V8

I"ll start off by saying that I am a manager/lead Tech at a automotive repair shop.
So today I was working on a first time customers car. The type of repair, required the removal of a lower cover of the dash panel. To access the panel you must move the seat back as far as possible and lay on the floorboard.
You probably guessed it by now I'm sure, but I'll tell you anyway, there was a holstered weapon under the seat. At first I thought, what idiot leaves a gun in his car knowing that someone (that he dose not know) will be working on it. Remember this car and customer has never been at our shop before. I have no idea who he is and he has know idea how many people and what type of people will be in his car.
So I started thinking, what should I do? Should I lock it in the trunk? Should I leave it there and not say anything. Or, should I talk to the customer when he picks up his car and tell him to remove his weapon from the car the next time he brings it in? I mean he is welcome to carry at the shop but leaving a gun in a car seems to be very irresponsible and foolish, and to be honest I don't want to be responsible for it.
So what would you have done?

Ranger

I'd lock it in the trunk and tell the owner that you'd done so, then ask him to secure his weapon before leaving his vehicle for repair.

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Ram Rod

In your position, I would have done this........remove the pistol and lock it up. Never say a word to the customer...if he's that careless to leave it in vehicle while being serviced, he doesn't actually deserve to come back to it in my opinion. Just see the reaction once you give the car back to him, and wait for the phone call. Maybe he really doesn't care and he'll just get another one thinking he lost it. I really don't understand the mindset of those who can readily leave their life in someone else's hands. Or put others at risk for their incompetence. If you don't want to take responsibility for the firearm, just take it out of the vehicle, and throw it on the shop floor...that way, it's public property, and the first one who picks it up has ownership.

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rocky

I would lock it in the trunk so it isn't easily accessible. Tossing it on the shop floor is just a foolish idea. Public property just because it was out in view? I don't think so.

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nn

I just hope your are joking!
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As is see it you can leave it alone, call law enforcement, or put it in the trunk. I think I would have put it unloaded in the trunk and told him where to find the weapon he forgot to secure.

mikeprekopa

i think i would have put it someplace else in the car, like with the spare tire, then when he calls asking about it, tell him that you would prefer he secures his gun before turning the car over for a service, and he can find it in the spare compartment. or something along those lines. maybe not with the spare, but in another location he wouldn't normally have thought to look.

maybe thats a tad mischievous, but i think he would get the idea.

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wvshooter

I've never worked in a repair shop but I don't think I would have payed much attention to it. It was in a holster which makes it harmless/safe unless someone removes it from the holster. My only fear would have been that someone in the shop, employee or otherwise, may have stolen the weapon while it was on the premises. Handguns are attractive to thieves. I'm sure a missing handgun wouldn't be good for customer relations. If it had been an AK47 or an AR15 in the vehicle that would bother me. But a handgun. In a holster.

bandit383

Tuff call...I would of ceased all work and called the owner or the police (depending on the owner's response and demeanor...or some proof of ownership/CCW)

Rick

Thanis

+1

Would add that my prints would not be on the gun. Would tell him above nicely. Might consider only allowing the person who owns the car to pick up the car.

Might depend where you live. In my world, at a shop, MI, would have been an issue worth a reaction.

Could depend on where you live (even legal requirements). I agree, depends on reaction. However it would take a lot of doubt for me to get LE involved. In MI, handgun in car is not that odd (if you have CCW). I'm not LE, and can't demand CCW / proof. I think I could actually get in trouble for taking control of a handgun (prevent owner from regaining access) unless I have LE on way or I am in fear for my life.

If LE was involved, very likely guy looses gun, maybe CCW. You can't leave a handgun out of your control.

So, final thought, say something, as people make mistakes, even big ones. Sometimes, no harm, no foul.

SIXTO

I view it no different than a GPS or any other high dollar tool left in the car. Leave it alone, its not yours.

It was certainly irresponsible of the owner, I would say something about it for sure. I would only lock it up if it were a safety concern.

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