Unloaded Open Carry Question

[lawaia]

When you UOC, what is the legal way to store and transport the weapon when you are in and out of your vehicle several times during the day? Do you have to unholster and lock the weapon up each time you enter and operate the vehicle, or is it legal to leave it holstered at your side?

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I am not clear in my understanding of this matter. I have seen references on this forum to UOC and making sure to not drive near any schools. However, I thought that a handgun always had to be in a locked container during transport in a motor vehicle.

Thanks for any clarification.

[pullnshoot25]

When you UOC, what is the legal way to store and transport the weapon when you are in and out of your vehicle several times during the day? Do you have to unholster and lock the weapon up each time you enter and operate the vehicle, or is it legal to leave it holstered at your side?

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I am not clear in my understanding of this matter. I have seen references on this forum to UOC and making sure to not drive near any schools. However, I thought that a handgun always had to be in a locked container during transport in a motor vehicle.

Thanks for any clarification.

The former.

[MudCamper]

As long as you are not in a school zone, you do not need to unholster your handgun.

A handgun only has to be in a locked container (or in the trunk) when you are transporting it concealed. If you pass through a school zone, then you also must have it in a locked case or the trunk.

Now a bunch of people may jump in here and say this isn't true. Most cops will say it's illegal. Most firearms "experts" will tell you it's illegal. They are all wrong.

[ENTHUSIAST]

When you UOC, what is the legal way to store and transport the weapon when you are in and out of your vehicle several times during the day? Do you have to unholster and lock the weapon up each time you enter and operate the vehicle, or is it legal to leave it holstered at your side? .

When you are in your car UOC *should* be perfectly fine EXCEPT when driving through a K-12 school zone, but since you cant really drive more than a few miles with out some how crossing through an invisible school zone (that you may or may not be aware of) it would be wise to keep your handgun safely locked in your trunk (or a locked brief case etc.).

I noticed that you used the word UNHOLSTER when talking about placing the firearm in a locked container (such as a car trunk) but I would caution you that if a LEO saw you he may think you are brandishing/making threatening gestures, so I have heard it is better to remove your holster from your person and secure it in the container when transitioning from one safe zone to another.

Think in your mind what looks safer/more appropriate if you seen someone remove their holster setup and put it in the trunk at 2pm in the afternoon on a busy street or unholster their piece "in a threatening manner" and create a problem that could be easily avoided by what the gen public observes a UOCer do while acting as an ambassador for the 2nd Amendment...

[lawaia]

Thanks for the clarification, and the tip to not unholster during the transition from street to auto.

[gun toting monkeyboy]

Holy crap. He's right. All this time I have always thought that it had to be locked in a container. Here is the quote from the DOJ's website.

4. POSSESSION AND TRANSPORTATION OF CONCEALED WEAPONS
Carrying a Concealed Handgun Without a License on One's Person or Concealed in a
Vehicle
Pursuant to Penal Code section 12025, a person is guilty of carrying a concealed firearm
when he or she does any of the following:
• Carries concealed within any vehicle which is under his or her control, any pistol,
revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person.
• Carries concealed upon his or her person any pistol, revolver, or other firearm
capable of being concealed upon the person.
• Causes to be carried concealed within any vehicle in which he or she is an occupant
any pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person.


Who knew?

-Mb

[MudCamper]

Who knew?

A lot of us knew. BTW, you should take what you read at the DOJ website with a grain of salt. They mix truth with fiction all the time. In this case they are quoting the actual penal code however.

[gun toting monkeyboy]

A lot of us knew. BTW, you should take what you read at the DOJ website with a grain of salt. They mix truth with fiction all the time. In this case they are quoting the actual penal code however.

Yes, but most of the gun owning population is under the impression that things are otherwise. I don't normally believe everything that they have on their website, or what they tell me on the phone. I have learned that the hard way through some lumps on here. But this was in their pamplet on CA gun laws. It would be pretty hard for anybody to argue that I wasn't trying to follow the law when I can produce a copy of it from their website.

-Mb

[Greg-Dawg]

Too many acronyms. What the heck is UOC?

[pullnshoot25]

Too many acronyms. What the heck is UOC?

Unloaded open carry

I know what you mean about the acronym thing, I remember wondering wtf IIRC meant, haha ROFL LMAO LOL.

hehe.

[lawaia]

Revised the title for clarification. "IIRC" had me confused for the longest time!!!

[Army]

The 1000' zone only applies if you have reasonable knowledge of a K-12 school zone.

If in a strange town/city, you cannot reasonably be expected to know where any K-12 schools are. You are not liable for violating an unknown zone.