Hope you all had your rifle's on safety. I remember on the local news years ago when a man was putting his loaded rifle, not on safety, into the gun rack and accidently shot and killed his 19 year old son who was across the cab. I would always unload before securing a gun. I can't imagine the guilt this man will live with..
Oh for crying out loud. There's a difference between "loaded" in a magazine and having a round chambered.
Keep it loaded but always clear the chamber. Keep the bolt/action open if you like. It's not that difficult.
Accidents always happen with unloaded guns. For this reason, I always keep my guns loaded.
Geeze...this was in the early/mid 70s.
I don’t think the rifles even *had* safeties.
Nobody ever got hurt.
The boys all had their own trucks so I doubt there was much call for other guys to be getting in, anyway.
Moot point now.
The empty rifle hangs in the rack and the ammo is locked away somewhere else in the vehicle.
That’s the law, now.
I hunt like that...load my gun when I enter the property by truck. Then rack one, once I get out of the truck.
FWIW-