Legally transport Handgun in Pennsylvania???
- Thread starter RigaTony
- Start date
TrapperBob
New member
Hi, and welcome!
I understand that you're not looking to carry it concealed, but do you have a concealed carry permit from another state? That could simplify things if its one of the states PA recognizes.
Otherwise I'd recommend reading the NRA-ILA's information on firearms in PA: https://www.nraila.org/gun-laws/state-gun-laws/pennsylvania/ Among other things you can't have a loaded magazine and the firearm in the same container:
"A weapon is “loaded” if there is ammunition capable of being fired in the firing chamber, any cylinder of a revolver, in a nondetachable magazine, or in a detachable magazine that is attached or in the same container or compartment as the firearm." (Emphasis added)
However, my non-lawyer reading of the information at the NRA-ILA site for PA would be that for a non-resident unless you have a permit to own a handgun issued by your state you cannot have a handgun in PA. Since not all states issue permits to own a handgun this could be problematic.
"Any person carrying a handgun in any vehicle or concealed on or about his person’ is required to have a license to carry or a Sportsman’s Firearm Permit (good only for hunting, fishing, trapping and dog training).
However, no license is required:
(1) to carry a handgun in one’s home or fixed place of business;
(2) when engaged in target shooting or while going to or from shooters’ places of assembly or target practice, provided the firearm is unloaded and the ammunition is carried in a separate container;
(3) for law enforcement personnel, including policemen, jail wardens, and sheriffs and their deputies;
(4) to carry an unloaded and securely wrapped firearm from place of purchase to one’s home or place of business, to or from a place of repair, or in moving from one place of abode or business to another, or from one’s home to a vacation or recreational home or dwelling or back, to recover stolen property, or to a location to which the person has been directed to surrender firearms or back upon return of the surrendered firearm;
(5) to carry while lawfully hunting or fishing or going to the place of hunting or fishing, provided one has a hunting or fishing license and a Sportsman’s Firearm Permit;
(6) while carrying a firearm in any vehicle when the person possesses a valid and lawfully issued license for that firearm which has been issued under the laws of the U.S. or any other state;
(7) ......" (Again, emphasis added)
I want to reinterate that this is my non-lawyer interpretation on the law as shown on the NRA-ILA website.
I understand that you're not looking to carry it concealed, but do you have a concealed carry permit from another state? That could simplify things if its one of the states PA recognizes.
Otherwise I'd recommend reading the NRA-ILA's information on firearms in PA: https://www.nraila.org/gun-laws/state-gun-laws/pennsylvania/ Among other things you can't have a loaded magazine and the firearm in the same container:
"A weapon is “loaded” if there is ammunition capable of being fired in the firing chamber, any cylinder of a revolver, in a nondetachable magazine, or in a detachable magazine that is attached or in the same container or compartment as the firearm." (Emphasis added)
However, my non-lawyer reading of the information at the NRA-ILA site for PA would be that for a non-resident unless you have a permit to own a handgun issued by your state you cannot have a handgun in PA. Since not all states issue permits to own a handgun this could be problematic.
"Any person carrying a handgun in any vehicle or concealed on or about his person’ is required to have a license to carry or a Sportsman’s Firearm Permit (good only for hunting, fishing, trapping and dog training).
However, no license is required:
(1) to carry a handgun in one’s home or fixed place of business;
(2) when engaged in target shooting or while going to or from shooters’ places of assembly or target practice, provided the firearm is unloaded and the ammunition is carried in a separate container;
(3) for law enforcement personnel, including policemen, jail wardens, and sheriffs and their deputies;
(4) to carry an unloaded and securely wrapped firearm from place of purchase to one’s home or place of business, to or from a place of repair, or in moving from one place of abode or business to another, or from one’s home to a vacation or recreational home or dwelling or back, to recover stolen property, or to a location to which the person has been directed to surrender firearms or back upon return of the surrendered firearm;
(5) to carry while lawfully hunting or fishing or going to the place of hunting or fishing, provided one has a hunting or fishing license and a Sportsman’s Firearm Permit;
(6) while carrying a firearm in any vehicle when the person possesses a valid and lawfully issued license for that firearm which has been issued under the laws of the U.S. or any other state;
(7) ......" (Again, emphasis added)
I want to reinterate that this is my non-lawyer interpretation on the law as shown on the NRA-ILA website.
Right, it seems hard to interpret #6. I do have a concealed carry from another state (not recognized by PA) 
I would just like to have it locked & unloaded in my vehicle with the magazine/ammo on my person. And when I am away from the car there is no magazine/ammo available for the firearm to be used.
#6 'seems' to say to me that I can have it in my vehicle (unloaded and stored/secured separately from the ammo), but I want to be in compliance with the law.
I don't have the time to get a non-resident permit (especially since I called PA sheriff yesterday and they said their system has been down for 3 days to process non-resident requests).
I would just like to have it locked & unloaded in my vehicle with the magazine/ammo on my person. And when I am away from the car there is no magazine/ammo available for the firearm to be used.
#6 'seems' to say to me that I can have it in my vehicle (unloaded and stored/secured separately from the ammo), but I want to be in compliance with the law.
I don't have the time to get a non-resident permit (especially since I called PA sheriff yesterday and they said their system has been down for 3 days to process non-resident requests).
TrapperBob
New member
As I see it, you do have a permit, so even though it doesn't allow you to conceal carry because its a state PA doesn't recognize it should still fulfill the requirement of number 6 so you should be able to have it unloaded in your vehicle stored separably from the ammo. For me personally, if I had the situation you describe I'd take the gun with me to PA and feel comfortable that I was in compliance with the law, but again I'm not a lawyer.
PhillySoldier
New member
This might sound like a stupid question but I'd like to get a confirmation. If I have a valid CCW license, is it then acceptable to have a loaded gun in a car compartment?
I try to always have on my person but there are times such as going in to work or a business etc where its not allowed and Im forced to leave in the car console. Im assuming since I have a permit to carry loaded that I can also have in the car loaded???
I try to always have on my person but there are times such as going in to work or a business etc where its not allowed and Im forced to leave in the car console. Im assuming since I have a permit to carry loaded that I can also have in the car loaded???
bofh
Banned
Read handgunlaw.us | Pennsylvania. It has all the information you need and the links to the applicable laws.
Base on what I read, you can have a loaded gun in the car. Read the note in the linked document above about unloading when exiting and bringing the gun into a motel or other rented place.
Base on what I read, you can have a loaded gun in the car. Read the note in the linked document above about unloading when exiting and bringing the gun into a motel or other rented place.
PhillySoldier
New member
That was informative. Thank you
