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What classifies as "concealed" in a vehicle?

cynicist

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2008
Messages
506
Location
Yakima County, ,
"(b) Possesses a handgun that is concealed and readily accessible to the person within any vehicle;"

Anyone know what the current case law on what concealed in a vehicle means?

Would I be able to OC loaded in a car in OR without an OR permit?
 

afcarry

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2010
Messages
206
Location
Southeast of KC Mossouri
Some states want you to have it in plain view, loaded or unloaded. If you are going to have it hidden from ordinary sight then it must be disassembled. Other states really don't care, so long as you are traveling peacefully through the state. But keep in mind, that individual counties and municipalities may define these requirements differently to make them more strict. Best idea is to check your local statutes and ideally, have a lawyer interpret them (or LEO). However, not everyone can afford a lawyer. Read the statutes, read them again, follow them, and you'll never have a problem. If you modify your vehicle to hide the fact that you have a gun (like cut out some foam from a seat cushion or something) then you will definitely get more crooked looks from LEOs across the board. Have good sense, and you should be able to keep yourself out of a hole.
 
Last edited:

acmariner99

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2010
Messages
655
Location
Renton, Wa
From what I can gather:

According to ORS 166.250 1(b):

A person is guilty of unlawful possession of a weapon if that person: Possesses a handgun that is concealed AND readily accessible to the person within any vehicle

readily accessible means: in the passenger compartment. If you have no storage, make sure its locked up.
concealed means: hidden from ordinary observation -- (correct me if I am wrong please)

Others have said a car in Oregon is a public place so you can carry openly in a car provided it is in plain sight. (There are cities that prohibit loaded carry of a firearm within their jurisdictions -- note car definition above -- without an Oregon CHL.) Oregon does not honor permits from other states, but you can get a non-res CHL if you live in a state that borders Oregon. All of this means you can OC in your car with a loaded firearm if the firearm is in plain sight from ordinary observation outside the vehicle. I do not know if "under a seatbelt" qualifies.

I am not a lawyer -- check my info and correct me if I am mistaken
 

ak56

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Aug 10, 2009
Messages
746
Location
Carnation, Washington, USA
According to ORS 166.250 1(b):

A person is guilty of unlawful possession of a weapon if that person: Possesses a handgun that is concealed AND readily accessible to the person within any vehicle

readily accessible means: in the passenger compartment. If you have no storage, make sure its locked up.
concealed means: hidden from ordinary observation -- (correct me if I am wrong please)

Others have said a car in Oregon is a public place so you can carry openly in a car provided it is in plain sight. (There are cities that prohibit loaded carry of a firearm within their jurisdictions -- note car definition above -- without an Oregon CHL.) Oregon does not honor permits from other states, but you can get a non-res CHL if you live in a state that borders Oregon. All of this means you can OC in your car with a loaded firearm if the firearm is in plain sight from ordinary observation outside the vehicle. I do not know if "under a seatbelt" qualifies.

I am not a lawyer -- check my info and correct me if I am mistaken

From ORS 166.250

(

3)
Firearms carried openly in belt holsters are not concealed within
the meaning of this section.


Be careful to note that some cities in Oregon have other restrictions. See the sticky at the top of this forum.
 

cynicist

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2008
Messages
506
Location
Yakima County, ,
So, if I understand it correctly, if my loaded pistol is on a belt holster and not concealed, I should have no problems provided I am not in an area that prohibits OC?
 

acmariner99

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2010
Messages
655
Location
Renton, Wa
yes but....

Avoid certain cities around and including portland. You cannot carry loaded in a car or anywhere in those cities without a chl
 
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