weapon in a locked vehicle
- Thread starter kimm1
- Start date
In wisconsin i know that a vehicle without a trunk is not technically considered a locked container when your weapon must be SECURED due to windows being an extreme weak point. Much like "locking" your house with only a screen door. While technically this does not help you with your question per-say, it may give insight. My vehicle does not have a trunk so i use a fire safe. As far as leaving it in your vehicle because of a "target this business" sign, it would be sufficient.
^^This. A locked vehicle is not a locked container under the law. I would avoid leaving a firearm in an unattended vehicle if possible though. It will not end well for you if your firearm is stolen from your vehicle in a may issue state.....
Treo
Bullet Proof
First, let me suggest that you look up the relevant statute and read it for yourself instead of taking the word someone w/ an internet law degree.
Second, I'd like to point out that you can purchase a small lock box for your car from Wal Mart for under 30.00$ and cable lock it to a seat. It won't stop a serious thief but it should work for a smash and grab guy. Also, it will definetely meet the MA requirement for a "locked container".
30.00$ insurance for a 400$+ gun seems pretty cheap to me.
No firearms allowed
sambo42xa
USA Carry Supporter
Weapon and ammo in separate locked containers when stored in a vehicle. No trunk? Put one in a locked container behind the seat, the other in the glove box if it is keyed lock. If not, lock it up in a container and put it in the glove box. Next, a weapon in a locked vehicle is a no no.....especially in MA.
Lots of questions regarding this topic. I believe it is actually illegal to leave your weapon unattended in said vehicle/s. I still cannot find where it states this word for word though. And, if you ask a LEO they'll give you different answers. My suggestion is, do not leave it unattended as others have said.
If you do a search on this, I believe I asked the same question some years back and someone actually did find something on it. It was in this section......try maybe at least 2-3 yrs ago looking for my user name sambo42xa.
Lots of questions regarding this topic. I believe it is actually illegal to leave your weapon unattended in said vehicle/s. I still cannot find where it states this word for word though. And, if you ask a LEO they'll give you different answers. My suggestion is, do not leave it unattended as others have said.
If you do a search on this, I believe I asked the same question some years back and someone actually did find something on it. It was in this section......try maybe at least 2-3 yrs ago looking for my user name sambo42xa.
This is not true. You are confusing "storage in a vehicle" vs. "transporting in a vehicle" you can have it loaded and stored in a vehicle, as long as the vehicle isn't running. If you start the vehicle you are now "transporting" and the firearm has to be in a locked container, unloaded ammo seperate.
DavidC77
New member
The way it is in MASS depends on your LTC.
A LTC A allows carrying while under your direct control (on you).
A LTC B does not allow carrying a loaded gun. The gun has to be in a lock box, trunk or other secure container.
If you have a loaded gun in say a seat holster / dash holster / or in the cup holder, if you get out of the vehicle you are no longer "In Direct Control" of the gun and must store it in a container.
Here's the Chapter/Section..... Chapter 140 Section 131C
General Laws: CHAPTER 140, Section 131C
Section 131C. (a) No person carrying a loaded firearm under a Class A license issued under section 131 or 131F shall carry the same in a vehicle unless such firearm while carried therein is under the direct control of such person. Whoever violates the provisions of this subsection shall be punished by a fine of $500.
(b) No person carrying a firearm under a Class B license issued under section 131 or 131F shall possess the same in a vehicle unless such weapon is unloaded and contained within the locked trunk of such vehicle or in a locked case or other secure container. Whoever violates the provisions of this subsection shall be punished by a fine of $500.
The way the law reads the gun has to be unloaded and stored, it doesn't say anything as to having the ammo in the same container or not.
The way I do it, to be safe, incase a LEO wants to look in my vehicle or if someone breaks into my vehicle, I store my gun in one lock box and ammo in another lock box.
I carry every day, the only times I have to leave my gun in my vehicle is if I go into a Post office, Police Station or somewere else that doesn't allow carrying. In all my days of carrying I can count on my hands how many times I have had to leave the gun in my vehicle.
Folks that have to go to court everyday or somewere that doesn't allow carrying of course are different, if the place you are going dosn't have storage area's you have to lock it in your vehicle.
I worked at a College, so of course I couldn't even bring a gun with me to work unless I parked on the street (which was not something I could do). Those days sucked as I had to go about my daily travel before and after work without protection.
The LTC laws are Chapter 140 Section 131
General Laws: CHAPTER 140, Section 131
I hope this helps you out some, I am in no way a lawyer, so I am not saying this is the law, but it is how I look at the law to protect myself. Each LEO looks at the laws differently and each Cheif has his/her own thoughts of the laws and each DA has his/her thoughts about the laws.
Welcome to the Messed Up CommYwelth of MASS Gun Ownership Laws......................
If you start to carry daily it might be a good idea to contact a firearms lawyer and go over a few things with him/her, and put him/her on retainer.
David
A LTC A allows carrying while under your direct control (on you).
A LTC B does not allow carrying a loaded gun. The gun has to be in a lock box, trunk or other secure container.
If you have a loaded gun in say a seat holster / dash holster / or in the cup holder, if you get out of the vehicle you are no longer "In Direct Control" of the gun and must store it in a container.
Here's the Chapter/Section..... Chapter 140 Section 131C
General Laws: CHAPTER 140, Section 131C
Section 131C. (a) No person carrying a loaded firearm under a Class A license issued under section 131 or 131F shall carry the same in a vehicle unless such firearm while carried therein is under the direct control of such person. Whoever violates the provisions of this subsection shall be punished by a fine of $500.
(b) No person carrying a firearm under a Class B license issued under section 131 or 131F shall possess the same in a vehicle unless such weapon is unloaded and contained within the locked trunk of such vehicle or in a locked case or other secure container. Whoever violates the provisions of this subsection shall be punished by a fine of $500.
The way the law reads the gun has to be unloaded and stored, it doesn't say anything as to having the ammo in the same container or not.
The way I do it, to be safe, incase a LEO wants to look in my vehicle or if someone breaks into my vehicle, I store my gun in one lock box and ammo in another lock box.
I carry every day, the only times I have to leave my gun in my vehicle is if I go into a Post office, Police Station or somewere else that doesn't allow carrying. In all my days of carrying I can count on my hands how many times I have had to leave the gun in my vehicle.
Folks that have to go to court everyday or somewere that doesn't allow carrying of course are different, if the place you are going dosn't have storage area's you have to lock it in your vehicle.
I worked at a College, so of course I couldn't even bring a gun with me to work unless I parked on the street (which was not something I could do). Those days sucked as I had to go about my daily travel before and after work without protection.
The LTC laws are Chapter 140 Section 131
General Laws: CHAPTER 140, Section 131
I hope this helps you out some, I am in no way a lawyer, so I am not saying this is the law, but it is how I look at the law to protect myself. Each LEO looks at the laws differently and each Cheif has his/her own thoughts of the laws and each DA has his/her thoughts about the laws.
Welcome to the Messed Up CommYwelth of MASS Gun Ownership Laws......................
If you start to carry daily it might be a good idea to contact a firearms lawyer and go over a few things with him/her, and put him/her on retainer.
David
mshean1955
New member
Ma. Law does not give any description/definition under the statute for 'locked container'. The weapon is to be unloaded, secured in a 'locked' container, OR have a trigger lock or like device rendering the firearm useless if left unattended temporarily in the vehicle.
Last edited:
DavidC77
New member
Ya, with the strange way MASS is they say a soft case that the zipper can be locked is a "secured container ", I never said MASS made since..........
mshean1955
New member
I think they are very vauge so that they can interpret the law to suit them any way they please DavidC77.
Your quoting transportation laws and trigger locks are not allowed for transport. The law says "in a locked container" period.
Read the storage laws again, you'll see it doesn't say anything about the firearm needs to be unloaded.
Just because the firearm is in the vehicle, it doesn't mean its being transported. How can an officer say you are transporting a firearm if the vehicle is parked, off, keys out of ignition and your not in it?
What it is, is they are trying to cover 3 laws with only 2. There is transporting a firearm and storing a firearm. What they need to do is have 3, Transporting a firearm, Storing a firearm in a dwelling and storage of a firearm in a vehicle.
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