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Modification to Hide a Weapon from View

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Southern Dad, Jan 14, 2012.

  1. Southern Dad

    Southern Dad Active Member

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    I love my new 2011 Prius Three however, I'm looking for a modification to conceal a legally carried handgun. My CCW is generally a 9 mm M9 or a .45 caliber M1911A1.

    Every vehicle I've ever owned, I've easily been able to find a place to put this that is still reachable by the driver. The center glove compartment is out due to size, shape and difficulty in opening (slide, then tilt).

    As I look the vehicle insides over, the only choices that I see are modifying the center under the bridge area in some way or possible a hard holster attached to the driver's side door panel where the bottle holder is.

    I am sure that others have encountered this and would like some feedback.
     
  2. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Shoulder holster?

    As too many local government employees have learned the hard way, the sidearm belongs on the owner, not hidden in the car where it may get jacked. It is rather humiliating for an anti-gun chief of police to explain why his gun was left in the car and ended up in the hands of a criminal after a car prowl.

    Some old threads here do have pictures of other options, but I don't like those choices.
     
  3. Southern Dad

    Southern Dad Active Member

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    What you say is true. I want to avoid the politics of carrying. I am just looking for the place for it. I drive about two hours per day. There are times that I go on trips of five or six hours.

    I have never used a shoulder holster but may consider it. I generally use a side holster that I can detach and re-attach to the belt easily. There are times that you cannot carry your weapon into certain locations. For example, picking your child up from school, making a deposit inside the bank, etc. These are generally only places where I am at for a minute or two.

    Fuzzy, I searched but must not have put the right keywords because I got lots of results none applied.
     
  4. jsmithy

    jsmithy Hypermiler and Freedom Lover

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    I do agree with above poster...the weapon should always be on you if carrying. However, if you feel it can;t be for some reason...
    Holster made for the front of seat cushion? DeSantis makes one.

    G26 or the like on fixed magnet in the top glove box? Preferred method.
     
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  5. El Nino

    El Nino Member

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    How bout inside the center pull down of the back seat. You could install a covered zipper on the side and make room inside to fit your gun. When up it would be totally hidden..and even down for that matter. Who would check inside that?
     
  6. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    My keywords are also not hitting the desired threads, only 'concerns ab mounting safe under Driver's Seat'.

    Now I'm running into vague memories of the better threads being among the many that degenerated into political flame wars and getting thrown over the wall into FredsHouseOfPolitics. My long ago request to join it was ignored, and I haven't tried again.
     
  7. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    I think about this every day. ;)

    The only thing I can come up with that is easily accessible is like you said, modifications to the center buttress. The only problem I have is that my idea would be to adhere a holster to the driver's side of the buttress but this encroaches into the legroom and could create an issue that way.

    Whatever you come up with, be sure to post pictures.
    (in case I ever ride with you)
     
  8. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    ...I have no experience except once serving on Grand Jury duty in New Jersey, where even a kitchen knife in the car can be considered illegal weapon. I see Wikipedia has a very good summary of state-by-state gun laws. Since you are in CA, I assume you are in compliance, but if you ever go to NJ, be careful to check the legal details.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_the_United_States_(by_state)
     
  9. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    ... and do be aware that NJ not only does not have the state constitutional protections of gun ownership that many of the rest of us have, it also is not shy about screwing interstate travelers transporting their personal firearms in full compliance with the very limited federal gun rights for travelers.
     
  10. Southern Dad

    Southern Dad Active Member

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    Actually I am in Georgia... sometimes the GA looks like a CA. I only need to have the firearm in Georgia where I can legally carry concealed. I wouldn't take it with me on vacation or traveling.

    El Nino, you've hit on something that gave me the idea for what I'll use for right now. The backside of the passenger seat has a storage pocket. It is within easy reach of the driver and I rarely have backseat passengers (If I did I simply would keep it on my belt for that trip.). A low hanging clip on holster keeps it inside the pocket.

    This wasn't something I considered when purchasing the vehicle. My 2008 Prius, I simply used the center console and the Navigator has a center console big enough for just about any weapon but I usually use the driver's door pocket in it.
     
  11. jsmithy

    jsmithy Hypermiler and Freedom Lover

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    I like the idea about the front passenger seatback pocket. That would probably work well with some kind of CCW holster.
     
  12. PapaGallo

    PapaGallo Junior Member

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  13. wbray123

    wbray123 Junior Member

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    There are some solutions out there. I have not tried them but check this link and google for more: car mount « Texas Custom Holsters
    A comfortable carry holster may work inside the car-especially for sizes smaller than the 1911. If something works for you, please post with pictures. Carrying is always safer than leaving in the car, but if you have to go to court you have to leave it. The glovebox is fine for temporary storage (unless there are children unattended in the car).

    I'm sure there are law enforcement officers with a personal Prius. I don't know if anyone has a Prius patrol car.

    Remember, when seconds count the police are minutes away.:)
     
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  14. d0nsut

    d0nsut New Member

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    I just ordered one of these to use in my home but they have one for the car too though I can't find any pictures. You may give them a call.
     
  15. TheForce

    TheForce Stop War! Lets Rave! Make Love!

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    I've seen the under seat holsters but dont know if they work well with the Prius. Basically you just reach down between your legs to get or holster you gun.
     
  16. wick1ert

    wick1ert Senior Member

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    I believe a friend of mine has a holster of some sort for under the seat for his CCW. I'm not sure what he usually keeps in there, but I know he has a few different options. I think it's more of a case than holster, though. I could ask him if you want, but I know I'll lose this thread - it's late, I've had a few drinks, and I'm not gonna remember it in the morning lol.
     
  17. Yogi56

    Yogi56 New Member

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    If your not carrying, anything short of locked storage is taking a risk. You could bolt a combination/fingerprint lock box in the rear under floor storage when your not carrying. If your carrying for self defense, anything short of on the body access is defeating the purpose of carrying in the first place. If your threatened, carjacking for example, the criminal, isn't going to wait while you fumble for your weapon under the seat or in some container in the center console.
     
  18. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    No gun check-in service in your state? I have used it here, though not recently. It's available only at the county courthouses, the state cannot impose this requirement on the federal courthouse.

    The very first time I ever used my carry license in public, I ended up carrying it in a police station, very poorly concealed under a light jacket. The desk sergeant had to have seen it, but it didn't faze him a bit. We were both busy trying to figure out the identity and home of the confused and frail senior citizen who flagged me down for a ride. When the old guy couldn't figure out the way home, I took him to the local station, where the sergeant knew to pull back the sleeve and look for a wrist band. It wasn't fully legible, so out came the phone books and an extra phone so I could help the cop call around to the local institutions to find which was missing a resident. And since no patrol officers returned during the twenty minutes it took for us to find the right place, I also ended up with the honor of giving Edward a ride back to his nursing home, where the staff was waiting to greet him.

    The sergeant couldn't possibly have not seen my gun, but didn't say a word about it. I quickly learned better ways to keep it properly concealed.

    Sensitivities are probably much different in that neighborhood today.
     
  19. Southern Dad

    Southern Dad Active Member

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    My issue isn't where to store the weapon when I have to leave it in the car. For that it can go under the rear deck with a trigger lock in place. My issue was that I have a long commute, usually over an hour each direction. A hip holster isn't comfortable on these type of drives. What I was looking for actually, I found because of someone else's backseat suggestion.

    I remove the weapon, holster and all, then slip it into the pocket on the back of the passenger seat. It is easily within arms reach and I can remove it with one hand. When commuting I never have passengers in the backseat and if I were to have one for some reason then I'd just keep it in the hip holster.

    I've asked a couple of LEO's in this area but none of them would ever admit to driving a Prius. Of course, just about every pickup truck made has a door pocket or center console. I even asked a female deputy, who laughed and said her 9mm fits right into her Saleen Mustang's center console.
     
  20. ForestBeekeeper

    ForestBeekeeper Active Member

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    In my state a CCW covers you the person, not your vehicle. A firearm needs to be concealed on your person; or else un-loaded.

    When I worked Law Enforcement, I wore a massive harness [belt / suspenders with pistol, clips, hand cuffs, radio, baton, pouch for gloves, etc] along with my vest. It was always difficult to work out a system for getting in and out of the vehicle comfortably. Without somehow damaging the upholstery of the vehicle.

    Another thought; if a LEO looks inside your vehicle and spots a firearm, the encounter you are having with him/her begins to go down a certain path. This is a bad path to go down. If that firearm turns out to be loaded, the path of the encounter will get very ugly, pretty quickly. The fact that you legally have a CCW is sometimes swept aside by the training and experiences of the LEO.

    There are many videos online that you can review, and see for yourself. Where law abiding civilians encountering Law Enforcement and suddenly it gets turned sideways when a loaded firearm is discovered not on the person.



    I urge you; either unload the firearm and lock it in the vehicle far removed from passengers. Or else conceal it on your person.

    Shoulder harnesses work well.

    For ladies bra-harnesses work well.

    Ankle holsters work well.