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need help

doughboi

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2011
Messages
19
Location
portland or
So i have questions about having no cpl in Washington. Do i unload before I get in the car or when I'm I
the car? And do i load in or out the car? When in the car can I have it in my holster.
 

SigGuy23

Activist Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2011
Messages
323
Location
Freeland, WA
So i have questions about having no cpl in Washington. Do i unload before I get in the car or when I'm I
the car? And do i load in or out the car? When in the car can I have it in my holster.

I would say it would be best to best to unload/load in the car. That way people don't see you and freak out.
 

1245A Defender

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2009
Messages
4,365
Location
north mason county, Washington, USA
well,,,

best not to give Opinions instead of correct law..

9.41.050 tells us that a loaded gun can not be in a car unless you have a CPL...
the empty gun can stay in the holster, but you can not load untill you get out of the car,
and you must unload before you get in the car.
 

tombrewster421

Regular Member
Joined
May 25, 2010
Messages
1,326
Location
Roy, WA
It's a good idea to not have a round chambered if you have to do this, since most holsters will allow you to drop the mag without having to remove the firearm. Much less likely to "warrant alarm" that way.
 

SigGuy23

Activist Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2011
Messages
323
Location
Freeland, WA
I understand that. But what's better? Taking a few seconds to load and step out or stepping out un holstering and loading in in front of people. Then you get the cops called for brandishing. Same goes for unloading. Open the door get in and immediately unload. Don't see the big deal there.
 
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Vitaeus

Regular Member
Joined
May 30, 2010
Messages
596
Location
Bremerton, Washington
RCW 9.41.050
Carrying firearms.

(2)(a) A person shall not carry or place a loaded pistol in any vehicle unless the person has a license to carry a concealed pistol

Do not have a loaded pistol in a vehicle without a valid CPL.

there is no crime defined as "brandishing" in the WA RCW's

closest you will get is http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.41.270 which is the one that gets discussed/argued a bit around here.

Link to the WA RCW's in general

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx

Link to most firearm related RCW's

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.41

tl,dr version

Get out and load unload and get in unless you have a valid WA CPL

No settled case law on a .270 violation, but there was a Yakima? incident which was dismissed as citizen was following the RCW's as above. BigDave or anyone else, do you remember the incident? Fellow outside a bank loading after getting out of his truck?
 

Freedom First

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2010
Messages
845
Location
Kennewick, Wa.
I understand that. But what's better? Taking a few seconds to load and step out or stepping out un holstering and loading in in front of people. Then you get the cops called for brandishing. Same goes for unloading. Open the door get in and immediately unload. Don't see the big deal there.

Your call SigGuy23, but all it takes is one jerkalope with a badge seeing you and then you get to see the inside view from his backseat... I'll pass. Prior to my CPL, I carried with a loaded mag but no round in the chamber and an empty mag carrier for the driving. Lock and load if your gonna be somewhere iffy, otherwise, condition 3. Just my $0.02...
 

p85-GSXwheelman

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2012
Messages
36
Location
Spokane
OR.......drop $55.25 and 15 minutes of your time to get a cpl....then mr. Pistola can stay in his home no matter where you go! :))
 

psbart

Regular Member
Joined
May 8, 2011
Messages
44
Location
Bremerton, WA
if I didn't have a CPL, I would load/unload OUTSIDE of the car. given the research hubby (Vitaeus) has shown me. As it stands, he and I both shelled out the dough to get the CPL's so that we DON'T have to mess with loading/unloading, is it partly concealed, avoiding school, all of that hassles. We both generally OC, but this gives us the option to CC if we wish, and helps to minimize the risk of negligent discharge that can occur with excessive holstering/unholstering of a loaded firearm.
 

PALO

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2012
Messages
729
Location
Kent
RCW 9.41.050
Carrying firearms.

(2)(a) A person shall not carry or place a loaded pistol in any vehicle unless the person has a license to carry a concealed pistol

Do not have a loaded pistol in a vehicle without a valid CPL.

there is no crime defined as "brandishing" in the WA RCW's

closest you will get is http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.41.270 which is the one that gets discussed/argued a bit around here.

Link to the WA RCW's in general

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx

Link to most firearm related RCW's

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.41

tl,dr version

Get out and load unload and get in unless you have a valid WA CPL

No settled case law on a .270 violation, but there was a Yakima? incident which was dismissed as citizen was following the RCW's as above. BigDave or anyone else, do you remember the incident? Fellow outside a bank loading after getting out of his truck?

i can tell you from a common sense law enforcement officer perspective, if you were seen unloading a firearm in a vehicle, and i was called to the scene, and you gave me that explanation (not having a cPL so were carrying openly and then unloading once you got in the car), i would "buy" that explanation and whether or not it was a "technical" violation, it certainly appears you are trying to comply with the SPIRIT of the law and also not trying to create a scene, so i would not have a problem with it AT ALL

i think reasonable officers would agree.

what BETTER option is there? unload outside the car ? how you would do this without creating a visual "distraction" that could rise to a level of 9.41.270 is the issue. ESPECIALLY on an urban street. personally, i don't think people should load or unload unless they have a loading barrel or a safe backstop. granted, i am an instructor and i'm pretty strict on safety.

this kind of thing is the perfect reason why it's a good idea to have a CPL even if you only plan on OCing.

if i had to unload in the car, i would keep my hands in the trunk AND have my hands hidden from view underneath a towel or something as i unloaded the gun. if you can't unload by feel, you probably shouldn't be handling the thing in the first place.

the towel trick is one i use on longterm surveillances when i gotta pee. mainly because i don't want some ******* kid with a cell phone camera getting me on video in an unmarked, peeing into a cup.
 

PALO

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2012
Messages
729
Location
Kent
Your call SigGuy23, but all it takes is one jerkalope with a badge seeing you and then you get to see the inside view from his backseat... I'll pass. Prior to my CPL, I carried with a loaded mag but no round in the chamber and an empty mag carrier for the driving. Lock and load if your gonna be somewhere iffy, otherwise, condition 3. Just my $0.02...

first of all, in the vast majority of cases, it's citizens calling these things in, not "jackalope " cops viewing them. it's a matter of #'s.

and people should not be racking slides, etc. with their guns out of their holsters to load/unload in an urban area. it would CERTAINLY get me at least a reprimand if not a suspension if i did it.

and again, as an instructor, **** like that makes my teeth itch
 
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PALO

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2012
Messages
729
Location
Kent
What about a revolver?

if you can rack a slide on a revolver, you are a bad-ass. nuff said.

but again, with firearms, it's clearly more of an issue to be racking slides and stuff than merely opening the cylinder of a revolver. i realize it's user error, but a fair # of unintentional discharges with semi-autos happen during loading/unloading/slide manipulation. and largely from teevee, etc. but people associate the racking of a slide with an offensive act. we've all seen it in movies and teevee.

it's hard to discretely outside the car, and doing it discretely could even make it look more suspicious, like something a criminal would do before entering a store to rob it or something

i just think it's bad form and not a good idea.
 

FMJ 911

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2011
Messages
350
Location
People's Republic of Snohomishia
if you can rack a slide on a revolver, you are a bad-ass. nuff said.

but again, with firearms, it's clearly more of an issue to be racking slides and stuff than merely opening the cylinder of a revolver. i realize it's user error, but a fair # of unintentional discharges with semi-autos happen during loading/unloading/slide manipulation. and largely from teevee, etc. but people associate the racking of a slide with an offensive act. we've all seen it in movies and teevee.

it's hard to discretely outside the car, and doing it discretely could even make it look more suspicious, like something a criminal would do before entering a store to rob it or something

i just think it's bad form and not a good idea.

That's why I'm heading into Sultan tomorrow morning to get my CPL, so I don't ever have to fiddle with my carry gun while out in public.
 

PALO

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2012
Messages
729
Location
Kent
That's why I'm heading into Sultan tomorrow morning to get my CPL, so I don't ever have to fiddle with my carry gun while out in public.

i think that's a good idea. and it will mean you have even more options.

if i'm going to fiddle with it in public, it must be because i'm thinking of kate beckinsdale!

granted, i don't have room to talk. i don't have a CPL :)
 
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MSG Laigaie

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Jan 10, 2011
Messages
3,239
Location
Philipsburg, Montana
Before the state allowed me to enter my vehicle safely (pre CPL) I interpreted the RCW to force me to load/unload outside the vehicle. Is this setting someone up for failure (ND)? I think so. That said, you must deal with the law as it is. You can be discreet when U/R your weapon. No need to upset people.
 

hermannr

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2011
Messages
2,327
Location
Okanogan Highland
I also have a holster cut so I can depress the mag release without handling the pistol. I guess, in keeping with my personal restriction (on myself) never to clear the holster unless you intend to pull the trigger (or clean it at home), I would have to carry it without one in the pipe.

I have my CPL so I don't have to worry about it, but I read the law to say you cannot enter the vehicle with it loaded. Your CPL is so easy to obtain here, there is no reason not to get one, and teh load/unload hassel goes away, as does the wait for a new pistol when you want to purchase one.

Just like when you are hunting, you have to clear the rifle (or shotgun) before placing it is the car., you have to do the same with a pistol if you don't have a CPL.
 
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