Firearm transportation to and from range with a truck?

[r8rs4lf]

I recently picked up a Chevy C10 that I use as my daily driver now. Still has the gas tank behind the bench seat. Bed has no cover.

Of course firearms will be unloaded. Pistols in a range bag with a combo lock. Long guns will be in a soft rifle case again with a combo lock.

From what I understand, both can be in the cab. Ammo in the bed?

 

[Funjeff]

I think handguns need a "secured" lockbox. Range bag no good.

AI:
In California, a secure locked container for firearms is defined as a fully enclosed, rigid, and locked container—such as a hard-sided gun case, safe, or lockbox—that uses a padlock, key, or combination to prevent unauthorized access. It must not be a glove compartment or utility box.

 

[Colt Collector]

I put my range bag with pistols and ammo behind the bench seat of my truck. I don't have extra cab room so the top of the seat is pinned against the back of the cab. I'm not sure if that's legal but it's the best I can do since I don't have a trunk.

 

[H. Bowman]

I think handguns need a "secured" lockbox. Range bag no good.

Soft sided case is still fine if locked, I don't remember seeing anything saying that a hard case or "lockbox" is required, isn't it just in a locked container? Ammo can be in the cab also, just not in the guns. To be extra-safe , throw the ammo in a cheap plastic ammo can and put a 1 dollar lock on it. Not required, but if you plan on getting stopped by a cop that doesn't know the law quite as well as some folks do, it goes a long ways in reassuring them they don't need to detain any longer than the purpose of the traffic stop.

 

[Jimi Jah]

Install a hand gun vault under the front seat.

 

[Deleted member 34131]

A lot of discretion is upon the LEO stopping you, if they are a gun person more than likely your fine. Just be honest regardless of outcome at the end of the day if the stop was illegal the whole thing gets thrown out in court being you have a competent attorney. If I’m doing a pistol day I just travel with my savior 2 gun range bag with mags unloaded and ammo in a ziploc bag in the range bag, no locks on guns but I run a lock on the zip tie loops since that is within the letter of the law.

 

[H. Bowman]

no locks on guns but I run a lock on the zip tie loops since that is within the letter of the law.

I keep 20 or 30 of those little tiny locks that are less than a buck each, handy for sticking in zipper tabs. Keeps it legal and I don't care if I tap it with a pencil to break it open because the key is out of reach. People going so far out of their way to be extra legal are silly.

 

[1911-CV]

Never hurts to look at the actual law: PC 25610

There are additional requirements if you happen to be a CCW licensee and enter a parking lot dedicated to a prohibited location (courthouse, park, police station, etc.): PC26250

 

[r8rs4lf]

I think handguns need a "secured" lockbox. Range bag no good.

AI:
In California, a secure locked container for firearms is defined as a fully enclosed, rigid, and locked container—such as a hard-sided gun case, safe, or lockbox—that uses a padlock, key, or combination to prevent unauthorized access. It must not be a glove compartment or utility box.

Makes no mention of rigid or lockbox.I believe that is from TSA for flight.

Transporting Firearms in California

HANDGUNS Pursuant to California Penal Code section 25610, a United States citizen over 18 years of age who is not prohibited from firearm possession, and who resides or is temporarily in California, may transport by motor vehicle any handgun provided it is unloaded and locked in the vehicle’s...

oag.ca.gov

 

[2muchsoysauce4allthisrice]

I recently picked up a Chevy C10 that I use as my daily driver now. Still has the gas tank behind the bench seat. Bed has no cover.

Of course firearms will be unloaded. Pistols in a range bag with a combo lock. Long guns will be in a soft rifle case again with a combo lock.

From what I understand, both can be in the cab. Ammo in the bed?

Transporting Firearms in California

HANDGUNS Pursuant to California Penal Code section 25610, a United States citizen over 18 years of age who is not prohibited from firearm possession, and who resides or is temporarily in California, may transport by motor vehicle any handgun provided it is unloaded and locked in the vehicle’s...

oag.ca.gov

“HANDGUNS

Pursuant to California Penal Code section 25610, a United States citizen over 18 years of age who is not prohibited from firearm possession, and who resides or is temporarily in California, may transport by motor vehicle any handgun provided it is unloaded and locked in the vehicle’s trunk or in a locked container. Furthermore, the handgun must be carried directly to or from any motor vehicle for any lawful purpose and, while being carried must be contained within a locked container.

Pursuant to California Penal Code section 16850, the term "locked container" means a secure container that is fully enclosed and locked by a padlock, key lock, combination lock, or similar locking device. This includes the trunk of a motor vehicle, but does not include the utility or glove compartment.

SHOTGUNS AND RIFLES

Nonconcealable firearms (shotguns and rifles) are not generally covered within the provisions of California Penal Code section 25400 and therefore are not required to be transported in a locked container. However, as with any firearm, nonconcealable firearms must be unloaded while they are being transported.

REGISTERED ASSAULT WEAPONS

California Penal Code section 30945, subdivision (g) provides that registered assault weapons may be transported only between specified locations and must be unloaded and stored in a locked container when transported.

Pursuant to California Penal Code section 16850, the term "locked container" means a secure container that is fully enclosed and locked by a padlock, key lock, combination lock, or similar locking device. This includes the trunk of a motor vehicle, but does not include the utility or glove compartment.”

 

[2muchsoysauce4allthisrice]

Long guns will be in a soft rifle case again with a combo lock.

From what I understand, both can be in the cab. Ammo in the bed?

SHOTGUNS AND RIFLES

Nonconcealable firearms (shotguns and rifles) are not generally covered within the provisions of California Penal Code section 25400 and therefore are not required to be transported in a locked container. However, as with any firearm, nonconcealable firearms must be unloaded while they are being transported.

Pistols, unloaded, with combo lock; good to go as in meeting criteria/satisfying requirements of safe transportation of firearms.

Technically, the unloaded long guns in soft case, that are not registered assault weapons, don’t even need a combo lock since it doesn’t require a locked container since they are not considered concealable firearms.

Combo lock can be good, if you are NOT just headed straight to the range from home and straight from range to home, no stops. But if it’s visible inside the vehicle, I would just go straight to and back; don’t make any stops just in case the car window gets broken, or bipped by a bipper.

Ammo being stored away as far as possible from the unloaded firearms in containers, i.e. in the bed or other end of the vehicle; is not stated in the letter of the law.

However, some will do it that way just in case they are pulled over, to make the stop easier for themselves. I’m guessing if you are not dealing with a cadet fresh out of the academy/still under the FTO process/very fresh off the FTO process; I would hope it shouldn’t be a problem. If dealing with an LEO that has many years under their duty belt, I would hope it shouldn’t be a problem, as out of respect, expectations can be higher of their knowledge and understanding of the letter of the law for something basic like that; out of respect, can’t expect the individual LEO making the stop to know everything but that is very basic where I would hope it will not require a supervisor, unless the individual supervisor doesn’t know either.

At that point, hopefully, with all due respect, the individual LT. or individual watch commander would know or will be able to figure it out; all because of a if there is anything specifically stated about if ammo is required to be stored on the other end of the vehicle or as far away as possible.

It is a stop where the driver is transporting unloaded firearms safely stored just going to the range; it is NOT a stop where they are transporting loaded firearms for nefarious reasons.

 

[Librarian]

A refinement for long guns ...
Outside a vehicle,
In public,
Inside city limits,
A long gun must be
--- either ---
'encased' in a gun case, with all zippers and straps fastened
--- or ---
if not in a specific gun case (say, a duffle or golf bag) the case must be locked.

PC 26405

California has no laws/regulations at all affecting carry/transport of ammunition. The issue is whether a gun might be loaded.

Generally, "loaded" is "ammunition in a position to be fired"; that clearly includes chambered - and that's the Fish and Game definition. That generality is a result of the court case People v Clark, 1996. Having a loaded magazine inserted, but no round in the chamber, is also likely to be called 'loaded'. Having ammunition loaded into magazines, but no magazine in the mag well, is NOT loaded, and one may carry the gun and magazines for it in the same container. You might want to separate loaded mags and guns to help a poorly trained 'Officer Friendly' resolve any ambiguities in his/her mind.

There are special places where possession of ammunition and a gun that can use it is defined by law as 'loaded'.