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How concealed does a handgun need to be in your vehicle when driving? I am thinking about a holster for under the steering wheel/dash board. Just curious before I buy anything.

It is unlawful to carry a weapon if you intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carry, on or about your person, a handgun in a motor vehicle or watercraft that is in plain view. Texas Penal Code 46.02 (a-1).

Was just looking at this in my instructor's book a few minutes ago, and the page was still open!

You have to consider will it be seen when you open the door up to get out? Will a child have access to it? Can someone who looks in a window going to see it? And by it, I mean the butt of the gun, or some other exposed part of the firearm.

TBM

Yeah I'm wondering from what position does it have to be seen to not be considered concealed. I would only use it when I'm driving. I would carry it on me or put in lock box if I leave the vehicle.

Macappletex wrote:How concealed does a handgun need to be in your vehicle when driving? I am thinking about a holster for under the steering wheel/dash board. Just curious before I buy anything.

Alright, picture this: you pull into the parking lot where there is a police car sitting.

Step out of the car and invite the police officer to look and see if he can spot any visible firearm.

If he can, you failed.

Those holsters under the steering wheel are not concealed enough.

Or worse, as you open the door the officer sees it and then you become the mwag. Concealed means concealed.

That is what I want to know! It is concealed when door is shut but can be seen if door is open. So I guess I should conceal it on person or in a lock box or other area before I open the door. I do not believe it can be seen from the windows in my car! Thanks for all the information!

This is the way I car carry and its perfectly legal.

[youtube][/youtube]

Throw a rag or hat over the firearm and its legal.

Jumping Frog wrote:
Those holsters under the steering wheel are not concealed enough.

I can only assume you mean a holster you have had experience with. And I understand, and respect that opinion.

But I can say for sure, the method I employ in my cars, under the steering wheel, in a holster, the weapon can not bee seen as such from the outside...

And if a LEO is in my car, then it makes no difference at that point, as he was not invited, and thus,, Im no longer concerned about concealment.

Of Note,, I can not use the same method in our truck... the line of sight is different and the weapon can be observed if you know what to look for and recognize it as a weapon.

Would something like this be considered concealed enough in the car? lewrockwell.com/higginbotham/higginbotham13.1.html

I don't have one, or currently plan to buy one, but I ran across it and thought it looked like a nice concept. Hadn't thought about whether it would be sufficient concealment, though.

MotherBear wrote:Would something like this be considered concealed enough in the car? lewrockwell.com/higginbotham/higginbotham13.1.html

I don't have one, or currently plan to buy one, but I ran across it and thought it looked like a nice concept. Hadn't thought about whether it would be sufficient concealment, though.

I doubt very seriously as the picture is taken from outside the truck and you can see that there is a gun. This is not concealed.

I know you said you are not buying but in a another thread, the credibility of that blog was questioned so do your research outside of just that one post.

I wondered if it would make a difference when the driver was in the seat, with his/her legs presumably covering up the holster. There weren't any pictures showing that view, and I'm not very familiar with concealment methods yet.

For whatever it's worth, I've actually never read that blog aside from the one post, so I'm sorry for posting something from a questionable source and thanks for letting me know that's the case. I found that specific post via a link in a post on activeresponsetraining.net, which seems reputable.

nightmare69 wrote:This is the way I car carry and its perfectly legal.

[youtube][/youtube]

Throw a rag or hat over the firearm and its legal.

Good luck when you jam on the brakes for some sudden-stop and your pistol goes flying.
Or better yet, you are disabled by an accident that sends your weapon flying and an LEO see's your weapon when he/she comes checking on you.

My suggestion: Put it away if you are carrying under the MPA.

Purplehood wrote:Good luck when you jam on the brakes for some sudden-stop and your pistol goes flying.
Or better yet, you are disabled by an accident that sends your weapon flying and an LEO see's your weapon when he/she comes checking on you.

My suggestion: Put it away if you are carrying under the MPA.

Im way ahead of you, this is why you buy a holster that you can secure to your seat frame.


A good holster make for your firearm that has good retention to and trigger guard to keep the gun from flying. Im sure if I get into a accident Ill have plenty of time to secure my firearm before police arrive, if i'm unconscious I doubt the LEOs are going to charge me while Im put on a stretcher.

I like this method of carry cause for one it allows me very quick access to my gun and its legal way to carry in Texas.

Although I am new to concealed carry I am not new to having a pistol in my vehicles..I keep it in the same place the guy in the video does because of how accessible it is..I do have an anchored vehicle holster..I have a swimsuit magazine over it for concealment..I opened the magazine and flipped to the middle of it then turned it over and tucked each side of it around my pistol..the magazine has not moved even when I put the windows down..I intend on continuing to carry my pistol in my vehicle as I feel it will much more accessible than trying to get mine out of the holster in time plus it gives me added firepower if needed and it holds more ammo than my subcompact glock.

I carry in the center console, if I have to, but you can carry on you in the car.