Guns and RVing

[Midnite]

When my wife and I have driven down to the lower 48 states on a vacation we haven't been able to take a gun with us, much as I would like to have (coming from Alaska we would have to take the gun through Canada, which is a major no-no).



Aside from the US/Canada thing, I also know that each state has their own laws regarding carrying weapons in your vehicle or on your person--what may be perfectly legal in your home state may be a serious felony in another. For example, I know New York, New Jersey, and California have some pretty frighteningly anti-gun laws. I'm curious how you all who carry firearms on the road with you treat this.



Mike

 

[Royal]

There is a book available titled---Traveler's Guide To The Firearm Laws of the Fifty States. It's available at all the gun shops dealers & shooting ranges. Also from Traveler's Guide,PO Box 2156 ,Covington,KY. 41012. Phone #. 859-647-5100.

It is updated every year,and has all the info you need to travel with a gun in all states. You don't want to travel with out one,with a weapon. I payed $10. 00 at a gun show,probably less at a book store.

 

[Midnite]

Wow--that definitely sounds like a "must have" item down in the states.



Mike

 

[mgonske]

A good on-line resource for state by state law on carrying firearms is www.packing.org

 

[jrobinson2]

Link to the travelers guide http://www.gunlawguide.com/



Jared

 

[RThompson]

I meet a fellow a few years back that had his solution to handgun regulations. He lived in British Columbia and traveled down to his winter home on the lower Baja. He carried two flare pistols. Told me he was never questioned at the Mexican border and I assumed that he knew the rules in his own country.

 

[Rams-n-Hogs]

Mike,



Just made a trip to Wasilla this summer and found out the gun laws through Canada have changed. I'm not sure what the deal is with handguns, but with rifles, there is a $50 dollar registration fee at the border. This registration is good for a year. If I'm not mistaken, you can pre-register over the internet, and the info about guns going through Canada is on the site. Not sure what the site is, but if you do a search for Canadian Customs, you should be able to find it. I think some info is in the Milepost also.



Jim

 

[jwdeeming]

It's worse than just worrying about state laws - ordinances can vary by local city or county laws as well.



Here in Colorado, the laws are at least reasonable enough to accomodate hunting, shooting sports, etc. But the City and County of Denver is extremely intolerant. I took a CCW firearms course, taught by a small town police chief, and he relayed a story about someone who had their firearms confiscated - out of a moving van - just because during a traffic stop in Denver, they admitted that yes, guns were packed in the back.



If it's hunting season, and you are carrying an unloaded rifle or shotgun, there's no trouble. Pistols in the glovebox fall into a rather gray area. The cop's guidance for how to handle traffic stops if you're packing heat was this:



1. If you have a CCW permit, present that at the same time you give the cop your drivers license.



2. If you do not have a permit, you are not obligated to and should not answer a question like, "Do you have any firearms in the vehicle?" Keep the conversation on course by asking why you were stopped.



3. You are also not obligated to and should not grant permission for a voluntary vehicle search. This is as bad as going to an IRS audit and giving them more information than they asked for.



And of course follow all the rules for keeping things calm and business like. Be courteous, keep both hands where the cop can see them, don't get out of the car unless asked, etc.



The recommended reading on here should help too.

 

[The patriot]

Originally posted by jwdeeming

It's worse than just worrying about state laws - ordinances can vary by local city or county laws as well.



Here in Colorado, the laws are at least reasonable enough to accomodate hunting, shooting sports, etc. But the City and County of Denver is extremely intolerant. I took a CCW firearms course, taught by a small town police chief, and he relayed a story about someone who had their firearms confiscated - out of a moving van - just because during a traffic stop in Denver, they admitted that yes, guns were packed in the back.



If it's hunting season, and you are carrying an unloaded rifle or shotgun, there's no trouble. Pistols in the glovebox fall into a rather gray area. The cop's guidance for how to handle traffic stops if you're packing heat was this:



1. If you have a CCW permit, present that at the same time you give the cop your drivers license.



2. If you do not have a permit, you are not obligated to and should not answer a question like, "Do you have any firearms in the vehicle?" Keep the conversation on course by asking why you were stopped.



3. You are also not obligated to and should not grant permission for a voluntary vehicle search. This is as bad as going to an IRS audit and giving them more information than they asked for.



And of course follow all the rules for keeping things calm and business like. Be courteous, keep both hands where the cop can see them, don't get out of the car unless asked, etc.



The recommended reading on here should help too.

Well, we havent got any CCW here in NJ. I was told to ask the same questions as you stated whenever pulled over, and also... do not give permission to search the vehicle.

I was lead to believe that if it escalates to this, you've covered your butt sufficiently by asking why you were pulled over. (Probibable cause to search)



The main problem here is, many police do not know the laws in reference to a gun in the car. Maybe because they are written in such a way to be vague.

The way I read it, youre allowed to carry a pistol/rifle if it's unloaded and in the trunk cased. No mention about PU trucks whatsoever. I wil not, and have not traveled (within the state) like this. The firearms are in the cab with me, cased and unloaded. I've been stopped like this (roadside check, nothing I did) and everything was OK. I cant speak for the next cop that might stop me.

I dont travel much, but I do whatever I feel is safe and proper. There are too dam many laws that contradict eachother.

Wish me luck.

Eric



PS I've been told that some states concider an RV a temporary residence. This is good, but ads more variables to how the laws can be interperted.

 

[jwdeeming]

Originally posted by The patriot

The main problem here is, many police do not know the laws in reference to a gun in the car. Maybe because they are written in such a way to be vague.

Patriot,

You're right - the biggest problem is inconsistent laws and uninformed officers. Some of the laws seem pretty clear to me, but who wants to chance that the guy who pulled you over knows all that? Or worse, finding out how well that plays out in court?

I've just reread some of those statutes and they seem so clear to me, I'm contemplating printing them off and carrying THOSE concealed in my glovebox.



For example from Colo Revised Statutes

18-12-105 - Unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon - unlawful possession of weapons.



(1) A person commits a class 2 misdemeanor if such person knowingly and unlawfully: (a) Carries a knife concealed on or about his or her person; or (b) Carries a firearm concealed on or about his or her person...

(2) It shall not be an offense if the defendant was: (a) A person in his or her own dwelling or place of business or on property owned or under his or her control at the time of the act of carrying; or (b) A person in a private automobile or other private means of conveyance who carries a weapon for lawful protection of such person's or another's person or property while traveling;



Seems good enough to me. But not in Denver.

 

[exfuzz01]

weapons and RVing

Even I as a retired cop (27 years), don't know all the laws pertaining to state to state carrying firearms in your vehicle or trailer... . BUT... ... ... I still retain the theory of " I would rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6... . "Never leave home without it".

 

[Ron Bissett]

section 926A United States Code . This law states . notwithstanding any other provisions of any law or any rule or regulation of a state or any political subdivision thereof any person who is not otherwise prohibited [i. e. persons with a criminal record by this chapter from transporting shipping or or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawifully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully posess and carry such firearm if during such transportation the firearm such transportation , the firearm is unloded and neither the firearm or its ammunitionbeing transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle provided that in case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver's compartment , the firearm shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console". I tape this to a locked box in my rig check this law out at your local federal Bulding or ATF office Hope this helps . Ron in Louisville

 

[Deezul1]

I have always "carried" in my truck when on the road regardless of the local laws. No one will ever know I have it unless the time comes that I need it and then I dont really care about the laws as they are the very least of my problems at that time. As stated earlier "I would rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6". As far as your life and safety goes you are your own warranty station.

 

[Blakers]

Here in Pennsylvania it's easy - get your conceiled carry permit for $20 for 5 years. Then you can legally carry a pistol loaded anywhere in the state except a court house or a public school. The license is also good in Florida, Kentucky, Michigan, Utah, Idaho, and another one or two, including Vermont where anyone can carry without a permit.



I'm going to install a lockbox bolted behind my middle seat area with a combination lock that can be opened without looking. This is for storing a pistol when parked and not in the truck. In some other states (where my license is not recognized) I can legally have the pistol in the lock box, if unloaded and ammunition is separate. I'll not take it into New York and other police states though.



For an upcoming out of state camping trip, I think I'll just bring my old single shot 20 ga and leave it in the camper. No one seems to bother shotguns much.



Not many years ago, there was no problem whatsoever bringing shotguns and rifles into Canada. They must be much more liberal than back then.



Hopefully now with our Republican run government, we can get a national conceiled carry permit that will superceid all state laws or at least national reciprocity for the permits.



Blake

 

[gperkins]

i tend to agree with exfuzz01 i am lucky enough to live in a state that allows ccw permit and i only travel to states that reconize mine and if i didnt have a permit,i would carry one anyway thats just my 2cents

 

[exfuzz01]

I for one see no sense in having a gun with you, unloaded and locked away someplace where you can"t get to it when you need it. I think 98% of us would have no trouble with the police because we adhere to traffic and all other laws and don"t put ourselves in a position where we may need a weapon, but, when I need it. . I want it where I can get at it in a hurry.

 

[The patriot]

The problem is.....

We need more politicians that think like this.

Self protection is priority #1. I'll worry about the consequences later.

Eric

 

[kevincook]

Here in MI we have CCW's, I always tell people that are going to leave MI with there gun to call a head to each state (state police or attorney generals office) and find out who you can carry!



KC

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I go by the 6 and 12 rule as well. If I feel I should be carrying or having a gun in my truck or camper (which I often do) I do so and keep it concealed. If I have the need to pull it and use it then I will do so without hesitation. After the situation is over then I'll worry about whatever laws I may have broken and the necessary reprecussions of that - but my family and I will be alive, and the only time I'd pull and use it is if continued life is in SERIOUS doubt. I don't put myself into situations that would cause me or my vehicle to be searched and have it found otherwise. JMHO



P. S. Be careful of CCW permits and the possible reprecussions of getting one. After talking to several CCW class teachers and a couple of lawyers I decided not to get a CCW permit here in Michigan. All of them agreed that having a CCW in MI actually limited what you could do and increased the possibility and severity of reprecussions in a situation where you'd need to use a gun than if you didn't have it.



The reason for that is because after getting the CCW permit you have taken the CCW class and are now more informed as to your responsibilities than you would otherwise be. I've talked with several friends that have taken the classes and gotten their permits and afterwards said that if they had known what they learned in the class that they wouldn't have gotten them. As I understand it carrying concealed without a permit is a misdemeanor in MI - basically a slap on the wrist.

 

[kevincook]

Originally posted by Steve St. Laurent



As I understand it carrying concealed without a permit is a misdemeanor in MI - basically a slap on the wrist.

I am sorry Steve, I cant agree with you, I am not going to carry with out a permit the permit allows me to carry in my truck and on my person, I know the law that is why I took the classes. I look at a misdemeanor differently than you do, drunk driving is a misdemeanor as well but I would not do that either.



KC