Long guns in cars

[P. Stegall]

Many of you probably know that one of the bills up in the legislature right now would allow carry permit holders to have loaded long guns in their cars. Currently, the law allows you (carry permit or not) to have an unloaded long gun in the car. You may have a loaded rifle or shotgun in the car only if it's in the course of hunting, sport shooting and the like. But for general, everyday purposes it must be unloaded. If you're going to have the ammo for it, it more or less better be far away from the gun, and preferably locked up.

So. I thought I'd start a little poll on folks' opinions on this. If this law passes, and if you are a carry permit holder who doesn't keep a rifle or shotgun in the car now (if you already do I assume you still would if it goes through), would that motivate you to change your mind? The way the law is now, it makes it kind of difficult since you have to keep everything locked up and separate. Would being able to keep it loaded make you say "Heck yeah!" Or is the risk of having it stolen too great regardless of the law?

I'm on the fence about it, but at this point I have to vote no. I'd love to have a 30-30 or an SKS at my disposal when I'm riding around, but I'm just not comfortable leaving a firearm in the car. In a bigger city like Memphis I just don't think it's a good idea. But in a smaller town or out in the country, I might feel different.

[OhShoot]

No, I'll not keep a loaded long gun in car period.
Unless the law change also allows me to walk around with it.

Neither of my vehicles has a trunk, either, which figures partly into it.

- OS

[jdavis]

honestly, i didnt know that i wasnt supposed to carry a loaded long gun in the vehicle until now, so it wouldnt change things much for me.

[bkelm18]

The only thing it would change for me would be transporting it to the range and back. I don't forsee myself just driving around with a loaded AK in the back.

[Linoge]

I admit - I probably would not keep a long gun, loaded or unloaded, in my vehicle, even if this new bill passed. However, I would very much love for the option to be legally available to me, rather than pointlessly banned as it is at the moment.

[SUNTZU]

I would. Most of the time that I'm working (when I had a job) I'm outside around my truck. I wouldn't have it if I was heading to the mall or going backpacking.

[Reservoir Dog]

I doubt I will keep one in the car even if the law passes. Personally, I do not like keeping guns in my car unattended. My car is not a favorite of the criminals, but I don't want to risk a firearm being stolen.

However, I do hope the law passes. I would like to have the option.

[razorback2003]

I sometimes throw one loaded in the back seat when going to my hunting site, but that seems legal anyway. It also seems legal when going to and from the range, which i sometimes do. I wouldn't drive around with a loaded long gun in the Memphis area because I'd have to keep it in the trunk to keep it from being stolen and that doesn't do me a lot of good. A handgun is much easier to use in a vehicle.

On a side note, I know people back home in Arkansas that purposefully carry a loaded long gun in their vehicle because they don't want to pay the money for a concealed handgun license (long guns are not weapons in Arkansas...only handguns). It was a nice option if I could not legally figure out a way to throw luggage in the car to look like i was on a journey to carry my handgun. It was also nice b/c you can have a loaded long gun on college campuses and not be breaking the law because AR only makes handguns a criminal offense.

[tcampbell]

I listened to the reasoning behind this when it was voted on in the committee last week. It is basically easier for CPH holders to transport their long guns to the range. I have an SUV...I don't have a trunk. If I have a shotgun in the back, where I can't reach it, and a box of shot shells next to it, state law considers that loaded. Basically, it will make it easier to transport our long guns. I wouldn't leave one in the SUV though. Right now, I have the shotgun cased in the back and locked, and the shells behind my seat...in a lock box. That is the only way I can currently transport it that I know of. Even if you have a magazine loaded, and it is not in the vincicity of the gun, you could still be charged with havng a loaded long gun as explained during the committee, CHP or not. I hope the bill passes.

[v3bahumut]

I can't think of a reason why I would keep a long gun in my car, unless transporting it to the range.