Firearm storage while on vacation

[Maangchi]

Ummmm is this a serious question? No one knows I own guns. No one saw my expensive , massive Safe being delivered and bolted down. Nor the hidden cameras etc.

WTF are you really asking?

Where do live and when is your next vacation? I'm planning my next outing

My wife thinks I only have 3 guns

[sfe187]

Put it in trunk, park at Beverly Wilshire or any affluent hotel (Ritz), heck even those long term airport parking places would work too. incognito is your friend.

[waveslayer]

Sorry I was commenting for a friend

My wife thinks I only have 3 guns

[bugsy714]

I think you just describe the ratio on all advice that you get from Cal Guns :-)


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[Excitable Boy]

Save your money and instead of vacationing somewhere put it towards getting a better place.

Handing off your guns to a trusted friend is illegal unless you do the proper paperwork. Do you trust all the friends your trusted friend has and all the trusted friends they have?

Guy is in an apartment. Whomever gets in knows he's gone and they have all day long to get his guns.

This is sound advice IMHO.

[Quiet]

FYI, CA laws have changed in regards to storing firearms for other people.

Under CA laws, starting 01-01-2020...

A non-FFL storing firearms for another person is considered a type of "loan" and non-exempt loans must be transferred through a CA FFL dealer. [PC 27545]

There are two types of storage loans that are exempt from needing to be transferred through a CA FFL dealer.

A.
The loan is done because the transferor is suicidal or someone living with the transferor is suicidal. The transferee needs to be a non-prohibited person age 18 or older and can not use the firearms in any manner other than transport & storage. For the entire duration of the loan, the firearms need to be unloaded and in a locked container/safe or disabled by a firearm safety device. The duration of this loan can last as long as duration of self-harm persists. If the transferor becomes a prohibited person during the loan, then the transferee must immediately surrender the firearms to law enforcement. [PC 27882]

B.
The loan is being done for general storage on the transferee's property. All of the firearms must be registered to the transferor. The transferee must be a non-prohibited person age 18 or older and can not use the firearms in any manner other than transport & storage. For the entire duration of the loan, the firearms need to be unloaded and in a locked container/safe or disabled by a firearm safety device. The duration of the loan can not be for more than 120 days. There must be a written & signed agreement between the transferor and transferee that lists the firearms and time period for the storage. [PC 27883]
^CA DOJ BOF has not yet published the form to use with this type of storage loan, even though they are required to do so. They are citing "COVID related staffing issues" for the delay.
~That said a document that includes the following should meet the requirements that CA DOJ wants: (a County ADA advised that this would meet the requirements)
1. Date of transfer.
2. Full name of transferor with valid CA DL/ID #.
3. Full name of transferee with valid CA DL/ID #.
4. Statement that the following firearms are being stored by the transferee for the transferor for the stated length of time (1-120 days).
5. Listing of all the firearms being stored. (make, model, caliber, serial number)
6. Dated signatures of the transferor and transferee.

If the storage loan does not meet any of the above requirements, then the firearms must be transferred (DROS, 10 day wait) to the transferee through a CA FFL dealer. [PC 27545]
^The return of the firearms is transferred (DROS, 10 day wait) through the same CA FFL dealer.

[floogy]

So much overthinking, crazy suggestions and judgment about what other people are doing with their time and money.

"Safes" that cost less than a few thousand dollars will only deter for a few minutes at most. Most "safes" that cost a few hundred have the same thickness of steel that the $100-200 stack on cabinets have. So if there's no security system you might as well throw them in a closet and make sure you've got insurance. But all that said, a relatively cheap cabinet bolted to a wall, combined with a security system may deter a methhead smash and grab. Not to mention a full size heavy duty safe just isn't realistic for a lot of apartments.

Take reasonable precautions as you would with home security regardless of firearm storage. Self setup security systems are pretty cheap these days and can be installed in apartments without permanent changes. Put your mail on hold and I assume you're not 100 years old so you won't have newspapers piling up. Don't make it obvious you're leaving when you do leave. Be discreet with luggage and talking with your neighbors about vacation. Use some timers or wifi operated switches for lights and a radio. Make sure your insurance covers your firearms.

People have to leave their homes for all sorts of reasons. Business travel, family obligations, deployments, etc. Sometimes it's just not ideal regardless of what you do. I lived in an apartment in a border town while in the military and did have to leave sometimes. Not ideal, but reality.

[SVT-40]

You can't bolt down a safe in an apartment. So a heavy safe. Is expensive. For a few guns, I like the pawning idea.

Why can't you? Safe in closet lag screws into sub floor only leaves small holes... If it's carpeted they will never be seen. Tile would be the only problem.

[Garv]

Can you have a trusted friend or relative stay at your hypothetical place?

My son moves back into the house when we go away, mostly to take care of the dog.

I buy the food he wants and I give him some money.
He gets out of his apartment for a while.
He enjoys it.

(My guns are all in a safe, so less of an issue.)

[MissiontoMars]

FYI, CA laws have changed in regards to storing firearms for other people.

Under CA laws, starting 01-01-2020...

A non-FFL storing firearms for another person is considered a type of "loan" and non-exempt loans must be transferred through a CA FFL dealer. [PC 27545]

There are two types of storage loans that are exempt from needing to be transferred through a CA FFL dealer.

A.
The loan is done because the transferor is suicidal or someone living with the transferor is suicidal. The transferee needs to be a non-prohibited person age 18 or older and can not use the firearms in any manner other than transport & storage. For the entire duration of the loan, the firearms need to be unloaded and in a locked container/safe or disabled by a firearm safety device. The duration of this loan can last as long as duration of self-harm persists. If the transferor becomes a prohibited person during the loan, then the transferee must immediately surrender the firearms to law enforcement. [PC 27882]

B.
The loan is being done for general storage on the transferee's property. All of the firearms must be registered to the transferor. The transferee must be a non-prohibited person age 18 or older and can not use the firearms in any manner other than transport & storage. For the entire duration of the loan, the firearms need to be unloaded and in a locked container/safe or disabled by a firearm safety device. The duration of the loan can not be for more than 120 days. There must be a written & signed agreement between the transferor and transferee that lists the firearms and time period for the storage. [PC 27883]
^CA DOJ BOF has not yet published the form to use with this type of storage loan, even though they are required to do so. They are citing "COVID related staffing issues" for the delay.
~That said a document that includes the following should meet the requirements that CA DOJ wants: (a County ADA advised that this would meet the requirements)
1. Date of transfer.
2. Full name of transferor with valid CA DL/ID #.
3. Full name of transferee with valid CA DL/ID #.
4. Statement that the following firearms are being stored by the transferee for the transferor for the stated length of time (1-120 days).
5. Listing of all the firearms being stored. (make, model, caliber, serial number)
6. Dated signatures of the transferor and transferee.

If the storage loan does not meet any of the above requirements, then the firearms must be transferred (DROS, 10 day wait) to the transferee through a CA FFL dealer. [PC 27545]
^The return of the firearms is transferred (DROS, 10 day wait) through the same CA FFL dealer.

[MissiontoMars]

Why can't you? Safe in closet lag screws into sub floor only leaves small holes... If it's carpeted they will never be seen. Tile would be the only problem.

[Sig79]

Buy a safe. I got years ago and paid 1250 which is not a lot to keep valuables safe from fire and buy you time if someone tries to break into it

[oddball]

Most apartments will not let a tenant modify the dwelling unless approved. I guess one can break the agreement and drill holes and install large lag screws/bolts/nuts, etc. But the safe needs to be of a good size, weight, wall thickness, etc. You did not specify how many/type of firearms you have.

If it was me, if you only have a few guns, I would simply hide them to the very best of your ability and live with it. Be very creative in finding a hiding space (vents, baseboards, etc). IF, the very slight chance someone breaks in, they will steal your computers, TV, etc., all of your sh*t; having your guns stolen is the price you pay for the home conditions you have.

[bender152]

If you're handy, find some "dead" space in the walls. Cut open the drywall, put guns in, replace drywall.

If you're not handy, hide them under a pile of dirty clothes. Leave underwear with a skid mark on top of the pile of clothes.

[OldFinger007]

The decoy method.

Get a cheap lock box and put a few heavy clunky items in the box. Maybe a few dollars and coins. No guns!

Remove all gun and firearm related item from the apartment. (Toss it in your trunk)

Key! Deep hide firearms!! Secret panel, in a wall, ceiling, air duct. Deep hide the firearms in a place that the vandals will not find them.

Hopefully they take the lock box and run....thinking they found the good stuff.