If you do, you can have up to fine loaded guns on or with you, as long as they're under 50 cal.and hold less than 10 rds in the magazine. This democratic legislature just keeps getting crazier and crazier.
 
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If you were to get in an accident or have an unplanned "medical event", your strict rule about nobody EVER driving your vehicle could change.

Again -- I would agree this would be rare. And again, either far less rare than needing a second handgun in addition to your daily carry.
 
My truck is equipped with a truck gun 24/7, I have carried concealed since joining a PD in 1963 and had a vehicle pistol all that time also. My concealed pistol is always concealed (person or vehicle) unlike others I know who seem to think those about you should know you are packing.
Many vehicles here in the Great Northwest contain truck guns, across the river in Idaho I think it is unaacceptable to not have personal and vehicle weapons at all times.
My truck is garaged unless I am using it and I am the only one who uses it. When it is serviced I simply remove the pistol.
 
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