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Transporting a handgun in Ohio

hjmoosejaw

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 29, 2011
Messages
406
Location
N.W. Pa.
Quick question. I will be visiting my nephew tomorrow, in Ohio. I live in Pa. I would like to take my handgun to show him, because I know he will be showing me his and his wife's new toys. How can I legally transport them? Can I do the usual way, where I keep either the gun or the magazine very separated, like one in the truck,and one in the glovebox? How do I transport it?
 

eye95

Well-known member
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Jan 6, 2010
Messages
13,524
Location
Fairborn, Ohio, USA
Unloaded gun and loaded magazine in separately closing containers. I use the gun case for my gun and a velcro-closing pockets on my shirt or jacket for the magazines.
 

RT48

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Nov 6, 2007
Messages
236
Location
Cuyahoga County, Ohio
I don't think glovebox meets the requirements mentioned in the law.

(C) No person shall knowingly transport or have a firearm in a motor vehicle, unless the person may lawfully possess that firearm under applicable law of this state or the United States, the firearm is unloaded, and the firearm is carried in one of the following ways:

(1) In a closed package, box, or case;

(2) In a compartment that can be reached only by leaving the vehicle;

(3) In plain sight and secured in a rack or holder made for the purpose;

(a) "Unloaded" means

, with respect to a firearm other than a firearm described in division (K)(6) of this section, that no ammunition is in the firearm in question, no magazine or speed loader containing ammunition is inserted into the firearm in question , and one of the following applies:

(i) There is no ammunition in a magazine or speed loader that is in the vehicle in question and that may be used with the firearm in question.

(ii) Any magazine or speed loader that contains ammunition and that may be used with the firearm in question is stored in a compartment within the vehicle in question that cannot be accessed without leaving the vehicle or is stored in a container that provides complete and separate enclosure.

(b) For the purposes of division (K)(5)(a)(ii) of this section, a "container that provides complete and separate enclosure" includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:

(i) A package, box, or case with multiple compartments, as long as the loaded magazine or speed loader and the firearm in question either are in separate compartments within the package, box, or case, or, if they are in the same compartment, the magazine or speed loader is contained within a separate enclosure in that compartment that does not contain the firearm and that closes using a snap, button, buckle, zipper, hook and loop closing mechanism, or other fastener that must be opened to access the contents or the firearm is contained within a separate enclosure of that nature in that compartment that does not contain the magazine or speed loader;

(ii) A pocket or other enclosure on the person of the person in question that closes using a snap, button, buckle, zipper, hook and loop closing mechanism, or other fastener that must be opened to access the contents.

http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/2923.16
 

hjmoosejaw

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 29, 2011
Messages
406
Location
N.W. Pa.
Thanks guys! After posting this last night, I found a site concerning carrying a handgun, in Ohio, in a vehicle. It had a number at the bottom for advice. I called it, and got a dispatcher for the State Police in Columbus, Ohio. He was very polite and helpful. He said that July 5th, I think it was, the rules will be a little more laxed, but for now, carry the gun UNLOADED, in one place, and the magazines UNLOADED, in another. Like the glove box and the trunk. Somewhere, that I couldn't put the two together without exiting the vehicle. Below is the link to said site. Thanks again!

http://www.firearmstransport.com/ohio/
 

RT48

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Nov 6, 2007
Messages
236
Location
Cuyahoga County, Ohio
The law changes took effect 3/27/13. Magazines no longer have to be unloaded. What I posted above is the current law.
 
Last edited:

eye95

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Jan 6, 2010
Messages
13,524
Location
Fairborn, Ohio, USA
Thanks guys! After posting this last night, I found a site concerning carrying a handgun, in Ohio, in a vehicle. It had a number at the bottom for advice. I called it, and got a dispatcher for the State Police in Columbus, Ohio. He was very polite and helpful. He said that July 5th, I think it was, the rules will be a little more laxed, but for now, carry the gun UNLOADED, in one place, and the magazines UNLOADED, in another. Like the glove box and the trunk. Somewhere, that I couldn't put the two together without exiting the vehicle. Below is the link to said site. Thanks again!

http://www.firearmstransport.com/ohio/

Never EVER ask the police what the law is. Most don't know it, and some are willing to lie about what it is.

Read the law for yourself. The link to the relevant section has been posted in this thread by RT48.
 

BB62

Accomplished Advocate
Joined
Aug 17, 2006
Messages
4,069
Location
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Never EVER ask the police what the law is. Most don't know it, and some are willing to lie about what it is.

Read the law for yourself. The link to the relevant section has been posted in this thread by RT48.

hjmoosejaw: eye95 is absolutely 1000% correct.

DO NOT call the police for legal advice. In my experience, whether out of ignorance or spite, more likely than not the answer you get will be wrong.
 
Last edited:

dgeottman

New member
Joined
Apr 1, 2012
Messages
7
Location
Dayton, OH
So for someone wanting to open carry a firearm in Ohio, you can now transport a handgun in the passenger compartment as long as it is in a separate case from the loaded magazine? Also, do the laws regarding notifying a police officer about a gun being in the vehicle for someone with a CCW permit also apply to someone without a CCW permit transporting a handgun in compliance with the new law?
 

eye95

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Fairborn, Ohio, USA
If you have a CHL (not a CCW), you need not carry the firearm unloaded and encased. Just carry it.

CHL holders must notify officers they encounter when they are carrying. Non-CHL holders have no such requirement.
 

BB62

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If you have a CHL (not a CCW), you need not carry the firearm unloaded and encased. Just carry it.

CHL holders must notify officers they encounter when they are carrying. Non-CHL holders have no such requirement.
(my bold)

From the ORC: "When stopped for a law enforcement purpose..."
 

eye95

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Fairborn, Ohio, USA
A valid point. However, I was trying answer the very specific question making a very specific point without cluttering the sentence with minutiae about which he did not inquire.

You are, in any event, correct.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk.

<o>
 

JmE

Regular Member
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Mar 28, 2007
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, ,
I get what you are saying Eye but it's not minutiae and it doesn't clutter with proper word arrangement.

(The first sentence was created using cut & paste. It's only fifteen words compared to eleven in the original... four words more.)

'When they are carrying CHL holders must notify when stopped for a law enforcement purpose. Non-CHL holders have no such requirement.'
 

MyWifeSaidYes

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Joined
Dec 29, 2009
Messages
1,028
Location
Logan, OH
Glove compartments are no good.

If it's in a compartment, the compartment can't be accessible without leaving your vehicle.

That's stupid, because if you have such a compartment, ORC 2923.16 says you can keep a loaded gun there, even without a CHL.

Yes. Yes, it does.
 

JmE

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So I guess an affixed toolbox in the bed of a pickup truck would be good to go for a loaded handgun? (CHL or not?)
 

eye95

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Fairborn, Ohio, USA
How is the glove box not a a closed package, box, or case?

I don't wish to be the guy who tries this in court, but I fail to see the technical difference between a box that is attached to the interior of the car and one that is merely resting within that same interior.

On edit: Where does the law say that the FA can be loaded if it is in a compartment not accessible without getting out of the vehicle? The section quoted above mentions such a compartment, but still requires the FA be unloaded. Next, can a trunk be such a compartment? In my vehicle, it cannot because it is physically possible (a royal pain in the ass) to access the trunk from inside the vehicle. But what about in cars where it is not?
 
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JmE

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How is the glove box not a a closed package, box, or case?
It looks to me like the law is distinguishing between a closed package/box/case and a compartment. Perhaps it's another 'one of those things' from our legislators. If I had to guess as to why... an officer would be more inclined to notice a package/box/case as being present then to pay as much attention to a compartment that is part of the vehicle? Now, IANAL but for the purposes of finding cause for a search I wouldn't think that it would matter unless the law is expecting all packages/boxes/cases in a vehicle to be green light for a lawful search. If a person doesn't have a CHL and they have a firearm in a package/box/case when officer friendly approaches; then that person wouldn't have to answer any questions (i.e. 'notify'). In reality, many people would likely open mouth and answer that there is a gun in the package/box/case instead of just ignoring the question.
 
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