Car Safes
Being a concealed carrier comes with a great deal of responsibility. Being a responsible concealed carrying woman means always having a safe place you can put your gun.
Car Safes
Quick Links to the products I mention below: Bulldog Combo Safe and AmazonBasics Combo Safe
If you are going to carry a gun day to day there will be times you have to take it off.
It’s important you always have a safe place to put it.
This takes planning ahead.
Glove Box
If your particular car has a locking glove box you have an advantage. Your glove box could be used.
One of our cars does not have locking glove box. If we didn’t have the safe in that car and we had to go in to a place that doesn’t allow gun, where would we secure it?
Also, what if you run in somewhere and leave the car running for your passengers. If the key is in the car, is that locked glove box actually secure?
My Solution
I have this small combination safe made by Bulldog. It lives in my car. In the past I have taken it out for one reason or another and then not had it when I needed it. That is really frustrating.
You live and you learn. This safe doesn’t come out of the car. Period.
Hotel Rooms
Like I said, I don’t let this safe come out of my car in the normal day to day. The only exception is when traveling I use the safe in my hotel room.
In this particular photo it was about 10am and we were headed down to the pool for a couple hours. I obviously couldn’t take my gun to the pool. I knew housekeeping would be servicing our room while we were gone.
Is the safe in the room really “secure”? It’s not an option I’m comfortable with.
The bonus is that I can fit more than just my gun in the safe. I have secured things like my wallet, cash, gift cards, jewelry and anything else of value in the safe while traveling.
Tethering Cord
It’s a great idea to use the provided teethering cord for extra security. You just thread it around something stationary in your car (probably some metal under your seat).
The purpose is to provide resistance to someone smashing your window and then running off with the entire safe.
The other end of the teethering cord locks inside the safe as you see in the above picture.
Placement in My Car
I don’t like leaving the safe just laying on the car floor where it is visible.
I don’t want to tempt a criminal.
Most of the time the safe is actually empty because my gun is on my body.
The last thing I want is to deal with getting a busted window replaced because a criminal tried to steal my empty safe!
In my old van I could shove the entire safe under the passenger seat and it was pretty much out of view.
I got a new van this year and there is so much default “equipment” under the seat that there is no room for my safe.
The only solution I’ve come up with is turning the safe upright on its side and keeping it as flat as I can up against the passenger seat.
Tripping Hazard!
Not only do I want to keep the safe out of view, I want to prevent anyone that rides as a pasenger in my car from tripping!
Many years ago, I had a family member riding passenger in my van. As they were getting out of my van they got their foot stuck in the tether cord from my safe. They fell out of the car onto the ground! It was a scary experience but thankfully everything was ok.
Thinking about how you are placing the safe in your car can help prevent passengers in your car from having any mishaps.
A Note About Combinations
One thing to remember is to take extra precautions to keep your combination password safe. If my kid is sitting in the passenger seat I am sure to tilt the safe away from him or use my other hand to cup around as a privacy guard as I input my code.
If someone you don’t want to be able to access your gun figures out your combination, the safe is no longer a safe place for your gun. (You can reset the code to whatever you’d like if your combination gets compromised.)
Amazon Basics vs Bulldog?
I have several of the Bulldog safes. I’ve owned them for many years. They’ve gotten ALOT of use over the years and held up well. I have no complaints.
AmazonBasics recently came out with a case that is very similar and has great reviews. It is even a few dollars cheaper.
It actually comes in 3 different sizes. I personally would go with the middle size (which they call Extra Large). In the video above I show you the details of the differences.
I personally like supporting gun brands so I like the idea of buying the Bulldog version but if saving money is important to you, the Amazon branded ones are a solid option.
Concealed Carry is a Lifestyle.
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