Problem with inter-state CC travel

[G19]

Hi members,
I'm new to this group. I'm impressed with the comments I've seen so far - very helpful and supportive.

I have CCLs from OR and UT (non-res.), which I've just discovered are not adequate for some trips, like this one, which involves interstate driving.

After a bit of research, on this site and links, I've concluded that I can't take my gun with me on our vacation to the East Coast from OR. My wife will be attending a class reunion at Camp Lejeune and then we plan to drive down to FL to visit one of her friends there. We'll be driving thru NC, SC, GA, and FL, but being from OR, my CCLs are only good for NC and GA, thanks to the lack of reciprocity with the other 2 states. It appears that traveling by car between states with a gun can be a challenge. Anyway, I'm off to a disappointing start with the traveling part of CC.

 

[thedub88]

As long as you have a permit for the state you live in, then you can travel with your gun. For the states you do NOT have a permit for, just unload it, and keep it in a locked container, ammo seperate, in the trunk. You can TRANSPORT you weapon in any state, you just cant carry concealed.

 

[G19]

Thanks!

Thanks for the clarification that I can still transport the unloaded gun in the trunk, even though I don't have a CCL for those states. I'll now reconsider taking it with me.

 

[JJFlash]

Thanks for the clarification that I can still transport the unloaded gun in the trunk, even though I don't have a CCL for those states. I'll now reconsider taking it with me.

I ALWAYS take my weapon with me on trips, whether by airline, scooter, or car. Part of having a concealed permit and carrying a firearm is learning the laws of the land. You should learn, also, how to interact with an LEO during a routine traffic stop. Say or do the wrong thing and it's off to the hoosegow for you!

You'll find a lot of help regarding all this on this site. Good luck!

 

[badarac]

SC shouldn't be a problem. The gun can be carried legally in your vehicle as long as it's in a closed compartment with an integral fastener such as a glove box, console, or worst case in the trunk. No permit required.

 

[terrence P. lannon]

obtaining a concealed permit reciprocity from mass

Hey Folks, I was told about this site from a firearms instructor here in Mass. I have a class A concealed carry permit from Mass. I have an RV and plan to travel/traverse across the horizontal plane of this great country freely, this summer. I am looking for information on which states offer reciprocity with Mass, and found them on the reciprocity map, but now what? Do I have to contact particular states one at a time or is there a short-cut state that I can contact and pay online somehow. I don't feel comfortable traveling without mu firearms. I realize there is an interstate law that allows me to travel with my firearms, but what good are they if they have to be locked up and unloaded?
Thanks,
Terry, AKA The Green Jigger

 

[g30sheepdog]

Hi members,
I'm new to this group. I'm impressed with the comments I've seen so far - very helpful and supportive.

I have CCLs from OR and UT (non-res.), which I've just discovered are not adequate for some trips, like this one, which involves interstate driving.

After a bit of research, on this site and links, I've concluded that I can't take my gun with me on our vacation to the East Coast from OR. My wife will be attending a class reunion at Camp Lejeune and then we plan to drive down to FL to visit one of her friends there. We'll be driving thru NC, SC, GA, and FL, but being from OR, my CCLs are only good for NC and GA, thanks to the lack of reciprocity with the other 2 states. It appears that traveling by car between states with a gun can be a challenge. Anyway, I'm off to a disappointing start with the traveling part of CC.

I just took a road trip from OR to ME....yeah that was a long drive. I hold permits from OR, FL, ME, and NH. My ccw path went like this: OR- :neo: NV- :fie: the law is silent on car carry so i figured thats close enuf. UT-:neo: WY-:neo: NE-:neo: Iowa-h34ron the way home it should be better because it would be after the first of the year. GO SHALL ISSUE IOWA!!) Then onto IL h34r: Indiana-:neo: Ohio- :neo: PA-:neo:...then into NY-h34r: and on into MA- h34r: Ugh that was a stressful bunch of hours....then back into the free world when I entered into NH- :neo: and finally into ME- :neo: 4 days, 3 nights, and 14 states.

I would have to say that I thought WY was the prettyest state. And all the wind mills of Iowa were a nice sight too. Anyway, just been dying to share my road trip with the group and I hadnt posted in a while. Now i just gotta find a shooting range in the western ME/ eastern NH area.....

 

[NavyLCDR]

I don't understand why everyone gets so hung up on the whole permit thing. Folks, let me clue you in on a little secret, please.... 1. In about 48 states you don't need a permit to transport your firearm in your vehicle. You don't even need a permit in CA to transport a gun in your vehicle!

2. In many states, you don't need a permit to open carry a loaded gun on your belt, or in your car.

3. Having a permit in your home state is not really required (especially if you are taking advantage of the Federal law).

Here's a couple good resources:

Link Removed

You especially want to look at the open carry and transportation maps. Click on an individual state to get a summary for that state.

Link Removed

Click on a state to get specifics.

You can either transport your firearm in accordance with state laws, or you can choose to follow the one federal law, Firearms Owners Protection Act (FOPA) 18 USC 926a:

Link Removed

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.

Notice that in the above law, the gun only has to be unloaded and in the trunk. Ammo goes in the trunk with the firearm (just not in the firearm!), NOT separate! If you have the ammo in the passenger compartment, and the gun in the trunk, you have not complied with the above law! The firearm and the ammo can be in the same locked container inside the passenger compartment if you vehicle does not have a trunk.

 

[mrjam2jab]

Notice that in the above law, the gun only has to be unloaded and in the trunk. Ammo goes in the trunk with the firearm (just not in the firearm!), NOT separate! If you have the ammo in the passenger compartment, and the gun in the trunk, you have not complied with the above law! The firearm and the ammo can be in the same locked container inside the passenger compartment if you vehicle does not have a trunk.

I always point this fact out to folks also. :biggrin:


Something else I noticed when reading the law. In the case of say a pickup truck...

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.

Kinda interesting if you think about that point. Only one "piece of the puzzle" has to be locked up. :laugh:

 

[handgonnetoter]

I don't understand why everyone gets so hung up on the whole permit thing. Folks, let me clue you in on a little secret, please.... 1. In about 48 states you don't need a permit to transport your firearm in your vehicle. You don't even need a permit in CA to transport a gun in your vehicle!

2. In many states, you don't need a permit to open carry a loaded gun on your belt, or in your car.

3. Having a permit in your home state is not really required (especially if you are taking advantage of the Federal law).

Here's a couple good resources:

Link Removed

You especially want to look at the open carry and transportation maps. Click on an individual state to get a summary for that state.

Link Removed

Click on a state to get specifics.

You can either transport your firearm in accordance with state laws, or you can choose to follow the one federal law, Firearms Owners Protection Act (FOPA) 18 USC 926a:

Link Removed



Notice that in the above law, the gun only has to be unloaded and in the trunk. Ammo goes in the trunk with the firearm (just not in the firearm!), NOT separate! If you have the ammo in the passenger compartment, and the gun in the trunk, you have not complied with the above law! The firearm and the ammo can be in the same locked container inside the passenger compartment if you vehicle does not have a trunk.

Thanks for that info., it was nice to get some clarification on that.:biggrin:

 

[NavyLCDR]

I always point this fact out to folks also. :biggrin:
Something else I noticed when reading the law. In the case of say a pickup truck...
Kinda interesting if you think about that point. Only one "piece of the puzzle" has to be locked up. :laugh:

Except that you have to go to the previous provision in the same law which STILL applies, regardless of the location of the firearm/ammo, to wit:

if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible

Neither/nor means that both firearms and ammo are prohibited from being readily accessible. They should have used the same language in the provision for a vehicle without a trunk, but that the fact that they did not does not negate the requirement set forth earlier in the statute. The last provision merely provides for an alternate storage method for both the firearm and the ammo.

 

[DickB]

Cross Country Trip

Hi;

I just finished a two week road trip from Florida to Boston. I have a Florida resident CCL and non-resident permits in NH and Me. (While in Mass. I finished my non-resident application process for Mass) Before going I used the license tool and then checked each of the twelve states web pagees that I would drive through for additional information.

Based on that research I made sure not to stop in New York state and modified the route so as to avoild New York City as they state openly that they do not honor the provisions of the federal law detailing the requirements of interstate travel with a firearm.

I strongly suggest a similar approach and remember the federal law requires you be licensed in your state of origin and destination. Non-resident licenses help in many cases depending upon your route.

One final point I found helpful is the individual state requirements to notify and LEO if you get stopped. Check those carefully for each state you will traverse. Say nothing when it's not required and remember they beed probable cause to search your vehicle. I saw many cars pulled over in NC and SC yesterday and I was returning to Fl and the vehicles were being searched.

Good luck and remember the more you know the better prepared you are.

DickB: dirol:

 

[JJFlash]

Hi;

I just finished a two week road trip from Florida to Boston. I have a Florida resident CCL and non-resident permits in NH and Me. (While in Mass. I finished my non-resident application process for Mass) Before going I used the license tool and then checked each of the twelve states web pagees that I would drive through for additional information.

Based on that research I made sure not to stop in New York state and modified the route so as to avoild New York City as they state openly that they do not honor the provisions of the federal law detailing the requirements of interstate travel with a firearm.

I strongly suggest a similar approach and remember the federal law requires you be licensed in your state of origin and destination. Non-resident licenses help in many cases depending upon your route.

One final point I found helpful is the individual state requirements to notify and LEO if you get stopped. Check those carefully for each state you will traverse. Say nothing when it's not required and remember they beed probable cause to search your vehicle. I saw many cars pulled over in NC and SC yesterday and I was returning to Fl and the vehicles were being searched.

Good luck and remember the more you know the better prepared you are.

DickB: dirol:

Not sure what you mean here. If you mean license to carry, don't think so. My understanding is that if it legal to OWN in state of destination, that's sufficient. I am licensed to carry in a goodly number of states, but NOT Maryland, which I recently visited. However, it is legal in Maryland to own a handgun and use it for, say, target practice (transport according to FOPA 1986). Thus, I was perfectly legal to transport to Maryland, which I did via airlines.

 

[NavyLCDR]

remember the federal law requires you be licensed in your state of origin and destination.

That's strange. I posted the Federal law earlier. I don't see the word license, permit or concealed anywhere in that statute. Can you please show us what Federal law you are referencing?

So, just so I understand this, I can open carry a handgun in Washington State without a license or permit. I can open carry a handgun in Wyoming or Montana without a license or permit. But, in order to transport that firearm through Idaho, where I can also open carry that handgun without a license or permit, you are saying I must be licensed in both Washington and Wyoming or Montana in order to transport the gun through Idaho?!?

Thus the reason for my previous statement:

I don't understand why everyone gets so hung up on the whole permit thing.

 

[JJFlash]

I agree, NavyLT. The "permit" (assuming CPL, here) has really nothing to do with the transport of a firearm, that I can discern, anyway. I'm open to being educated, however, if someone has another viewpoint which is verifiable.

 

[DickB]

Can you please show us what Federal law you are referencing?

You are correct the law is as you state but in many states you cannot "carry" a handgun without a license and thus do not meet the following requirements. I don't purport to be an expert on this matter... was simply trying to be helpful. I'll defer to those more knowledgable than me.

Sec. 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[/B][/COLOR] 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 vehiclerovided, 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.

 

[marionandjohn]

Be being military and filing travel vouchers for all my trips I have found that my starting and ending destinations are always my home. would this not be the case of someone only taking a vacation? yes you are traveling to said place however your trip is not finished until you either decide to stay in said destination permanently or you return to your permanent place of residence. Just my two cents on the whole federal transport law and how one could argue if need be.

 

[terrence P. lannon]

Thanks for the advice folks but...

So I assume with all this info I still can carry my firearms as long as the ammo and firearms are located in different, locked, non-glove compartment places, and my destination is back home? Well, that sure is going to help if I get held up by some freaky people on the road or in a rest stop.
Anyone know the best way to get reciprocity in multiple states, if I live in Mass?
thanks again for the help
T
What about my hand-held crossbow? Anyone?

 

[joghotrod]

So I assume with all this info I still can carry my firearms as long as the ammo and firearms are located in different, locked, non-glove compartment places, and my destination is back home? Well, that sure is going to help if I get held up by some freaky people on the road or in a rest stop.
Anyone know the best way to get reciprocity in multiple states, if I live in Mass?
thanks again for the help
T
What about my hand-held crossbow? Anyone?

Get a non resident permit from Florida.

Jimmy