crossing state lines ?

[Joneal1990]

Lets say i go on vacation to Fl in march am i allowed to bring my pistol if i have a carrying License ? or am i alowed to cross state lines?

 

[Tim Coble]

You need to research the laws for each state you are traveling through and the state you are ultimately visiting. The best way to do this is visit each states legislative website or state police. It's best not to get your information from a forum as someone could be speaking from outdated information. Ultimately, you are responsible for what happens to you and the cops aren't going to take "I didn't know" as a valid excuse.

Good luck and enjoy your trip.

 

[Keykutter]

One thing is for sure, and you should also read it yourself, is that if you can possess a gun where you are, and you can possess a gun where you are going, you can carry across state lines.

Method of carry is what is important to read about thru states you travel.

KK

 

[jethrodull]

just got back from a two week trip to fl from tx. did as much research as i could, found that all gulf coast states had reciprocity with tx, tried to understand any carry prohibitions in the states and then carried to/fro. while there, i did not carry much(mostly because I was in a bathing suit), but on the road, i was packing the whole way.
j

 

[NavyLCDR]

Depends largely upon what license your state is from, is it a resident or non-resident license, do the states you are traveling in/through recognize the license you possess.

Without a license from the state you are in at any given time, it is a Federal law violation to carry a loaded gun within 1000' of school premises anyway, so in reality, reciprocity means next to nothing. In order to comply with the Federal law when carrying with an out of state license or permit, the gun must be unloaded and locked in a case within 1000' of a school, except on private property.

 

[jrs]

if you do not have a CCW permit (or reciprocity)in the state you're traveling through, generally you'll need to have the weapon unloaded and locked in a secure location. I've found that the most stringent regulations call for ammo to be in a seperate container. I've personally taken that to mean that the handgun be unloaded and locked in one container, with the unloaded mags and other ammo in another locked container.
We have nano-vaults which we keep in each car in case we go somewhere we cannot take our guns. We simply took one for the guns, another for ammo. This way, there's no misunderstandings or misinterpretations.
Even of one state has less stringent requirements, we don't need a scorecard to keep track of which state requires what. Better to be safe than sorry. Once we're in FL, we are then legal.

 

[Wyldekard]

This is the Federal Law. As others have pointed out, you must also research the laws of the states you will travel through.

18 U.S.C.
United States Code, 2010 Edition
Title 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I - CRIMES
CHAPTER 44 - FIREARMS
Sec. 926A - Interstate transportation of firearms
From the U.S. Government Printing Office, Link Removed


§926A. Interstate transportation of firearms
Notwithstanding any other provision of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or any political subdivision thereof, any person who is not otherwise prohibited by this chapter from transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle: Provided, That in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver's compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.

(Added Pub. L. 99–360, §1(a), July 8, 1986, 100 Stat. 766.)

 

[57moon]

Jethrodull, I have a trip from TX to FL planned for the end of the month. I appreciate your post, it was very helpful for my planned trip. Kindest Regards, 57moon.

 

[jethrodull]

Jethrodull, I have a trip from TX to FL planned for the end of the month. I appreciate your post, it was very helpful for my planned trip. Kindest Regards, 57moon.

well, be careful, cause I am no expert on gun laws, especially the one just above, federal requirements. That one as posted seems to suggest that you are not allow to cross state lines unless it is locked up....I suppose in all likelihood, if you got pulled over, you could always say that you stopped, got it out of the trunk and continued your journey?!?! Seems silly....

I just carry....
J

 

[NavyLCDR]

well, be careful, cause I am no expert on gun laws, especially the one just above, federal requirements. That one as posted seems to suggest that you are not allow to cross state lines unless it is locked up....I suppose in all likelihood, if you got pulled over, you could always say that you stopped, got it out of the trunk and continued your journey?!?! Seems silly....

I just carry....
J

The Federal law quoted above, known as the Firearms Owners Protection Act (FOPA) is NOT a requirement to cross state lines with a gun. Notice the opening words, "Notwithstanding any other provision of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or any political subdivision thereof, any person who is not otherwise prohibited by this chapter from transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm" It says ENTITLED TO, it does NOT say REQUIRED TO.

When you are transporting a firearm across several states, you have two options. First, you can comply with the laws of each state that you are presently in. Going from Idaho, through Montana and Wyoming to Colorado, for example, either open carry a fully loaded gun in a holster on your belt the whole way, no permit required, or concealed carry like you normally would with a recognized permit. No requirement to unload or lock the gun in a case at any time (except for the 1000' Federal Gun Free School Zone law, which is an entirely different subject).

OR you may, as an option, choose to comply with the conditions of FOPA, the Federal law above. FOPA allows you to transport a firearm that would otherwise be illegal to possess through a Constitution unfriendly state such as New York, New Jersey, California, etc. For example, traveling through Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire - with a recognized permit, you could simply carry the gun fully loaded, concealed like you normally would. When you get to passing through New York or New Jersey, you would want to take the OPTION of complying with with FOPA and lock the unloaded gun and ammo in the trunk, because it might be impossible for you to comply with the laws of those states. By complying with FOPA, you have an affirmative defense to prosecution for violating the laws of such states while transporting a firearm. Complying with FOPA also happens to comply with one of the exceptions to the 1000' Federal School Zone law.

Some people may not wish to "carry" a firearm for self protection, but would like to "transport" a firearm for competitions or hunting. FOPA provides a convenient OPTION of doing so without having to look up the state laws of every state they might travel through.

 

[57moon]

Thanks NavyLCDR. Good intel. BTW, I retired as a Navy LCDR in 98. Kindest Regards, 57moon