Trip from MS to ME and a few Q's.

[Sweep_MS]

I'm new here, hope to not be breaking any etiquette rules, but have read a number of posts and am curious regarding those with more experience than I with carrying across state lines.

I'll be driving my family from MS to ME real soon and I see that we'll be going thru a number of states that do not exercise reciprocity with MS. Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts are my concerns. New Hampshire is good, Maine is bad again, but I’ll be staying there and know some city officials that could help in the unlikely chance of a time of need.

Obviously my pistol needs to be locked up during these states. Is there a slam-dunk way to do so that no state can touch you? Also, what if you have car trouble in one of these states and heaven forbid you have to make a choice to use your pistol to protect your family. Is it instantly the “rather be tried by twelve than carried by six” routine, or are there justifications? My family always comes first and I don’t ever want to endanger them unnecessarily. I could never stand for the fact of needing to defend them and not being able to.

Thanks for your input!

 

[NavyLCDR]

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.

Drive careful so as not to attract attention in the first place. NEVER give consent to law enforcement to search the locked compartment or container your gun and ammo is in, regardless of what they threaten you with.

If you have to use your gun in self-defense (although I don't really see that happening since you would have to unlock the compartment/case and then load the gun), I would not hesitate to do so, but in some states you will spend some time in jail until they figure the situation out. Legitimate self defense is always an affirmative defense, but you may have to work the case up to the Federal court level. I would rather be standing in front of a Federal judge then laying in front of an embalmer, though.