Transporting firearms across state lines

[Grenadier]

Just thought I'd post a bit of info on this matter, since some folks have insisted that it's unlawful, while others say there are no such restrictions.

The law can be viewed here:

http://www.gunlawnews.org/FOPA-86.html


In a nutshell, as long as you are travelling between states where your ownership of a particular firearm is legal, then you can keep them in the trunk of your vehicle, unloaded, and locked, and not have to worry about prosecution.

This assumes, of course, that you are not going to stop in a prohibited state for a significant period of time. Therefore, stopping for food / gas is fine, but stopping there for a vacation is not allowed.

No state or city law may pre-empt this, as this was part of the "Safe Passage" act. Anyone who tells you that you can't pass through their town because they forbid your lawfully owned firearms is either ignorant of the law, or lying through his tooth.

Thus, if I had my handgun collection in the trunk of my car, locked away, and unloaded, and were driving from Florida to Maine, and passed through Washington D.C. and New York City (places where handguns are all but forbidden), it would be perfectly legal to do so, as long as I were simply passing through those cities.

There is no need to re-route your journey for legal reasons. If you want to boycott those cities for personal reasons, though, that's your choice.

[Cruentus]

Excellent link and info!

[5rings]

Just thought I'd post a bit of info on this matter, since some folks have insisted that it's unlawful, while others say there are no such restrictions.

The law can be viewed here:

http://www.gunlawnews.org/FOPA-86.html


In a nutshell, as long as you are travelling between states where your ownership of a particular firearm is legal, then you can keep them in the trunk of your vehicle, unloaded, and locked, and not have to worry about prosecution.

This assumes, of course, that you are not going to stop in a prohibited state for a significant period of time. Therefore, stopping for food / gas is fine, but stopping there for a vacation is not allowed.

No state or city law may pre-empt this, as this was part of the "Safe Passage" act. Anyone who tells you that you can't pass through their town because they forbid your lawfully owned firearms is either ignorant of the law, or lying through his tooth.

Thus, if I had my handgun collection in the trunk of my car, locked away, and unloaded, and were driving from Florida to Maine, and passed through Washington D.C. and New York City (places where handguns are all but forbidden), it would be perfectly legal to do so, as long as I were simply passing through those cities.

There is no need to re-route your journey for legal reasons. If you want to boycott those cities for personal reasons, though, that's your choice.
This is good information....very helpful, thanks for the post!
Always try to think outside the Traditional Box!

[Brian King]

The link is not working for me. Does anybody have a better link? Need to go through California (a seminar in one part of that state and private lesson in another) on my way to Arizona for some shooting/seminar. Will be in California for 4 or 5 days. What counts as significant amount of time?

Thanks
Regards
Brian King

[dbell]

The link is not working for me. Does anybody have a better link? Need to go through California (a seminar in one part of that state and private lesson in another) on my way to Arizona for some shooting/seminar. Will be in California for 4 or 5 days. What counts as significant amount of time?

Thanks
Regards
Brian King

According to my attorney, as long as you are there for business, have the guns legally, have them in a locked hard case (not soft and/or unlocked) and in the trunk you can stay in California for as long as your meetings require you to be in the state. You should not be taking them out to show people, to carry about, etc.

[LuckyKBoxer]

I actually need to become a little more familiar with the law regarding it, maybe someone here can point me in the right direction.

If I live in California and Have preban guns that are legally registered with the DOJ, and legal for me to own and use at firing ranges in California, how is the law in regards to say transporting them to Arizona on a visit to shoot, and then transporting them back to my home in California after the fact?

I have been hesitant to do so, because the last I heard it would in fact remove the guns as being legally owned in california if I took them out of state.

Anyone have any information regarding this specifically?

Thanks

[dbell]

I actually need to become a little more familiar with the law regarding it, maybe someone here can point me in the right direction.

If I live in California and Have preban guns that are legally registered with the DOJ, and legal for me to own and use at firing ranges in California, how is the law in regards to say transporting them to Arizona on a visit to shoot, and then transporting them back to my home in California after the fact?

I have been hesitant to do so, because the last I heard it would in fact remove the guns as being legally owned in california if I took them out of state.

Anyone have any information regarding this specifically?

Thanks

This is a totally different question than the OP on traveling with firearms. I'll call my attorney tomorrow and get back with you ASAP after that.

[dbell]

I actually need to become a little more familiar with the law regarding it, maybe someone here can point me in the right direction.

If I live in California and Have preban guns that are legally registered with the DOJ, and legal for me to own and use at firing ranges in California, how is the law in regards to say transporting them to Arizona on a visit to shoot, and then transporting them back to my home in California after the fact?

I have been hesitant to do so, because the last I heard it would in fact remove the guns as being legally owned in california if I took them out of state.

Anyone have any information regarding this specifically?

Thanks

Decided it was early enough to call him now anyway...

According to CA Statues 12280-12285 as long as the weapons (assuming assault weapons?) are registered with CDOJ, you have that paper work with you as you travel in/out of CA, they do not loose their status.

If you MOVE out of state, then move back in, you must re-register, and may not be accepted, and must have proof of ownership prior to June 1, 1989. (And prior registration, with correct make and model/etc, may count as proof of prior ownership.)

Have fun on your trip(s)! :)

[LuckyKBoxer]

Thanks Don!
I am grabbing those statutes, and I appreciate your response!

[Carol]

I didn't realize this. As I live on the Mass. border, this is quite helpful :)

[lhommedieu]

I recently traveled from PA to NY via CT and took the Long Island Ferry from CT to NY on the last leg of my trip. I was traveling with two long guns with which I was doing some target shooting in PA and returned back home in NY a week later. I'm a NYS resident and permits are not required for long guns in Suffolk County where I live. I had two concerns along the way:

1. While staying at my sister's house in CT I didn't want to leave my guns in the car and so put them in her house for my 2 day stay. My issue is that they were simply more secure locked up in the house than in the open-back "trunk" of my Chevy Blazer. Anyone know whether I'm skirting any legal issues here? I mean, why would I leave my guns in the car where they're less secure than in the house?

2. I took note that on the Long Island Ferry website, while there are no specific prohibitions against traveling with firearms, there are some notices to the effect that your vehicle is subject to searches with your permission and if you deny permission then they can tell you that you can't ride the ferry. These would appear to be post 9-11 rules. Of course, I would have no reason to deny a search (let's leave 4th Amendment concerns to the side, for the moment) since I know that I'm transporting my guns legally. I presume that I'm not breaking any laws because the ferry system is technically part of the interstate transportation system (i.e. I'm following the same transport rules on the ferry that I am for the highway). On the other hand, I didn't want to risk adding an hour or two (or more) to my trip simply because someone didn't understand the same laws that I do.

Anyone have any experience with my concerns, above?

Best,

Steve