Auto wrecks and guns

[230RN]

Despite the span of decades it has been since "shall issue" swept our nation, it remains an "unexplored country" legally and in practice.

There are a bunch of variables. If you are in a wreck and are not conscious, how does EMS cope with your holstered sidearm? Even worse, suppose the sidearm winds up loose in the vehicle?

Hospitals are generally GFZ, which can complicate things no end.

It's tricky ground, and there's probably no good path across it without at least a few muddy spots.

The basic problen here is that guns have become more than just "tools," a la Shane's remarks in the movie of that name.

Thanks to the efforts of anti-gunners of all time periods, guns have become instruments of fear and loathing instead of mere tools which can be misused.

I remember a remark by one of us that buying a gun should be like buying a mattress. You pays yer money and ye takes it home.

I wish I could remember the movie starring Sterling Hayden as a Sheriff where when the case was all over, he just handed a guy's evidence gun back to him right there on the street, no muss, no fuss, no paperwork, no gasps from anybody,

In the matter discussed in this thread, my irrational and simplistic opinion is that guns should be handled like any property. The custodial authorities document it like cash and jewelry and other properties, and turn it back when the case is over without any gulping in fear or pearl-clutching or faint-hearted collapsing on the fainting couch.

But that would be Terry's Heaven, and we all know this ain't Heaven.

Terry, 230RN

 

[Speedo66]

I get in an auto accident, go to the hospital unconscious, and my sidearm vanishes? If I survive, I'll worry about it, but not much - I have another one. Guns are replaceable.

The problem is in rabid anti gun states like NY, where every handgun is registered to you and on your license, and no one else may touch it.

Since they don’t want you to have one in the first place, a missing handgun would cause you untold suffering, and threats to your license.

 

[armoredman]

The problem is in rabid anti gun states like NY, where every handgun is registered to you and on your license, and no one else may touch it.

Since they don’t want you to have one in the first place, a missing handgun would cause you untold suffering, and threats to your license.

Yikes, that would be double plus ungood.

 

[jeepnik]

Many moons ago I had two choices. Chain link fence ot low bed semi carrying steel rolls. I chose the fence, driver never stopped. First on scene (it was about 5am) was a young woman on a parking enforcement trike.
I told I was armed and permitted

The lady asked me to empty the pistol then give it to her. I didn’t require a trip to the ER so after everything was concluded she gave it back to me. This occurred in front of regular patrol officers who seemed a be stunned.

empty the firearm

 

[marvin02]

Sometimes you aren't close enough to home for someone to come and get your firearm(s). I travel to matches and usually have multiple guns and what many would think is an abundance of ammo.

I make sure my wife knows what I have with me in case something's happens.

 

[Jim Watson]

I wish I could remember the movie starring Sterling Hayden as a Sheriff where when the case was all over, he just handed a guy's evidence gun back to him right there on the street, no muss, no fuss, no paperwork, no gasps from anybody,

In 2008 I had a B&E (not much breaking, I had carelessly left a window unlocked) and the guns left out for cleaning and tinkering stolen.
I promptly reported it, so when, two nights later the punk tried to enter an alarmed business, and a quick response led to a chase, ended by him wrecking his stolen car, one of the cops said something to the effect "Hey, these guns look like the ones that Watson guy had stolen."
So about 2:00 am they called me to the wreck scene and handed my guns over without formality. It wasn't all of them so when they got the rest of them out from under his bed at Momma's house, they called again. I had to pick those up at the police station, but still with little fuss.

Can you imagine that now or in a bigger city? They would probably still be "in evidence".

 

[Zahn]

Not as good a story as others have related here: I had a coworker die in a car crash a year ago. As I understand it, his wallet, cell phones and EDC went missing between the accident scene and when his wife retrieved his personal possessions. I never asked but I figured he always had at least one pistol with him, and perhaps two. Nobody knows what happened to his stuff.

 

[jak67429]

was in an atv accident several years ago deer jumped in front of me. Broke several ribs. the responding county leo asked if I was carrying, while looking at my holstered pistol. so he took it and my knife. Asked if I had someone who could pick it up or I wanted him to secure it. told him my cousin lived half mile away. he called my cousin and gave him the gun and knife no questions other than an ID.

 

[Mountainman2]

Not as good a story as others have related here: I had a coworker die in a car crash a year ago. As I understand it, his wallet, cell phones and EDC went missing between the accident scene and when his wife retrieved his personal possessions. I never asked but I figured he always had at least one pistol with him, and perhaps two. Nobody knows what happened to his stuff.

 

[Mountainman2]

That’s what I am afraid of

 

[defjon]

Always wondered about this. Glad I'm not the only one.

 

[toivo]

I got T-boned in an old Ford Ranger pickup on the way home from the range several years ago. I had two rifles in the car, in soft cases behind the seat. I wasn't badly hurt, but I tore my ear on the rear window latch and had to go to the hospital for stitches. I told the officer on the scene (town PD), and he said he'd secure them before they towed the vehicle and I could pick them up at the PD later. That's what I did, on my way home from the hospital.

This is NY State, so a handgun might have been more problematic.

 

[KeithK]

I was hit 2 years ago, Highway patrolman said the kid looked to be speeding past 50 mph when he hit me, turned my F350 on its side and took the fireman 30 minutes to cut me out. I spent about 45 minutes hung up with my Glock pushing against me while I was suspended and held up by the center console and seatbelt. I had a huge bruise on my side and hip for weeks.

The highway patrolman noticed I was armed when the fireman finally got me out, he said you know you can't take that to the hospital, he said is there anyone you can call to retrieve it? It was midnight but lucky for me my neighbor is up late always and I called him and he went to the accident site which was only a few miles, he said when he got there the FHP officer just gave it to him after identifying himself.

Guess I was lucky, wife was with me and we both were transported to hospital, so best to have a buddy just in case. I was kind of surprised the officer never asked for a carry permit and at the hospital he told me my neighbor had arrived 5 minutes after the ambulance left and he gave him my glock and finished his paperwork there. I believe Florida is a little more forgiving of these situations.

 

[sevt_chevelle]

For 12 years I lived in Kansas City doing collision repair on high end cars. The shop was literally right on I-35 a major interstate, we got a ton of wrecked cars from tow truck drivers.

Judging by the stuff that I found doing teardowns, like Coke, Weed, large sums of cash and my favorite kiddy porn, I don't think the police/ wrecker drivers do much checking of crashed cars.

 

[tactikel]

At my hospital if an employee notices a firearm on a patient, and if the patient is conscious, they will be asked to leave the hospital with the firearm, or to surrender the firearm to security who will unload it, issue a receipt, and store the firearm until discharge. If the patient is unconscious security will be called the firearm will be unloaded and locked up in the security office, a receipt will be placed in the patient’s chart. Upon discharge the patient goes to security produce id and will be escorted from the hospital by security. At no time will CPD be called unless the patient refuses to comply.

 

[Simple Shooter]

Several years ago I took my motorcycle out on a beautiful NE Ohio day. We seldom see 70+ on Oct 9th. I went down, bike went down on top of me. Crushed ankle and 5 busted up ribs. I was carrying my .45 ACP. I told the first police officers on the scene and they were more concerned with me and getting the bike off of me. They told the EMT squad I had a gun on my hip. The squad carefully removed my gun which went to the ER with me. Same as mentioned above, hospital ER had their hospital police get my gun. A few days later my son came up and they happily handed him my gun at my request as he left the facility. Never a problem one. The police and hospital staff were great. and the gun was never an issue. Thinking back I was never even asked to show my license. This was prior to Ohio going with constitutional carry.

Ron

We Ohioans have come a long way. It wasn’t that long ago that our own Senator Metzenbaum would have demanded your head on a platter for even thinking about guns. Now we have constitutional carry. Bet he’s rolling in his grave.

 

[Reloadron]

We Ohioans have come a long way. It wasn’t that long ago that our own Senator Metzenbaum would have demanded your head on a platter for even thinking about guns. Now we have constitutional carry. Bet he’s rolling in his grave.

Never did like Metzenbaum.

Ron

 

[jmorris]

what you do if you were hurt bad and had to go to a hospital?

If I was hurt bad enough I needed someone to drive me to the emergency room, I wouldn’t worry about little things.

Insurance is going to take up some slack but it’s already going to be an expensive outing.

 

[lightman]

How would you go about saving your guns if you are in a bad wreck. I know almost tow truck drivers are honest but just to make sure what you do if you were hurt bad and had to go to a hospital?

This is something to be concerned about. Theres just too many variables to have a foolproof plan. Calling a close friend or family member is a good option if you're able. If you're unconscious your valuables are at the mercy of the first responders, LE, tow truck drivers, ect and their honesty. It pays to keep serial numbers of your valuable stuff.

 

[Pete D.]

Just this past February, i slipped on a cold and icy road in PA. The car struck an embankment, flipped on to its side and slid down the road. No one was hurt. No other cars involved, The car was totaled. It took twenty minutes to cut away enough of the car to get me out.
I had been shooting sporting clays. There were four shotguns in the car. When i was finally out of the car, and before going to hospital for the obligatory check, i told the officer on scene. He took the guns and put them in his cruiser, noted models and serial numbers, told me that in could retreive them at the station. That is exactly what happened.

 

[toivo]

Just this past February, i slipped on a cold and icy road in PA. The car struck an embankment, flipped on to its side and slid down the road. No one was hurt. No other cars involved, The car was totaled. It took twenty minutes to cut away enough of the car to get me out.
I had been shooting sporting clays. There were four shotguns in the car. When i was finally out of the car, and before going to hospital for the obligatory check, i told the officer on scene. He took the guns and put them in his cruiser, noted models and serial numbers, told me that in could retreive them at the station. That is exactly what happened.

Yes, that's pretty much exactly what happened to me, except AFAIK they didn't record any information about my rifles. If they did, they didn't tell me about it.