Tell Hotel Manager Or Not?

[Venus Pax]

Call ahead & see if there is a room safe. When Mom & I stayed at Moody Gardens, they had programmable room safes. The room safe had more than enough room for the handgun.

I would also recommend that you do the canvas bag thing when you lock it up if you need to lock it up at the front desk.

I wouldn't recommend leaving it in the room without it being locked up. If you're cleaning person is the nosy type, you could have a problem.

I agree that locking it up in the truck, even in a vehicle safe, is too risky in Laredo.

[Venus Pax]

Do not, under any circumstances take the gun, even locked in a truck of your car in a safe, or any ammunition into Mexico. If you are caught, you will go to jail.

How did you find that out?

[para driver]

how do you say 'turn your head and cough gringo'.. in espanol?

[Rex B]

You can buy those COM lock boxes at the bigger sporting goods stores, such as Cabelas, for $30. I keep one in both cars. It gives you a lot of options:

- Lock the gun in it and then ask the hotel to store the box, no mention of handgun.
- Lock the gun in the box, with the cable looped around something substantial in a hidden place in your hotel room. A bed frame for example.
- Lock the gun in your car or trunk with the cable looped around something non-removable. Don't do this if you are crossing into Mexico, it's not worth it. But for things like 30.06 compliance it's a good solution.

[stevie_d_64]

You need one of these:

http://www.center-of-mass.com/

I agree with this option, and to double the protection, secure it in there and just ask if the hotel can store the "safe" in their "safe" while your out...

Use the cable loop, and secure it around the toilet base or some other hard structural element in the room, not something screwed into the wall like a closet rod or some other similar room accouprament...

Use the bedframe as a last resort...Most of the cleaning staff might wonder about it, being on something they have to make up for you while your gone...Working around that might give them a bit of a hassle...

The less they see the better...

Have a great trip!

[Rex B]

Stevie, Great Minds think Alike

[stevie_d_64]

Ohhh, like a few others have said...Be very careful to not have "ANYTHING" firearm related in your vehicle...The obvious being guns and ammo, even errant spent shell casings...

Its sometimes a hit and miss with the border crossing there in Laredo, going in being the most concern...

Before going, I'd check every crack and crevase, anyplace where something could slip under the edge of apolstery (carpet) under seats are good places to check to make sure nothing is left to chance...

Because one raised eyebrow will get you the N'th degree pretty much both ways these days...No need to give them ammo...(pardon the pun)...

But then again, sometimes you only get a cursory look...

But I'd rather err on the side of caution...Because they sure are not going to cut you any slack at all if given any reason...

[dihappy]

Good advise Steve, i doubt i will take my car over, but if i cant get a ride then i will have to.

Someone gave me this idea, what do you guys think:

Just pawn my gun for a day :)

Someone says the ATF has strict inventory rules for pawn shops and that i could pawn my gun for cheap then get it back the net day.

Any ideas???

[seamusTX]

Just pawn my gun for a day :)

Someone says the ATF has strict inventory rules for pawn shops and that i could pawn my gun for cheap then get it back the net day.

The pawn shop has to process the transfer like a sale coming and going (AFT FAQ). I suppose they accept a CHL in lieu of a NICS check, but I don't know for sure.

I haven't pawned anything for a while. The last I knew, the interest rate was about 6% a month. That means if they give you $300 for the weapon, you're going to pay $318 to get it back, even the same day.

- Jim

[Rex B]

6% a month ??

That's usury, isn't it??

[NcongruNt]

Good advise Steve, i doubt i will take my car over, but if i cant get a ride then i will have to.

Someone gave me this idea, what do you guys think:

Just pawn my gun for a day :)

Someone says the ATF has strict inventory rules for pawn shops and that i could pawn my gun for cheap then get it back the net day.

Any ideas???

My understanding is that once a shop takes posession of the gun, FFL rules for purchase apply when you get it back. While it shouldn't be an issue, if you have a pawn shop owner that insists doing a NCIS check even though you have a CHL, you may face a delay in getting your gun back from the place you took it to.

My thinking stems from a story a friend who used to own a gun shop related to me. Some fellow from out of state took a low-quality pistol to him to see if he could sell it on consignment. When it didn't sell after several months, the guy wanted it back, but had not updated his ID to Texas yet, and so my friend could not give him back the weapon, as his ID was from out of state. He offered to ship to a shop in the state that matched his ID, but the guy didn't want to go all that way (I think it was NM or AZ) just to get his cheap and relatively worthless pistol back. I think he ended up offering a very small amount of money to purchase the pistol from they guy to resolve the issue.

Since it's a pawn, there may be different rules that apply. I may have a couple of details of my friend's story wrong as well, it's been a while since he relayed it to me. Anyone with more accurate information is welcome to correct me.

[KBCraig]

Pawn shops ("Type 02" FFLs) are required to conduct a NICS check when redeeming a pawned firearm.

Gunsmiths have a Dealer ("Type 01") FFL. Having a 06 (manufacturer) or 08 (importer) FFL automatically qualifies the FFL to engage in gunsmith services.

Anyhoo... gunsmith services that are returned on the same day don't require NICS, nor entry in the gunsmith's bound book. If you're doing a day trip across the border, you can always drop your carry piece off for "cleaning" at a friendly FFL, and not have to worry about NICS when you pick it up.

[seamusTX]

6% a month ?? That's usury, isn't it??

I think usury laws were abolished in the 1970s.

The paycheck loan places charge an effective interest rate of several hundred percent a year (something like $50 in fees to borrow $500 for a week).

- Jim

[troglodyte]

Aren't hotels financially and legally responsible for any item you leave in their office safes (at least that's the way it sounds off the literature they leave in the room).

Sounds like the hotel safe is the best bet. I don't know which hotel you'll be at but if it is a reputable chain I would think you would be much better off than keeping it in your car or room and much less hassel than pawning it or checking it in at a gunshop.

I do like the one day gunsmith cleaning service idea but if your wedding runs late you may not make it back to the shop before they close. Or it may be a weekend wedding.

[Will938]

I assume you're not planning on driving your car south of the border - with a gun in it, locked in the trunk or otherwise?

Most hotels I stay in have safes in the room, usually in the closet . . . I've used these on occasion, with no problem.

Not 100% secure . . . but then, what is?

(Uhh . . . you're staying in Laredo . . . does that mean you're going into Nuevo Laredo, the murder/drug mecca of northern Mexico? Good luck, wish you a safe return.)

Yes exactly, fortunatly i think i can pass for a local, hehe. But im also getting picked up by friends who do live in Nuevo Laredo. I think my chances for getting into any mess are very slim.

If it wasnt for the wedding, i wouldnt be going. Not one of my ideas of a place to stroll around in.

They have a running tally on how many days the new mayor has survived...thats a bad spot to be. I don't think you could make me go there with anything less than an M249 and IVa body armor.