Not sure if this is a silly question... (firearm related)

[gjcva1]

For travelling with a loaded gun, the VA law is it must be in plain view- on the dashboard or on the passenger's seat.

great, we're in the same state.  this was my concern, that you were hiding it in the vehicle.  if your car is searched, that would be a very bad thing.  VERY BAD!!!!!!

so go get yourself a CCW permit, my friend.

[Kendo_Bunny]

Fine with me. My best friend's mother is not a gun fan, so my gun stays in my car during my visits. Another of my friends has a bit of a phobia about being shot, so I unload my gun before visiting her- she wants to learn how to shoot someday, but I figure it's better to get her used to the presence of an unloaded gun first.

I'm confused - you carry an empty gun then?

I carry both for sport and protection, with full training.  One thing I refuse to do is carry something unloaded.  I'd rather leave it home.  Though I do have a CCW and make full use of it.

I unload before entering her particular home, leave my bullets somewhere safe, then re-load after leaving.

[jimithing]

I just talked to DH about this thread, and he said the same thing as gjvca1.  Get a CW permit, especially if you plan to leave it in the car.  It's the law.

He also asked the same question that Marina did.  Why would you need to carry a loaded weapon into someone's home?  He said that the polite and courteous thing to do would be to ask them if they were OK with is, and be prepared to leave if not.

[hyzenthlay]

I'd be fine with it, though I would ask you to please show it to my kids, so that they know exactly what it is, and that they are not to touch it.  Plus you'd either be carrying that gun OR stowing it in your car. There is no such thing as an unloaded gun, and I don't want my kids ever thinking there is one 

I would guess it's best to mention it. Gun fear is a serious thing for many people. Better to ask then risk serious offense.

[NOVA Lady]

Unless.... I believe the gun was properly stored, as to be transported between range and home.

We keep the guns in the car (when we're travelling with them somewhere) in a gun safe type thing with the ammo in a seperate locked compartment.

don't disagree at all, Marina.  that was my point.  if DH's gun was in the truck, and he wasn't, i would be the one in trouble. 

i don't think hiding the gun in a car is a good thing.  to my mind, even if a state is open carry, you have to get the gun to the place where you will open carry, and in a vehicle, that would necessarily be concealed, as it cannot be easily seen.  in fact, we are currently looking into gunsafes for the house.  though that does not preclude keeping handguns at easy reach.  we have no small children in the house.  when grandbabies come along, that will change. 

and yes, except for our commute to and from work, where the truck is parked on a federal reservation, and private firearms are not permitted, even with a CW permit, there is a pistol in the truck.

You're right of course. We never carry our weapons in the car unless we're going to/from the range. I would not be comfortable with a loaded firearm in the car, especially unattended!

[JordanX]

But for people I don't know as well, or who I haven't seen in awhile, should I inform them about my gun and my prediliction for open carrying it before visiting? Or would it be rude to walk in and wait to see if anyone comments? My sweetheart OC's almost everywhere he goes, and most people barely even notice it. I've just been wondering this since I unwrapped my holster this morning. 

I don't even know what to say...it is an interesting etiquette issue, isn't it?  I have no idea whether or not it's rude to inform someone that you are open carrying a gun.  I guess if etiquette is all about setting rules for social situations so that everyone is clear on expectations, then yes, you do need to tell people if you are coming into their house with a gun, as it has the potential for making people extremely uncomfortable.

The whole open carrying thing is a bit off-putting to me, possibly because I've never seen anyone do this (well, there was one off-duty federal agent at the dog park).  Keeping all political aspects of the issue out of this conversation (and I'm ambivalent about the idea of open carrying anyway), if I heard about a friend or friend's SO who did this, I think I would have about a million preconceived ideas about them and why they would choose to do this--none of them correct in your case, and none of them good.

[gjcva1]

I just talked to DH about this thread, and he said the same thing as gjvca1.  Get a CW permit, especially if you plan to leave it in the car.  It's the law.

He also asked the same question that Marina did.  Why would you need to carry a loaded weapon into someone's home?  He said that the polite and courteous thing to do would be to ask them if they were OK with is, and be prepared to leave if not.

jimi, thanks for the agreement!  my DH never carries his weapon into others' homes. case in point. we loaded up presents and such and headed off for DD's house today for Christmas.  his pistol was kept in the truck while we were in her home, though she wouldn't have had a problem with it at all, nor would DSIL, nor his parents.  he just doesn't carry into other's homes.  he keeps the pistol in our vehicle.  i personally wouldn't go into a home where i needed to carry.  just wouldn't happen.

[FolkRockFan]

When I go someplace where my gun (I have a concealed-carry permit, incidentally) can't go, I lock up in the vehicle. You can buy an inexpensive gun safe - mine, for example, bolts through the floorboard. You can also buy thin, locking boxes that slide under most front seats. These have cables to secure the box around the seatpost.

Down here where I live, people have a nasty habit of breaking into cars and looking specifically for guns. That's not cool at all. I don't want my gun to get into some bad guy's hands. I want it with ME so that I can enjoy my time at the range And besides: my insurance covers gun theft only if the firearm was stolen from a locked area - gun safe at home or gun safe in the vehicle.

Hiding the gun well won't do much good if the thief is determined to find it. He or she might not know for a fact that there's a gun in your car (probably won't know for sure, in fact), but that doesn't guarantee that s/he is incapable of rifling through your stuff to see what turns up.

[jimithing]

Here is a link to the Virginia State gun laws: http://www.nraila.org/statelawpdfs/VASL.pdf

It says that a gun can be in a car if it's unloaded and in a locked compartment or the trunk.

[gjcva1]

I'd be fine with it, though I would ask you to please show it to my kids, so that they know exactly what it is, and that they are not to touch it.  Plus you'd either be carrying that gun OR stowing it in your car. There is no such thing as an unloaded gun, and I don't want my kids ever thinking there is one 

I would guess it's best to mention it. Gun fear is a serious thing for many people. Better to ask then risk serious offense.

perhaps that's why i have the attitude that i do.  i grew up with a father who collected and owned guns.  in my mind, every gun is loaded and ready to fire.  that's what they are for, after all.  and yes, i have benefitted from my own pistol, many moons ago.  guns are not toys.  i would never treat them as such.   you wear them, you carry them, you hide them in your purse...they are guns, not toys.  

[gjcva1]

Here is a link to the Virginia State gun laws: http://www.nraila.org/statelawpdfs/VASL.pdf

It says that a gun can be in a car if it's unloaded and in a locked compartment or the trunk.

yes, ma'am, exactly.  but DH's handgun is loaded, which is where my CCW permit comes in handy.  and to make it even more confusing, one cannot drive through the District of Columbia with a handgun in their vehicle. it becomes quite a headache.  i don't know the rules in Maryland.  but since i don't GO to Maryland, guess it doesn't matter for me.  but it is the DC Metro area.

[NOVA Lady]

I'd be fine with it, though I would ask you to please show it to my kids, so that they know exactly what it is, and that they are not to touch it.  Plus you'd either be carrying that gun OR stowing it in your car. There is no such thing as an unloaded gun, and I don't want my kids ever thinking there is one 

I would guess it's best to mention it. Gun fear is a serious thing for many people. Better to ask then risk serious offense.

perhaps that's why i have the attitude that i do.  i grew up with a father who collected and owned guns.  in my mind, every gun is loaded and ready to fire.  that's what they are for, after all.  and yes, i have benefitted from my own pistol, many moons ago.  guns are not toys.  i would never treat them as such.   you wear them, you carry them, you hide them in your purse...they are guns, not toys. 

I wish I was as brave as you ladies. I love my firearm...but I refuse to let DH keep one loaded in the bedroom. I have this awful fear that it will be much more likely to be used against us in a home invasion/robbery then to our benefit because of the proximity of our bedroom to the doors to the home. Its one thing I just dont feel good about,

[hollasa]

But for people I don't know as well, or who I haven't seen in awhile, should I inform them about my gun and my prediliction for open carrying it before visiting? Or would it be rude to walk in and wait to see if anyone comments? My sweetheart OC's almost everywhere he goes, and most people barely even notice it. I've just been wondering this since I unwrapped my holster this morning. 

I'm trying to figure out how that conversation would go - "so, Kendo_Acquaintance, I'm planning on coming armed to your BBQ - got any PROBLEMS with that?" 

[Kendo_Bunny]

For the loaded weapon... I would just plan to leave it loaded at all times. Honestly, I'm not sure if I'd remember to unload, suit back up, stop in for a chat, leave, and reload. I just remember at the one friend's house because she's very clear on that.

And my Dad also taught us there was no such thing as an unloaded gun- I don't let my nephew anywhere near it, because he's only just turned 2, and I'm not sure if he understands how important it is that Auntie's gun is NOT NEVER EVER a toy. Granted, with my revolver, I don't get stuck rounds, and if I hand it to people, I hand it muzzle down, with the wheel popped. But even so, it doesn't hurt to be prepared.

I suppose I'll try to get my concealed license, though for now I prefer to open carry.

But yeah... I don't want to make people uncomfortable in their homes. Open carrying in public is one thing, carrying into someone's home is another. But again, I don't want to make it sound like I think people are too dumb to have noticed my gun, just because they hadn't mentioned it before.

[jimithing]

I'd be fine with it, though I would ask you to please show it to my kids, so that they know exactly what it is, and that they are not to touch it.  Plus you'd either be carrying that gun OR stowing it in your car. There is no such thing as an unloaded gun, and I don't want my kids ever thinking there is one 

I would guess it's best to mention it. Gun fear is a serious thing for many people. Better to ask then risk serious offense.

perhaps that's why i have the attitude that i do.  i grew up with a father who collected and owned guns.  in my mind, every gun is loaded and ready to fire.  that's what they are for, after all.  and yes, i have benefitted from my own pistol, many moons ago.  guns are not toys.  i would never treat them as such.   you wear them, you carry them, you hide them in your purse...they are guns, not toys. 

I wish I was as brave as you ladies. I love my firearm...but I refuse to let DH keep one loaded in the bedroom. I have this awful fear that it will be much more likely to be used against us in a home invasion/robbery then to our benefit because of the proximity of our bedroom to the doors to the home. Its one thing I just dont feel good about,

I actually just found out, last week, that DH has his handgun, loaded, underneath the bed.  I thought it was in the closet with the other guns.

I'm not sure how I feel about it.  On the one hand, I don't really feel all the comfortable with it, but on the other hand, it makes me feel a bit safer, for some reason.  I guess it boils down to the fact that I don't want to ever shoot one, and I don't really love the idea that DH likes guns, but the fact is that he does so I've compromised on this issue.

DH said that this conversation reminded him that he needs to follow up on the concealed weapons class.

Kendo, can I ask why you like to open carry? What is the difference?  It seems to me like it would make people feel more uncomfortable, and cause more problems for you.  In fact, I was reading on Wikipedia that people in Virginia who open carry are much more likely to get stopped and talked to by the police.  Seems like an unnecessary hassle.