Storage question

[Harley Hound]

Looking for your input on my gun storage

I'm 58 wife is 56 no kids at home both in their 30s and my 4 grand kids pretty much never come over (Grand pa is not kid friendly) so i don't bother locking it up and it is loaded at all times in my range bag supper easy to get at.
If the grand kids were to come over i would lock it up, am i legal or not.

Chuck

[skosh69]

If by locking it up you mean in a safe, then sure why not?

[Harley Hound]

If by locking it up you mean in a safe, then sure why not?

I guess my main question is loaded and sitting out when it's just me and the wife is this a problem?

[skosh69]

I guess my main question is loaded and sitting out when it's just me and the wife is this a problem?

Gotcha. From my interpretation of the law is "what goes on behind locked doors in your home is your business as long as it doesn't have anything to do with illegal guns or activities".

For example, I don't have a CCW permit, but when I'm in my house, I often wear a holstered pistol. Why? Because I can and it's good practice in case I ever do get my CCW.

Even having a loaded pistol laying out on your coffee table is probably legal, as long as there's no children around, people under the influence, ie common sense practice.

Sorry so long winded.

[Soginator]

AFAIK the law can only scrutinize you if prohibited people have access to your firearms. So as long as children, criminals, and those with mental issues don't have access you should be good. That being said, a safe is never a bad idea. Also make sure anyone with access, which only seems to be your wife, knows how to handle a firearm. You'd be surprised how many people act like complete morons. I had one of my uncles see my pistol that I had out for cleaning, said "cool I've never held a gun!" Proceeded to pick it up before I saw what was happening and tried pulling the trigger. This man is a doctor. Thank god I had already cleared it before I took it out for cleaning.

[Harley Hound]

Gotcha. From my interpretation of the law is "what goes on behind locked doors in your home is your business as long as it doesn't have anything to do with illegal guns or activities".

For example, I don't have a CCW permit, but when I'm in my house, I often wear a holstered pistol. Why? Because I can and it's good practice in case I ever do get my CCW.

Even having a loaded pistol laying out on your coffee table is probably legal, as long as there's no children around, people under the influence, ie common sense practice.

Sorry so long winded.

That's pretty much the way i read it too.

[Harley Hound]

AFAIK the law can only scrutinize you if prohibited people have access to your firearms. So as long as children, criminals, and those with mental issues don't have access you should be good. That being said, a safe is never a bad idea. Also make sure anyone with access, which only seems to be your wife, knows how to handle a firearm. You'd be surprised how many people act like complete morons. I had one of my uncles see my pistol that I had out for cleaning, said "cool I've never held a gun!" Proceeded to pick it up before I saw what was happening and tried pulling the trigger. This man is a doctor. Thank god I had already cleared it before I took it out for cleaning.

When i bought my first pistol S&W 686 357 my kids were little, i sat them on the couch handed it to them said you have ten minutes to look at it after this you will nave touch it again after that they had no interest in it.

[Jeepergeo]

Legal and Smart are often different things.

Where is the gun when you shower? If someone were to break in during your shower and find the gun sitting on the table, you'd be naked, all wet, and in danger.

IMO, the Smart thing to do would be to have a rapid access vault for storing the gun when you are not carrying it on your person. Those vaults can be had for not many $$...you could have several conveniently located around the house and all set to the same combo...just put the gun in when you are in that section of the house or garage.

[Harley Hound]

Legal and Smart are often different things.

Where is the gun when you shower? If someone were to break in during your shower and find the gun sitting on the table, you'd be naked, all wet, and in danger.

Me thinks the GSD will take care of that

[Cokebottle]

am i legal or not.

State law, you are legal.
State law simply states that if you have knowledge that a minor may reasonably access your firearms, you may be charged if they obtain one and injure or kill someone or cause property damage.

Some cities require locked storage regardless of the above law, so if you are burglarized and guns are stolen, the police will cite you if they were not secured.
I believe Oakland is the only city that currently has this requirement. LA is probably going to pass it.

[MechaDad]

Personally I don't wanna be one of those victims of stupid law suits. Ever hear the one about the guy that got sued because a burglar crushed his foot under the tire of the car the homeowner left up on jacks in the garage?

A speed safe would satisfy when the grandkids do come over, and may be even be faster than unzipping your range bag.

[Harley Hound]

Personally I don't wanna be one of those victims of stupid law suits. Ever hear the one about the guy that got sued because a burglar crushed his foot under the tire of the car the homeowner left up on jacks in the garage?

A speed safe would satisfy when the grandkids do come over, and may be even be faster than unzipping your range bag.

Range bag stays unzipped

[MechaDad]

Ok. Ever hear this one then:
A priest, a rabi, and an unzipped range bag walk into a bar...

Just kidding op. For the record (in a perfect world), I'd probably do it like you too. No legal insight to contribute aside from what's already been posted so, over and out.

[CaliforniaLiberal]

Looking for your input on my gun storage

I'm 58 wife is 56 no kids at home both in their 30s and my 4 grand kids pretty much never come over (Grand pa is not kid friendly) so i don't bother locking it up and it is loaded at all times in my range bag supper easy to get at.
If the grand kids were to come over i would lock it up, am i legal or not.

Chuck

You need to plan for the unusual, unexpected course of events, not the every day, 99% of the time situations.

Is your wife gun trained and gun safe and knows about your loaded gun in the unzipped bag?

Think of the infinite unlikely but very possible scenarios that might lead your grandchildren to your loaded gun.

Here's the sort of thing I mean:

You fall off the roof, go to the ER to get stitches in your face and a cast for your ankle. Grandkids' neighbor has a gas leak and they are evacuated, come to your house while you are gone. (Do Grandkids' parents know about loaded gun?) Grandkids' parents are distracted and worried about you in the ER and their house burning down.

Bingo! Grandkids find loaded gun.

At this point you are not legal.

[L84CABO]

Keep in mind also that it isn't just an issue of kids. Whenever you have guests or service people in the house, it's a good idea to lock things up.

Not to mention, how much would it suck if you came home one day and got shot by the burglar who found your unsecured weapon?