Got A Question About Handguns

[Gun_Owner_901]

If I live by myself with no children in the home, can I keep a loaded handgun on my coffee table, bed side table or something like that.

[Virus55]

if you live alone sure. i wouldnt do so if people were around of course....I keep my handgun beside my bed inside the of the night stand. No children and all the rest of the firearms are in the safe.

[G-forceJunkie]

Yes.

[grnidb]

If the gun is not secured and it is stolen when you are away wouldn't you be liable then?

[someR1]

If the gun is not secured and it is stolen when you are away wouldn't you be liable then?

wouldn't really be a problem, as long as you could prove someone broke into your house and stole your gun.

[AE102]

As long as you remember to lock it up somewhere if you ever have friends with kids or family visiting or when you leave the house.

[willerfortheworld]

In your own home, yes you can.

[Gun_Owner_901]

Ok thanks guys, and I would of course lock it up if I decided to leave, unless of course I am leaving for the range, in that case I would take it with me.

[grnidb]

Thanks for the replies. After I posted I decided to take a look at the Penal Code if anyone else is interested is it below. It looks like the law I had in mind strictly has to deal with children.

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=pen&group=25001-26000&file=25200-25225

PENAL CODE
SECTION 25200-25225

25200. (a) If all of the following conditions are satisfied, a
person shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail not
exceeding one year, by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars
($1,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine:
(1) The person keeps a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable
of being concealed upon the person, loaded or unloaded, within any
premises that are under the person's custody or control.
(2) The person knows or reasonably should know that a child is
likely to gain access to that firearm without the permission of the
child's parent or legal guardian.
(3) The child obtains access to that firearm and thereafter
carries that firearm off-premises.
(b) If all of the following conditions are satisfied, a person
shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one
year, by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by
both that imprisonment and fine:
(1) The person keeps any firearm within any premises that are
under the person's custody or control.
(2) The person knows or reasonably should know that a child is
likely to gain access to the firearm without the permission of the
child's parent or legal guardian.
(3) The child obtains access to the firearm and thereafter carries
that firearm off-premises to any public or private preschool,
elementary school, middle school, high school, or to any
school-sponsored event, activity, or performance, whether occurring
on school grounds or elsewhere.
(c) A pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being
concealed upon the person that a child gains access to and carries
off-premises in violation of this section shall be deemed "used in
the commission of any misdemeanor as provided in this code or any
felony" for the purpose of Section 29300 regarding the authority to
confiscate firearms and other deadly weapons as a nuisance.
(d) As used in this section, "off-premises" means premises other
than the premises where the firearm was stored.

25205. Section 25200 does not apply if any of the following are
true:
(a) The child obtains the firearm as a result of an illegal entry
into any premises by any person.
(b) The firearm is kept in a locked container or in a location
that a reasonable person would believe to be secure.
(c) The firearm is locked with a locking device, as defined in
Section 16860, which has rendered the firearm inoperable.
(d) The firearm is carried on the person within close enough range
that the individual can readily retrieve and use the firearm as if
carried on the person.
(e) The person is a peace officer or a member of the Armed Forces
or National Guard and the child obtains the firearm during, or
incidental to, the performance of the person's duties.
(f) The child obtains, or obtains and discharges, the firearm in a
lawful act of self-defense or defense of another person.
(g) The person who keeps a firearm has no reasonable expectation,
based on objective facts and circumstances, that a child is likely to
be present on the premises.

[Gun_Owner_901]

Ok guys thanks, wasn't completely sure on that one, sorry for the triple post my computer doesn't want to work right today.

[1000stars]

If the gun is not secured and it is stolen when you are away wouldn't you be liable then?

Why would you not secure or put it in a safe when you are not home?

Anti gunners use this scenario to ban guns because criminals steal it from irresponsible law abiding gun owners.