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Car Carry

buketdude

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
313
Location
Enfield, Connecticut, USA
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While I was at DPS I heard people talking about "Direct Control" and how you cannot leave a handgun in a vehicle and I see nothing in CGS about this...as i see it

1. I can leave myhandgun loaded in my center console while I am at work (car locked)or while driving. Why does it need to be on my person???

Does anyone see any different??? I cannot find anything about how you MUST carry in your car...

Sec. 29-38. Weapons in vehicles. (a) Any person who knowingly has, in any vehicle owned, operated or occupied by such person, any weapon, any pistol or revolver for which a proper permit has not been issued as provided in section 29-28 or any machine gun which has not been registered as required by section 53-202, shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than five years or both, and the presence of any such weapon, pistol or revolver, or machine gun in any vehicle shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section by the owner, operator and each occupant thereof. The word "weapon", as used in this section, means any BB. gun, any blackjack, any metal or brass knuckles, any police baton or nightstick, any dirk knife or switch knife, any knife having an automatic spring release device by which a blade is released from the handle, having a blade of over one and one-half inches in length, any stiletto, any knife the edged portion of the blade of which is four inches or over in length, any martial arts weapon or electronic defense weapon, as defined in section 53a-3, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument.

(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to: (1) Any officer charged with the preservation of the public peace while engaged in the pursuit of such officer's official duties; (2) any security guard having a baton or nightstick in a vehicle while engaged in the pursuit of such guard's official duties; (3) any person enrolled in and currently attending a martial arts school, with official verification of such enrollment and attendance, or any certified martial arts instructor, having any such martial arts weapon in a vehicle while traveling to or from such school or to or from an authorized event or competition; (4) any person having a BB. gun in a vehicle provided such weapon is unloaded and stored in the trunk of such vehicle or in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console; and (5) any person having a knife, the edged portion of the blade of which is four inches or over in length, in a vehicle if such person is (A) any member of the armed forces of the United States, as defined in section 27-103, or any reserve component thereof, or of the armed forces of this state, as defined in section 27-2, when on duty or going to or from duty, (B) any member of any military organization when on parade or when going to or from any place of assembly, (C) any person while transporting such knife as merchandise or for display at an authorized gun or knife show, (D) any person while lawfully removing such person's household goods or effects from one place to another, or from one residence to another, (E) any person while actually and peaceably engaged in carrying any such knife from such person's place of abode or business to a place or person where or by whom such knife is to be repaired, or while actually and peaceably returning to such person's place of abode or business with such knife after the same has been repaired, (F) any person holding a valid hunting, fishing or trapping license issued pursuant to chapter 490 or any salt water fisherman while having such knife in a vehicle for lawful hunting, fishing or trapping activities, or (G) any person participating in an authorized historic reenactment.
 

buketdude

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
313
Location
Enfield, Connecticut, USA
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Ona side note. The Dick's In Enfield, CThad a sign up that said it was Unlawful tostore firearms unsecured where someone under 18 can access it. I asked to speak to a manager and told them politely the law does not say that. It says Loaded Firearms and the age is Under 16. Theytold meI was wrong and refused to look up the law. I have not been back since.

Sec. 29-37i. (Formerly Sec. 29-37c). Responsibilities re storage of loaded firearms with respect to minors. No person shall store or keep any loaded firearm on any premises under his control if he knows or reasonably should know that a minor is likely to gain access to the firearm without the permission of the parent or guardian of the minor unless such person (1) keeps the firearm in a securely locked box or other container or in a location which a reasonable person would believe to be secure or (2) carries the firearm on his person or within such close proximity thereto that he can readily retrieve and use it as if he carried it on his person. For the purposes of this section, "minor" means any person under the age of sixteen years.
 

gluegun

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Joined
May 13, 2009
Messages
359
Location
Central, Connecticut, USA
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If I remember correctly, I've seen a very similar sign in Dick's in other states. I think it's a "corporate" sign and no one at the store level is intelligent enough to become knowledgeable about what the laws actually say.
 

buketdude

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
313
Location
Enfield, Connecticut, USA
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Thats probaby true. I asked if maybe the sign came from a Mass location as that is Mass law and he was saying something about Federal Law.....I don't think he had a clue what he was talking about and was not going to believe anything I said or showed him...

They also told me you cannot sell a gun on Sunday's??

I don't know what Laws they are talking about..
 

Lon

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Joined
Jun 27, 2009
Messages
39
Location
, ,
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buketdude wrote:
1. I can leave my handgun loaded in my center console while I am at work (car locked) or while driving. Why does it need to be on my person???

Personally, I would not simply put it in the center console, legal or not. One break of a window and your firearm is gone. It would be more secure in a locked box, secured to the vehicle somehow.

Center of Mass, Cabela's, Midway, Cheaper-Than-Dirt and many more places sell a lockable container for $30 or less that can be bolted to a vehicle floor or secured to a seat frame with an anti-theft cable. This is what I use.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...t20799&parentType=index&indexId=cat20799&rid=

From what I have read, the combo-lock version can be popped open and is not as secure as the keyed version.
 

BizOwner

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2009
Messages
24
Location
, Connecticut, USA
imported post

http://www.consolevault.com/

This is what I use. It came recommended from a D.M.V. Inspector, "Truck Squad" I have one in my truck and the wifes' Tahoe.

I trust it with trips to the bank/post office. Wifegoes out shopping, she locks up her GPS, IPOD, glasses, out of sight from the smash and grab guys.

It will set you back about $260.00, but it is cheaper than replacing a gun and laying awake at night wondering where your gun is.

Just my two cents worth...........And, No I don't want change back! :monkey:monkey:monkey
 

dcmdon

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Joined
Mar 30, 2009
Messages
469
Location
Old Saybrook, CT
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Guys,

Please remember that just because something is not legal does not make it wrong. Carrying into a post office comes first to mind.

Conversely, just because something is legal, does not make it right. Storing a gun in a car (not inside something like a console vault) comes to mind here.

A gun in a glove box may be legal, but storing it there is wrong. I'm not talking about a rare, quick trip into your kids school or something like that. I'm talking about someone who stores a gun in a car. With the right to carry, comes the responsibility to keep that gun under your control. That means some kind of secondary lockup inside the vehicle.

I can smash a passenger side window and open a glove box in 5 seconds. Thats not secure. I'm talking whats ethically right and wrong here, not whats legal. Do the right thing, leave it at home or keep it on your person.

Don
 

buketdude

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
313
Location
Enfield, Connecticut, USA
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Thanks everyone...I just wanted to check if anyone saw the legality of it any diff...in terms of leaving it "unsecured"..that does not really bother me..I have family in NH/Maine who never carry..just have a loaded pistol in there trucks/cars all the time...and i talked with a friend from FLA who said since no permit is needed..lots of people just leave it in there glove compartment...18-20 year olds who cannot get permit yet esp...
 

dcmdon

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Mar 30, 2009
Messages
469
Location
Old Saybrook, CT
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And when their car gets broken into its another stolen gun on the street.

Just because others do it, doesn't make it right. Its stupid and wrong to keep a gun in a car with no other precautions taken.
 

Rich B

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Oct 13, 2009
Messages
2,909
Location
North Branford, Connecticut, USA
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dcmdon wrote:
And when their car gets broken into its another stolen gun on the street.

Just because others do it, doesn't make it right. Its stupid and wrong to keep a gun in a car with no other precautions taken.

I am not setting up an argument or anything, I am genuinely curious:

Do you feel the same way about guns stored in houses? Everyone must have a full gun safe in their house or else they are being negligent?
 

dcmdon

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Mar 30, 2009
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Old Saybrook, CT
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In a home it depends on your situation.

If you do not have children in the house, hiding the gun is reasonable. The average burglar is in the house for 5 minutes. A well hidden gun will is not likely to be found.

If you have children who are not old or mature enough to be trusted with unlocked guns (your judgement) then hiding is not enough. Unlike a burglar, a child has an eternity to find a gun. They should either be on you or locked up.

Let me give you a concrete example. Before I had kids, I kept a loaded Glock and a flashlight under a false floor vent, right next to my bed. That was fine then. With a mobile 2 yr old in the house, its completely unacceptable.

Also, lets be realistic, there is a far greater chance of a gun being stolen out of a car than being stolen from a house. If only because people actually try to hide the guns in their home. In the car, they typically make little to no effort to either hide it well or lock it up inside the car.

This is what blows my mind. Everyone talks about our rights. And I don't dispute that. What people don't think about is the responsibilities that come with these rights.

Don

p.s. I'm not trying to be a prick, but there are a lot of people who have not thought this through and I feel pretty strongly on this topic.
 

Rich B

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Oct 13, 2009
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North Branford, Connecticut, USA
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I agree that with rights come responsibility, but with responsibility comes judgment. If someone is taking the responsibility of locking a firearm in their car, I believe you need to respect that decision just as much as you might respect their judgment when they store the firearm at home.

Judgment and responsibility should not be defined or regulated for people. People should be educated, and allowed to make their own decisions. The responsibility has to come after the fact.

For the record, I don't believe hiding a loaded firearm in the home is acceptable at all. I do however believe that a simple trigger lock on an unloaded firearm is acceptable. When a safe is available, that is obviously preferred, but this is not always the case.

Security through obscurity is no security at all.
 

dcmdon

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Mar 30, 2009
Messages
469
Location
Old Saybrook, CT
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I don't disagree that judgement and responsibility should not be regulated.

That does not change the fact that some judgements may in fact be stupid.

I don't understand the statement: If someone is taking the responsibility of locking a firearm in their car, I believe you need to respect that decision just as much as you might respect their judgment when they store the firearm at home.

I don't have to respect the decision if its unreasonable on its surface.

Also, I don't necessarily need to respect how someone stores their guns at home.

Does anybody remember the kid who was killed a couple of years ago in CT. He was 4 yrs old or something like that. His step dad kept a loaded gun in the night stand. The kid had found the gun prior to him killing himself. Their friends and relatives had warned the guy about how he stoed his gun.

I hope he is woken up by the sight of that kid in a pool of blood every night until he himself dies.

Somewhere, the idea that everyone is entitled to an opinion has evolved into the idea that every opinion is equally valid. Thats patently false.
 

GoldCoaster

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Jun 24, 2008
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646
Location
Stratford, Connecticut, USA
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dcmdon wrote:
I don't disagree that judgement and responsibility should not be regulated.

That does not change the fact that some judgements may in fact be stupid.

I don't understand the statement: If someone is taking the responsibility of locking a firearm in their car, I believe you need to respect that decision just as much as you might respect their judgment when they store the firearm at home.

I don't have to respect the decision if its unreasonable on its surface.

Also, I don't necessarily need to respect how someone stores their guns at home.

Does anybody remember the kid who was killed a couple of years ago in CT. He was 4 yrs old or something like that. His step dad kept a loaded gun in the night stand. The kid had found the gun prior to him killing himself. Their friends and relatives had warned the guy about how he stoed his gun.

I hope he is woken up by the sight of that kid in a pool of blood every night until he himself dies.

Somewhere, the idea that everyone is entitled to an opinion has evolved into the idea that every opinion is equally valid. Thats patently false.
+1
I agree with this completely. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but opinions are like assholes, everybody has one.

The responsibilities that come with firearm ownership and carry are non-trivial. It would pay those that perhaps don't believe this to avail themselves of a "legal aspects of firearm carry" class - I took one and it was a real eye-opener for me and I like to think I'm fairly clued in on this subject matter.

Improper storage of a firearm when kids are present is not only morally wrong it's legally wrong (at least in CT). I'd imagine the image of a 4 year old dead because you were too lazy or stubborn or stupid to secure the firearm is probably (hopefully) going to haunt him forever.
 

NCjones

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2009
Messages
184
Location
Goldsboro, , USA
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I bought one of those steel lock boxes from staples $23 and a few bolts and fender washers $3 from Lowes. Now I have a locking steel box bolted to the truck behind the seat for when I go to one of the "gun free zones" and can't carry.
I figure $30 is cheap insurance for my $600 Sig in case someone was to beak into my truck.
 
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