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Traveling with firearms

Carry a Sig

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2012
Messages
14
Location
Sioux City IA
So I am planning a trip to the Northeastern states. There are several states that do not acknowledge my carry permit. Anyway, my weapons are shotgun, bolt/lever action rifle, and 357 revolver. None have a magazine that would hold more that 10 rounds. Would I be ok with them in my motorhome if they were in a locked case under the bed? What about don't ask, don't tell? How do you travel with firearms?
 

Doug_Nightmare

Active member
Joined
Nov 21, 2018
Messages
717
Location
Washington Island, WISCONSIN. Out in Lake Michigan
I am 71 septuagenarian. My most recent line of duty interaction with a cop was in 1977. I drive with my EDC H&K USPc .40 10+1 Condition 2 in my door pocket. My vehicle is a color that I pretty much never noticed before I bought this one, now all cars are sparkling bronze brown it seems.
 

cloudcroft

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Jan 13, 2007
Messages
1,908
Location
El Paso, TX (formerly Colorado Springs, CO)
So I am planning a trip to the Northeastern states. There are several states that do not acknowledge my carry permit. Anyway, my weapons are shotgun, bolt/lever action rifle, and 357 revolver. None have a magazine that would hold more that 10 rounds. Would I be ok with them in my motorhome if they were in a locked case under the bed? What about don't ask, don't tell? How do you travel with firearms?

That sounds like it'd be fine were you just passing-through a Slave State, but visiting one -- probably not (see more below).

Further, there may be one issue with guns in a vehicle (car/truck) you do NOT live in, and a vehicle (RV) that you DO live in. One is simply transportation, and the other could be considered a "domicile," which SHOULD have more protection (like your stuff in your house does), unless it's NOT considered a domicile and just transportation, even though it's a RV. Yes, it can be a legal nightmare, depending on what state is in question and how "vehicles" are defined, let alone what you HAVE in them.

Personally, unless I were just passing-through an Slave State on my way to a Free State, I JUST WOULDN'T GO there (even a short visit) -- it's too risky as you could be stopped for any reason, however slight/minor. They might even stop you for having certain states' license plates. For examples, when I lived in CO I imagined some cop in another state would see the CO plates and think "Pot on Board" so if they could stop & search my car, they might find pot (I'm moving back to CO soon). And now here in TX, my plates might suggest "Guns on Board." Sure, cops are SUPPOSED to have a good/reasonable (and LEGAL!) reason to stop you, but even a small traffic violation may be the reason...what then if they want to search your car?

Were I just PASSING-THROUGH a Slave State, however, I'd use this Federal law: 18 U.S. Code § 926A (print it out and carry it with you on trips). But VISITING a Slave State -- IMO you're taking a huge chance.

You might want to do some reading here:

But again, I simply won't even GO to those sorry Slave States. My sister lives in DC, and our old houses are in MD and CT (MA is REALLY bad to get caught with a gun) -- the house in VA (Fairfax) I probably could go see, as VA hasn't COMPLETELY folded (yet) but I won't go to DC, MD or CT -- ANY of those places would be a nightmare for me were I stopped and they found my guns (my EDC and the SKS under the 3rd row seat). No thanks...

[NOTE/DISCLAIMER: My SKS is securely tethered, and I do have 2 "car safes" (also securely tethered) for locking my handgun/valuables up if need be when it's not ON my belt and I have to go into a place that bars carrying (but they also store spare ammo for my EDC handgun and SKS). So my guns aren't easy to get by some smash & grab street-trash criminal. I do NOT recommend simply "hiding" or "securing" a gun (unattended, when you're gone from your vehicle) under a seat or whatever -- it needs to be locked-up.]

Still, and being an American with certain RIGHTS, I HIGHLY RESENT having to avoid certain states in this so-called "Union" of states simply because their unconstitutional gun laws (yet the SCOTUS does nothign about it) AND I don't trust the cops there. After all, being an American, ALL states are "my state" so I should be free in ALL of them, not just in SOME. Either ALL Americans have the very same basic/civil rights -- like the 2nd Amendment, and they SHOULD (!) -- or they do not. Clearly, they do not, as their rights -- their exercise of the Bill of Rights -- depends on what state they live in. That's unconstitutional, yes? Because it's NOT "equal protection under the law (14th Amendment)?"

Regardless, it seems our Constitution is is being increasingly disregarded, and as I said, the liberal-biased COURTS do nothing about it. They could START by ruling the whole state of HI unconstitutional (been so since Statehood I guess, 1959) -- and then go after all the other Slave States -- but again, the SCOTUS hasn't been doing its JOB for who knows how long...

-- C
 
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golddigger14s

Activist Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2010
Messages
2,068
Location
Lawton, OK USA
Don't even go through NJ.
"NJ Security Guard Wrongfully Arrested for Carrying Handgun with Permit. Roselle Park police in New Jersey wrongfully arrested a security guard with a concealed handgun permit. He was charged for allegedly improperly transporting a firearm and being in possession of illegal hollow point bullets."
 

color of law

Accomplished Advocate
Joined
Oct 7, 2007
Messages
5,936
Location
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
I'd be very careful with this poorly written analysis. They talk about transport as though that is the magic term. It is not. The statute says in part: " ...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..."
It is the Transport through a state of a firearm that may be lawfully possessed and carried. The 2A says keep and bear, meaning possess and carry.
 

Carry a Sig

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2012
Messages
14
Location
Sioux City IA
Thanks for the reply. My decision seems to be not to have any firearms in the RV when visiting NYC and surrounding states. Will try and visit next summer. Hopefully Covid will be under control.
 

JTHunter2

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 11, 2017
Messages
431
Location
Planet Earth
Hopefully, somebody has an answer to this question as I didn't find it in this thread.
In a pull-behind travel trailer, not a powered RV, would it be legal to have a loaded firearm that is enclosed in its case in that trailer? Or is it necessary for the rifle to be completely unloaded, even though it is cased?
 

color of law

Accomplished Advocate
Joined
Oct 7, 2007
Messages
5,936
Location
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Hopefully, somebody has an answer to this question as I didn't find it in this thread.
In a pull-behind travel trailer, not a powered RV, would it be legal to have a loaded firearm that is enclosed in its case in that trailer? Or is it necessary for the rifle to be completely unloaded, even though it is cased?
Your question is not that simple. A Travel Trailer having all the functions of a home, BUT does hot have a motor MAY or MAY NOT be considered a motor vehicle. Some states require a license plate on that Travel Trailer, some don't. Even though the Travel Trailer is only towed and is not part of the car/truck some states may require a search warrant to even enter Travel Trailer. Solus's link above would cover the Travel Trailer if push comes to shove.
 
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