I'm trying to figure out if I can even bring a pistol to Maryland. Here is the deal. I live in California and I am on travel for work in Virginia. My parents live in Maryland and I may or may not go shooting. It depends on time and scheduling. From what I have read I have to be on my way to or from the range or the gun shop. Can I put the gun in the back of my SUV locked up and unloaded and travel to my parents house?
Thanks in advance,
Steve
Here's what I find posted on handgunlaw.us about TRANSPORTING guns thru MD, but I'm not sure if travel to your parents house (presumably for at least a short visit) and going to a range IN MD might take you out of the protection of the Federal Statute (at least in the eyes of the MD "legal" system).
" Transporting Firearms in Maryland
Q. Can I legally transport firearms interstate? (From the MD State Police)
A. Yes, under Title 18, Section 926A, of the United States Code, a person who is not prohibited
from possessing, 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 place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment. In the case the vehicle does not have a
compartment separate from the driver's compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked compartment other than the glove compartment or console."
I live in WV near the MD state line, visit MD as seldom as possible. Stop just before state line, unholster, unload, put pistol, mag and spare mag into key-lockable container (which is cable-locked to my seat frame), slide it under my seat. "Readily accessable?" Uh, no. Container key is on the same ring as SUV key. Stop, remove ignition key, acccess rear door, unlock case. That's what I do when I re-enter WV. PIA this time of year.