CCW or leave it in the car?

Firepower! · July 19, 2009, 10:48 AM

Hi
If you can legally CCW in your locality, would carry the weapon on your person or leave it in the car?

I am asking this question because I see many folks leaving their weapon in the car even when they have the permit to CCW. It is mostly because either they think the odds of needing one is low or just for comfort.

What is your opinion on this issue? Does your locality influence your decision?

Regards

lockedcj7 · July 19, 2009, 10:58 AM

I have a permit but there are limits on the places we can lawfully carry in our state. There are also some federal laws about places we can't carry. In addition, our state allows businesses to post very specific signage indicating that CC is not permitted. If we ignore those rules and get caught, we can lose our permit, pay a fine and/or possibly be sent to jail depending on which rule we break.

I prefer to obey the law as much as possible, even if I don't agree with it. Because of that, I'm forced to leave my weapon in the car often. If I can legally carry it into the establishment, then I do.

hoytinak · July 19, 2009, 11:00 AM

I do both. I keep one in my truck with a couple spare mags 24/7 and when I'm outta the house I'm CCing also.

Kyo · July 19, 2009, 11:01 AM

I carry everywhere I can legally for a reason. No idea why someone would carry only part of the time unless its the law/work issue

bigghoss · July 19, 2009, 11:02 AM

I carry on my person wherever I can legally do so. when I got the the post office I leave it in the car. I don't take it to work at all because I'm not allowed to bring weapons on post, even though when I get to work they issue me an m16 and m9 beretta.

m&p45acp10+1 · July 19, 2009, 11:03 AM

Mine goes where I go, there are times when I leave it in the car if I can not legaly carry it into where I am going. That is a very short list of places that if I go there it is a quick in and out thing. My girlfriend sometimes leaves hers in the car because she knows that I have mine on me. (Like the times when she is dressed to kill. That dress leaves no place to hide anything on her body.

No complaints from me on that one)

Re4mer · July 19, 2009, 12:41 PM

I don't agree with leaving guns in the car, however if you are forced to for some unforeseen reason make sure to get a good car safe. Nothing would be worse than coming back to your car to find that your gun has be stolen.

Shadi Khalil · July 19, 2009, 04:31 PM

I hate to leave me sunglasses in my car, let alone my CCW.

Tucker 1371 · July 19, 2009, 04:41 PM

My grandfather has a carry permit but leaves it in the car... I don't get it but I've never asked him about it either.

MLeake · July 19, 2009, 05:46 PM

... some people are worried more about areas they transit than the areas where they actually spend time.

This assumes people leave it in the car when the law doesn't require them not to carry.

lockedcj7 · July 19, 2009, 05:48 PM

It's not very likely that anyone is going to break into my vehicle looking for valuables. It's a ten-year-old truck with over 200K mi. and it shows. It doesn't have fancy rims, GPS, I-pod, fuzzbuster, or even an aftermarket radio. There's always half a bag worth of trash in the floorboards and I don't leave anything valuable in plain sight. It's a rare occasion for me to be out after dark and I pretty-much keep to low-crime areas. All that said...

I haven't really considered getting a safe for my vehicle up 'till now but I probably will. It was illegal to have my CCW in my vehicle at work but now it's legal. I'm thinking about a vehicle safe to add some liability protection for myself and to add some cushion between me and my bosses should it ever be discovered. (Even though it's newly legal and we don't have a policy banning it, I still don't think it would be warmly received.)

Stevie-Ray · July 19, 2009, 06:48 PM

Only time I leave it locked up in the car is when I have to by law.

mwar410 · July 19, 2009, 06:53 PM

I really hate to leave a loaded handgun in the car when I'm not allowed to carry. I just don't go where I can't legally carry, unless I leave the house unarmed, it is a dilema.

sidaemon · July 19, 2009, 09:59 PM

Personally, I feel I'm far more likely to need the gun outside the car than in it, so it comes with me unless its illegal for me to carry.

My work doesn't allow me to even have a gun in my car while parked on the property. I don't like it, but I obey it. If I go out after work, I go home first pick up my .45 and carry it.

Zac.

Nnobby45 · July 19, 2009, 10:10 PM

When I made the self commitment to be armed for self defense, it meant be armed. Didn't mean just carry until the novelty wore off and it wasn't fun anymore. It didn't mean play guessing games with re: to where I thought I might need it, or am I more or less likely to need it in the car or out?

For some CCW licensee's, that "commitment" amounts to "criminal assault roulette"--in other words, not much at all.

If I have to disarm myself to go into a building, that's what the lock box in my car is for---so I can immediately rearm myself and go about my business. For those who feel that they might as well be disarmed the whole day because one place on their schedule precludes them from being armed, then that's their call. Not mine.

rickyjames · July 19, 2009, 11:02 PM

i don't mean to hijack the thread but the topic begs another question. when you CC do you use a strap on holster or a slip on quick detachable holster? it seems many of the most favorite holsters thread on the belt rather than the quick detach type. what are the favorite quick detachable holsters? maybe the type of holster or the comfort of the holster has a bearing on way people either choose to wear all the time or leave the gun in the car.

**Frank Ettin** · July 20, 2009, 12:20 AM

Whenever I legally can carry, I do carry. Most of the time when I need to leave my gun in the car because I'm going somewhere I can't carry it, I just leave my holster on. I usually won't be gone long, and I use a Milt Sparks VM2 IWB holster so it's not too obvious, and it's still covered. Of course it has snapping straps if I want to take it off.

Nnobby45 · July 20, 2009, 04:03 AM

Quote:

I usually won't be gone long, and I use a Milt Sparks VM2 IWB holster so it's not too obvious, and it's still covered.

The VM2 is one of my favorites and I wear one often. It can be unsnapped quickly. I always stick the holster and mag. pouch in my vest, so that, say, when I'm done with the Dr., etc., my gear is back on after a quick trip to the bathroom-- or in the stairwell if necessary. Just need to get my pistol and mag.'s out of my car lock box and quickly re-arm.

A 642 BUG normally accompanies me for such occasions, hidden in my vest (not at the gym), and the vest is always with me. Had an Xray tech take my vest once to hang it up. She said "wow that's heavy what's in there a gun just lay down over here Mr. Wells."

I've been putting a holster and mag pouch on in the gym for 15 years with people around me. If anyone noticed, they didn't say a word. Can be done very unobtrusively with your body turned away just right.

The snaps, if they fit properly are for taking the holster off quickly. Not for snapping around belt to put back on unless you like fighting it.

Snap loops, then insert holster in pants in proper position. Don't skip belt loops or snap loops.

The Blade Tech combo with Tech Lok on the other side, is also quick on and off for SureFire and mag.

Another holster I like has a slotted pad and no snaps. It's almost as fast on and off.

sakeneko · July 20, 2009, 06:22 AM

My first reaction to this post was, "Huh?" I can't imagine leaving a weapon, especially a loaded weapon, unwatched in a locked car regardless of permit status -- guns are worse theft magnets than laptop computers! But I live in a state where carry is legal most places, even in banks or restaurants that serve alcohol, so I'm rarely in a situation where I can't legally carry.

If I am going somewhere where I can't carry, I either leave the gun with my husband at home or, if he won't be home, lock it up somewhere safe. When I travel to California for work, for example, open carry is either illegal or inadvisable most places where I go and so I don't take the gun with me. When we both are traveling in California, we lock all of our guns up, not at home, but in a storage facility that has secure storage for guns. While the guns are insured, neither of us is willing to risk having them stolen and used for crime.

Unless I am going somewhere where carry is illegal, though, I carry it with me. That's what it is for.

TailGator · July 20, 2009, 07:32 AM

I'm in the "wear it wherever it's legal" crowd, but I'm not the boss of OP's grandpa.

Quote:

do you use a strap on holster or a slip on quick detachable holster

I use an IWB with snap-closing belt loops, but I don't take my holster off when I go into an airport or post office. I secure the gun in the car and leave the holster in place. I figure if I am dressed appropriately to conceal a gun, the empty holster should be concealed at least as well. And even if someone is sharp enough to make the holster, I am not aware that empty holsters are illegal anywhere. When I get back to my car, it is much easier to holster the pistol than to reposition the holster from scratch.

rantingredneck · July 20, 2009, 08:02 AM

I carry everywhere legal and I follow my work firearms policy.

What that means is if I go in my office, in a bank, restaurant that serves beer, movie theater, county or state gov't building, and a few other places, it stays behind in my truck in a locked floor safe.

I can't go onto the grounds of a school or post office, or some other gov't locations with one even in the car.......

When I do have to go to the PO, I use the one downtown near my office where there is on street parking nearby. When I have to go to my daughter's school, I either make my wife meet me at her mom's house (1 mile away) and we leave my truck there and take her car, or I park my truck at my church which is directly across the street from my daughter's school. When she moves to middle school in a couple years I'll need a new plan......

In addition to the gun I'm usually carrying (most often a pocket .380 or .38), I keep an 8+1 .45ACP with two spare mags locked in my truck in a safe.

Double Naught Spy · July 20, 2009, 08:39 AM

Lots of people who have permits either don't carry, usually don't carry, or carry extremely rarely. A lot of folks just like having the option to do so.

You are right. Many don't carry because they don't feel that there is much likelihood of attack. Others don't do it because it is inconvenient for them.

The bottom line is that not everyone with a permit is vigilant, nor do they want to be.

As for me, I carry whenever I can.

hoytinak · July 20, 2009, 08:43 AM

You also have the types (my sister is one) that doesn't have a CHL, doesn't plan on getting one but keeps a loaded, concealed handgun in her car within easy reach (which is legal here).

I've tried to talk her into getting her CHL, even offered to pay for everything but she just doesn't want to. At least she keeps one in her car though, I guess it's better than nothing.

stephen426 · July 20, 2009, 09:30 AM

I bought a Kahr MK9 and it is small enough to pocket carry. I just place my wallet in front of it to break up the outline. I carry a lot more than I used to since it is so cncealable and reasonably comfortable. I guess that's why people say it's better to have a mouse gun on you than a cannon at home. I'm planning on getting PM9 or PM40 though since the MK gets pretty heavy.

CWPinSC · July 20, 2009, 10:59 AM

The mess is hitting the fan everywhere and NO place is truly "safe". If I leave my home, I'm armed. Period. End of story.

If I have it and don't need it, cool. But if I need it and don't have it, it'll be the last mistake I make.

July 19, 2009, 10:48 AM	#1
Firepower! Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2008 Posts: 2,109	CCW or leave it in the car? Hi If you can legally CCW in your locality, would carry the weapon on your person or leave it in the car? I am asking this question because I see many folks leaving their weapon in the car even when they have the permit to CCW. It is mostly because either they think the odds of needing one is low or just for comfort. What is your opinion on this issue? Does your locality influence your decision? Regards

July 19, 2009, 10:58 AM	#2
lockedcj7 Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2007 Posts: 1,215	I have a permit but there are limits on the places we can lawfully carry in our state. There are also some federal laws about places we can't carry. In addition, our state allows businesses to post very specific signage indicating that CC is not permitted. If we ignore those rules and get caught, we can lose our permit, pay a fine and/or possibly be sent to jail depending on which rule we break. I prefer to obey the law as much as possible, even if I don't agree with it. Because of that, I'm forced to leave my weapon in the car often. If I can legally carry it into the establishment, then I do. __________________ To a much greater extent than most mechanical devices, firearms are terribly unforgiving of any overconfidence, complacency or negligence.

July 19, 2009, 11:02 AM	#5
bigghoss Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2006 Location: Pueblo, Colorado Posts: 2,664	I carry on my person wherever I can legally do so. when I got the the post office I leave it in the car. I don't take it to work at all because I'm not allowed to bring weapons on post, even though when I get to work they issue me an m16 and m9 beretta. __________________ I don't collect guns, I accumulate them.

July 19, 2009, 04:41 PM	#9
Tucker 1371 Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2008 Location: East TN Posts: 2,649	My grandfather has a carry permit but leaves it in the car... I don't get it but I've never asked him about it either. __________________ Sgt. of Marines, 5th Award Expert Rifle, 237/250 Expert Pistol, 382/400. D Co, 4th CEB, Engineers UP!! If you start a thread, be active in it. Don't leave us hanging. OEF 2011 Sangin, Afg. Molon Labe

July 19, 2009, 05:46 PM	#10
MLeake Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2007 Location: Outside KC, MO Posts: 10,128	May just be that... ... some people are worried more about areas they transit than the areas where they actually spend time. This assumes people leave it in the car when the law doesn't require them not to carry.

July 19, 2009, 11:00 AM	#3
hoytinak Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 5,721	I do both. I keep one in my truck with a couple spare mags 24/7 and when I'm outta the house I'm CCing also.

July 19, 2009, 11:01 AM	#4
Kyo Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2009 Posts: 897	I carry everywhere I can legally for a reason. No idea why someone would carry only part of the time unless its the law/work issue

July 19, 2009, 11:03 AM	#6
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	Mine goes where I go, there are times when I leave it in the car if I can not legaly carry it into where I am going. That is a very short list of places that if I go there it is a quick in and out thing. My girlfriend sometimes leaves hers in the car because she knows that I have mine on me. (Like the times when she is dressed to kill. That dress leaves no place to hide anything on her body. No complaints from me on that one)

July 19, 2009, 12:41 PM	#7
Re4mer Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2008 Posts: 240	I don't agree with leaving guns in the car, however if you are forced to for some unforeseen reason make sure to get a good car safe. Nothing would be worse than coming back to your car to find that your gun has be stolen.

July 19, 2009, 04:31 PM	#8
Shadi Khalil Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2006 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 5,210	I hate to leave me sunglasses in my car, let alone my CCW.

July 19, 2009, 05:48 PM	#11
lockedcj7 Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2007 Posts: 1,215	It's not very likely that anyone is going to break into my vehicle looking for valuables. It's a ten-year-old truck with over 200K mi. and it shows. It doesn't have fancy rims, GPS, I-pod, fuzzbuster, or even an aftermarket radio. There's always half a bag worth of trash in the floorboards and I don't leave anything valuable in plain sight. It's a rare occasion for me to be out after dark and I pretty-much keep to low-crime areas. All that said... I haven't really considered getting a safe for my vehicle up 'till now but I probably will. It was illegal to have my CCW in my vehicle at work but now it's legal. I'm thinking about a vehicle safe to add some liability protection for myself and to add some cushion between me and my bosses should it ever be discovered. (Even though it's newly legal and we don't have a policy banning it, I still don't think it would be warmly received.) __________________ To a much greater extent than most mechanical devices, firearms are terribly unforgiving of any overconfidence, complacency or negligence. Last edited by lockedcj7; July 19, 2009 at 06:06 PM.

July 19, 2009, 06:48 PM	#12
Stevie-Ray Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: The shores of Lake Huron Posts: 4,783	Only time I leave it locked up in the car is when I have to by law. __________________ Stevie-Ray Join the NRA/ILA I am the weapon; my gun is a tool. It's regrettable that with some people those descriptors are reversed.

July 19, 2009, 06:53 PM	#13
mwar410 Senior Member Join Date: December 25, 2008 Location: maine Posts: 234	I really hate to leave a loaded handgun in the car when I'm not allowed to carry. I just don't go where I can't legally carry, unless I leave the house unarmed, it is a dilema.

July 19, 2009, 09:59 PM	#14
sidaemon Member Join Date: December 16, 2007 Posts: 73	Personally, I feel I'm far more likely to need the gun outside the car than in it, so it comes with me unless its illegal for me to carry. My work doesn't allow me to even have a gun in my car while parked on the property. I don't like it, but I obey it. If I go out after work, I go home first pick up my .45 and carry it. Zac.

July 19, 2009, 10:10 PM	#15
Nnobby45 Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2004 Posts: 3,150	When I made the self commitment to be armed for self defense, it meant be armed. Didn't mean just carry until the novelty wore off and it wasn't fun anymore. It didn't mean play guessing games with re: to where I thought I might need it, or am I more or less likely to need it in the car or out? For some CCW licensee's, that "commitment" amounts to "criminal assault roulette"--in other words, not much at all. If I have to disarm myself to go into a building, that's what the lock box in my car is for---so I can immediately rearm myself and go about my business. For those who feel that they might as well be disarmed the whole day because one place on their schedule precludes them from being armed, then that's their call. Not mine. Last edited by Nnobby45; July 19, 2009 at 10:21 PM.

July 19, 2009, 11:02 PM	#16
rickyjames Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2009 Posts: 558	i don't mean to hijack the thread but the topic begs another question. when you CC do you use a strap on holster or a slip on quick detachable holster? it seems many of the most favorite holsters thread on the belt rather than the quick detach type. what are the favorite quick detachable holsters? maybe the type of holster or the comfort of the holster has a bearing on way people either choose to wear all the time or leave the gun in the car.

July 20, 2009, 12:20 AM	#17
Frank Ettin Staff Join Date: November 23, 2005 Location: California - San Francisco Posts: 9,471	Whenever I legally can carry, I do carry. Most of the time when I need to leave my gun in the car because I'm going somewhere I can't carry it, I just leave my holster on. I usually won't be gone long, and I use a Milt Sparks VM2 IWB holster so it's not too obvious, and it's still covered. Of course it has snapping straps if I want to take it off.

July 20, 2009, 06:22 AM	#19
sakeneko Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2009 Location: Nevada Posts: 644	My first reaction to this post was, "Huh?" I can't imagine leaving a weapon, especially a loaded weapon, unwatched in a locked car regardless of permit status -- guns are worse theft magnets than laptop computers! But I live in a state where carry is legal most places, even in banks or restaurants that serve alcohol, so I'm rarely in a situation where I can't legally carry. If I am going somewhere where I can't carry, I either leave the gun with my husband at home or, if he won't be home, lock it up somewhere safe. When I travel to California for work, for example, open carry is either illegal or inadvisable most places where I go and so I don't take the gun with me. When we both are traveling in California, we lock all of our guns up, not at home, but in a storage facility that has secure storage for guns. While the guns are insured, neither of us is willing to risk having them stolen and used for crime. Unless I am going somewhere where carry is illegal, though, I carry it with me. That's what it is for.

July 20, 2009, 08:02 AM	#21
rantingredneck Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,728	I carry everywhere legal and I follow my work firearms policy. What that means is if I go in my office, in a bank, restaurant that serves beer, movie theater, county or state gov't building, and a few other places, it stays behind in my truck in a locked floor safe. I can't go onto the grounds of a school or post office, or some other gov't locations with one even in the car....... When I do have to go to the PO, I use the one downtown near my office where there is on street parking nearby. When I have to go to my daughter's school, I either make my wife meet me at her mom's house (1 mile away) and we leave my truck there and take her car, or I park my truck at my church which is directly across the street from my daughter's school. When she moves to middle school in a couple years I'll need a new plan...... In addition to the gun I'm usually carrying (most often a pocket .380 or .38), I keep an 8+1 .45ACP with two spare mags locked in my truck in a safe. __________________ NRA Member NC Hunter's Education Instructor PCCA Member (What's PCCA you ask? <- Check the link)

July 20, 2009, 08:39 AM	#22
Double Naught Spy Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2001 Location: Forestburg, Montague Cnty, TX Posts: 12,717	Lots of people who have permits either don't carry, usually don't carry, or carry extremely rarely. A lot of folks just like having the option to do so. You are right. Many don't carry because they don't feel that there is much likelihood of attack. Others don't do it because it is inconvenient for them. The bottom line is that not everyone with a permit is vigilant, nor do they want to be. As for me, I carry whenever I can. __________________ "If you look through your scope and see your shoe, aim higher." -- said to me by my 11 year old daughter before going out for hogs 8/13/2011 My Hunting Videos https://www.youtube.com/user/HornHillRange

July 20, 2009, 08:43 AM	#23
hoytinak Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 5,721	You also have the types (my sister is one) that doesn't have a CHL, doesn't plan on getting one but keeps a loaded, concealed handgun in her car within easy reach (which is legal here). I've tried to talk her into getting her CHL, even offered to pay for everything but she just doesn't want to. At least she keeps one in her car though, I guess it's better than nothing.

July 20, 2009, 09:30 AM	#24
stephen426 Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2005 Posts: 3,840	Get something small enough to carry all the time I bought a Kahr MK9 and it is small enough to pocket carry. I just place my wallet in front of it to break up the outline. I carry a lot more than I used to since it is so cncealable and reasonably comfortable. I guess that's why people say it's better to have a mouse gun on you than a cannon at home. I'm planning on getting PM9 or PM40 though since the MK gets pretty heavy. __________________ The ATF should be a convenience store instead of a government agency!

July 20, 2009, 10:59 AM	#25
CWPinSC Junior member Join Date: July 1, 2009 Posts: 863	The mess is hitting the fan everywhere and NO place is truly "safe". If I leave my home, I'm armed. Period. End of story. If I have it and don't need it, cool. But if I need it and don't have it, it'll be the last mistake I make.