Truck Gun in California?

[thesolidus]

Trying to puzzle out the law (In California) about transporting a long-barrel firearm in a vehicle.
The statue PC 12025 and 12026 says a lot about handgun carry and how it must be locked in a container (not the glove box) and unloaded with ammunition separate, and must be being transported to or from a legal destination.

Then" Note: PC 12025 and 12026 apply only to concealed handguns. There are no restrictions on carrying rifles or shotguns in these sections. They can be transported unlocked, openly or concealed. However 12031 and other restrictions do apply."

So... if i have a truck with a lockable steel trunk, with a locked gun case in it in the back of a locked cap... and no ammunition anywhere near it... can that sit there indefinitely? There is an exemption to long guns passing through or parked in 'prohibited zones' but only for long guns. Can't find any statute requiring all the "directly to and from' part of the law that relates to long guns.

Before you ask why bother, live in a small ground floor apt in town. Some recent break-ins. Locked in truck in steel, case and cap is as secure as at home even with a concealed, weighted and bolted safe. And half of my wilderness gear and BOB#1 of 2 lives in my truck anyhow.

Just like to leave a turkey shotgun and maybe a simple 10-22 in the truck.

Might ask a couple PD friends but thought you guys might have heard this one before.

 

[Quiet]

In CA...

Only requirement for storing and/or transporting a long gun (except assault weapons & NFA firearms) in a vehicle is that it must be unloaded.

Storing them in a locked container is not required, but it is prudent.

So... if i have a truck with a lockable steel trunk, with a locked gun case in it in the back of a locked cap... and no ammunition anywhere near it... can that sit there indefinitely?

Yes. It can be stored there indefinitely.

 

[thesolidus]

Sweeet, want to confirm that but that's what i'm reading too.
Just to be safe, i'll have a hunting license and a "guide to killin gophers" in the back too.

 

[billwiese]

Unless I'm way off, you're gonna have to navigate carefully around schools if you're travelling with an accessible unlocked long gun. And I believe 'school' includes private schools as well. (Unsure how 'daycare' factors in, but if it's something like Montessori, that gets murky.)

You want your long gun locked (or in locked trunk)/unloaded if near a school. I think it's 1000ft, but my mind is wandering badly tonight.


Bill Wiese
San Jose CA

 

[thesolidus]

Plan on being Heavily Locked. Not really accessible for minute use, but not why it's there. Just don't like keeping all my eggs in one basket (or safe.)
I like that the school zone and University zone has a specific exception to long gun in a locked case. Otherwise 1000 ft from a school zone is most of the bay area!
Man I need to move...

 

[EOD Guy]

Member

I like that the school zone and University zone has a specific exception to long gun in a locked case. Otherwise 1000 ft from a school zone is most of the bay area!

California law has the exemption, Federal law does not.

 

[thesolidus]

Federal does does'nt it?
Otherwise driving past a school or living next to one would violate the gun free zone.
There was another thread covering that a few days ago.
Still, could be wrong...

 

[EOD Guy]

Federal does does'nt it?
Otherwise driving past a school or living next to one would violate the gun free zone.
There was another thread covering that a few days ago.
Still, could be wrong...

My mistake.

I misread the post. California does not require long guns to be in a locked case within a school zone, Federal law requires that all firearms be in a locked case.

There are exceptions in both laws.

 

[thesolidus]

I've thought the same thing for 2 years. All the nonsense about "directly to or from" and locked in such and such and right after 12026 there is a note stating this only applies to "Handguns or other weapons capable of being concealed" which it then states is specifically NOT a shotgun or rifle not classified under SBR.
School zone exception requires a locked case (I would anyway...)
But it's a neat gap to take advantage of. Can't carry concealed, cant carry open in half the state, can't leave a handgun in the car unless i'm directly to the range (and don't stop for coffee) but CAN, it seems leave a Mossberg 535 Tactical Turkey locked in a case in back, with a ready belt of ammo seperate. Or a little Kel-tec CA 16 in an Action Packer gear box... Quick walk to the trunk, 10 seconds at a lock and game on. Hmmmmm. Me likey!
Hell, that beats plinking with my Glock!

(Infantry rule. Pistol's only good to get a rifle, rifle is good to get a SAW, use the saw to get something belt-fed.)

 

[BrownRock]

I too have thought about this. Can ammo be kept in the trunk with the long gun? Or does the ammo have to sit up front with me?

 

[TAB]

perfectly legal. you can even have load mags, as long as they are not in the gun. I would recomend against that, as IME, most LEOs don't know the law( not just about guns)

 

[ScareyH22A]

You have to be careful as to storing it in a "utility compartment." I was told that when carrying a rifle or shotgun, unload it, put it in a rifle bag, lock the zipper, and put the rifle behind your seat or in the back of an SUV, then cover it with a blanket.

Now if the steel case isn't bolted to the vehicle but instead, chained to it, the case is no longer a "utility compartment" so you'd be fine. But if it's bolted down, I dunno...

 

[Quiet]

Storing in a "utility compartment" only applies to handguns not long guns.

You can legally store ammunition/loaded magazines in the same container as the unloaded firearm.