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Old January 31, 2013, 11:59 AM   #1
Corrections Cop
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CCW on Vacation

I have a question for you guys. I am going on vacation and I want to take my carry gun, but I was wondering the best way to keep it secure in a hotel room? I have a lock box in my car, the kind with the cable. Should I just keep it secured in my car or should I try and secure it the hotel room? We are going to take the kids to a indoor waterpark so I wont be carrying it for extended periods of time, just when we go to eat or leave the building. Any advice would be helpfull.
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Old January 31, 2013, 12:08 PM   #2
GuyM9
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I would NOT leave it in a hotel or motel room.
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Old January 31, 2013, 12:12 PM   #3
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Umm, why not just carry it? Unless you are going to a state that does not honor your CCW permit.

Edit: Just reread your op. I missed the waterpark thing. Yeah keep it in the lock box in your car and keep the lock box out of sight. I also say do not keep it in your hotel. You do not want a maid coming in and finding your pistol and deciding it would look better in their house.
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Old January 31, 2013, 12:21 PM   #4
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Lots of hotels have in room safes, that is the only way I would leave it in the room. Car safe is probably a better option.
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Old January 31, 2013, 12:30 PM   #5
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Thanks for th input guys. I was planning on keeping it in the car, but I was just wondering if thier was a better way.
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Old January 31, 2013, 12:35 PM   #6
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You can check ahead and see if your hotel has an in-room lockbox. Then get their policies of what amounts are covered in case of theft from the lockbox, and if there are any exceptions. Compare this to your car/homeowners insurance(depending on type of coverage).

Personally, even though neither situation is ideal, I'd favor the hotel room safe/lockbox, over a car lock box in an amusement park type parking lot. YMMV
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Old January 31, 2013, 03:44 PM   #7
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Hi Corrections, recommend you ...

go to the: www.mcrgo.org website and look at left menu for state reciprocity for MI CPL, and read what you might need to follow in the states you visit.

Some hotel safe are questionable, especially when I was in Hawaii for second honeymoon, the safe failed to open ten minutes after I was inside, due to dead battery. Of course, this was ten minute before the day tour was to start.

If the room safe is key lock then I might use it.

I'm hesitant about the portable lock box as you have, on the chance that your battery might be the power supply against the cable.

Maybe consider a installed safe??

Good luck and be safe!
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Old January 31, 2013, 04:43 PM   #8
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I sometimes run the cable of the lockbox around a bedframe in a hotel room. Perhaps I am wrong, but I think there would be less chance of hotel staff attacking a lockbox than there is having a car broken into in the large unsupervised parking lots of water parks and amusement parks.
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Old January 31, 2013, 04:46 PM   #9
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The cable lock bow you mentioned is cheese. I had one in my truck until it was broken into one night. They tried to cut the cable and could not, but were able to pry the EMPTY box open with whatever tools they had on them.

I vote *on* body carry at all times (you may have to sit out the waterpark for your families sake) at *all* times.

Time to man up...or leave it at home.
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Old January 31, 2013, 05:02 PM   #10
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When I am faced with this type of issue, I always place my handgun in the trunk wrapped up next to the spare tire. Never, Never in the hotel room as they have master keys to the safe....
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Old January 31, 2013, 05:10 PM   #11
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I think I'll just keep it in the car hidden in the lock box, or just leave it at home. I'm not going to sacrifice time with my kids just so i can carry. Thanks for all the help guys.
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Old January 31, 2013, 05:20 PM   #12
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I deal with this all the time in my travels and have no issues using an in room safe if available or the safe deposit box that all usually have behind the desk. If no in room safe and I am just going down to the gym I will sometimes put a handcuff through the trigger guard to the bed frame. I have done this for 25 years all around the country without a single issue.
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Old January 31, 2013, 07:09 PM   #13
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use the in room safe
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Old February 2, 2013, 08:19 PM   #14
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You could also Hand the box to your wife when it's your turn to ride the water slide with the kids...
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Old February 2, 2013, 09:02 PM   #15
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Get this otterbox, its big. Put your gun in(UNLOADED!) wallet/keys/phones etc... If anyone asks, says you have keys/wallet/phones inside and don't trust their safes to store while you waterpark.
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Old February 2, 2013, 09:24 PM   #16
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Quote:
anuary 31, 2013, 12:35 PM #6
sigcurious
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You can check ahead and see if your hotel has an in-room lockbox. Then get their policies of what amounts are covered in case of theft from the lockbox, and if there are any exceptions. Compare this to your car/homeowners insurance(depending on type of coverage).

Personally, even though neither situation is ideal, I'd favor the hotel room safe/lockbox, over a car lock box in an amusement park type parking lot. YMMV
This.

Keeps you free of worry and the PITA of bringing a gun into the relatively safe waterpark, yet it's readily available for night time or any other activities you do.
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Old February 3, 2013, 11:06 AM   #17
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I am a manager in the hospitality biz

Tell the hotel that you want no maid service. No one but you in the room no issues.
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Old February 3, 2013, 11:30 AM   #18
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There are several companies that sell supplemental locks for hotel room safes. I'd purchase one of those. If you think it's prudent, then when you leave the room, you may want to take the ammunition with you.
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Old February 3, 2013, 11:39 AM   #19
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I put mine in a camera bag and put it in the hotel safe. Most will have a safe at the front desk. They don't have to know what is in the bag.
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Old February 3, 2013, 12:54 PM   #20
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I often travel internationally, where guns are not permitted legally and I have a surefire flashlite in 180 lumens that I carry. Its not a gun mind you, but still makes me feel better having it than not.

In hawaii, where mase/pepper spray is illegal, I carry my flashlight and my dive knife.

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Old February 3, 2013, 01:27 PM   #21
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Seems like you're asking an open ended question.

It depends...

It the destination is an indoor water park such as Great Wolf Lodge, leave your pistol gun in your luggage or room. Car is a no-no.

If you're thinking a roadside economy, no-tell, mo-tail, you and yours are more vulnerable when you are wrangling kiddos and gear from the car to behind the door of your assigned room. Again, car storage isn't a great idea.

As to the water attractions, we have a full plate keeping up with key cards, credit cards, ID, and kiddos w/o considering side arms.

The safest place for side arms is on your side. Just maybe not in a water park.

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Old February 3, 2013, 02:44 PM   #22
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I work out of town quite often, I have learned that the "Do not disturb" sign is a great way to keep everyone out of the room. But the safest place for my gun is with me!
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Old February 3, 2013, 03:58 PM   #23
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You could contact the waterpark ahead of time and ask if they have a lockbox in the security office. Me and a Police Officer friend of mine ran into a similar issue when we visited an attraction in Atlanta. We both carry 24/7. When we got our tickets we asked the security supervisor about it and he gladly escorted us to the office where they had lockboxes with keys to deposit them in. It actually is pretty common from my understanding. I didn't like being unarmed but I felt much safer with my pistol in their office than in the car or the hotel. Maybe the Water Park has a similar arangement? If they authorize it just keep the name of who authorized it, bring a pistol lock and you're good to go!
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Old February 3, 2013, 04:41 PM   #24
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If the state honored your out of state CCW. Alabama has a website listing the states they have a reciprocity agreement with. As to storing it at night, what is wrong about under your pillow?
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Old February 3, 2013, 07:56 PM   #25
Hansam
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Get a Glock and an ankle holster. Then wear the gun on you even IN the water park. After all they're indestructible.

Ok seriously though as others have said use whatever lock box/safe is available in your room and also ask for no maid service till after you've checked out.

Have fun and hopefully you won't find yourself needing your gun while at the water park with your family.
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