Now that I'm retired, my wife and I are enjoying taking road trips to various areas of the country to visit National Parks, etc. There are obviously some states that are more friendly for concealed carry than others, but that's not what I'm asking right now. My question is for transportation.


For the sake of argument, let's say the firearm in question is a J-frame revolver or a <10rd semi auto to avoid any magazine capacity issues. It is unloaded and locked in a small handgun safe in the rear of the vehicle when passing through unfriendly states. It appears that most states I've checked allow that with the exception of NY and NJ that seem to make up laws on the fly. Are there any others that must be absolutely avoided when traveling (possibly an overnight stay)?

Thanks

If they are buried and you don’t fit the profile for targeted enforcement, and aren’t giving the police a reason to get you on the side of the road I wouldn’t personally be concerned.

A good starting point

You may already be aware of this…but others may not.

quote:

Originally posted by gearhounds:
If they are buried and you don’t fit the profile for targeted enforcement, and aren’t giving the police a reason to get you on the side of the road I wouldn’t personally be concerned.

Maryland has been known to use Concealed Carry permit information from other states to target certain vehicles for "traffic enforcement".

States to avoid off the top of my head. All New England states with the exception of New Hampshire. This means Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. California, Oregon, and Washington State. Washington DC. Illinois. While you may not end up in prison in these states you may have to spend a bunch of money on Lawyers to insure that doesn't happen.

BTW, tips for safe travel while minimizing the chances for being stopped. Number One is to drive a Vehicle that blends in and avoid bright colors that stand out such as Red. Drive at the Median Speed. Note this is a bit different than the Average Speed, the Median is where the number of cars you pass is the same as the number of cars that pass you. Doing this will not only make you almost invisible to speed enforcement it will also make you nearly invisible to Road Ragers. Finally ignore the assholes, in two or 3 minutes they will be gone.

Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont are Constitutional Carry.

No permit ever needed.

Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island are anti-Gun.

Most of those States that often come up, I wouldn’t want to visit anyway. I realize one could be driving through.

I think some, like NY, could even be a problem if unloaded & locked in a trunk. But again, I won’t be driving through.

West or South is where I’d be likely to go, most of that is good.

This site offers a buildable reciprocity map, as well as a constitutional carry map. Pretty decent interactive site.

https://www.concealedcarry.com...procity-map-builder/

Here is a magazine capacity map as well…

https://www.usconcealedcarry.c...ch-states-have-them/

quote:

Maryland has been known to use Concealed Carry permit information from other states to target certain vehicles for "traffic enforcement".

I've heard one story about this but I don't think it's an issue. FWIW I live in MD and have had a CCW from out of state for many years. I've been stopped during that time. I was stopped heading to an IDPA match wearing a Sig hat and a firearm t-shirt. I never was asked about firearms.

I've also driven through NY and NJ with firearms. I never had an issue. If you're traveling through I wouldn't be too worried. Follow the laws on the transportation of firearms and be smart. It's really hard to avoid NY from the East Coast if you want to go north of NY .

The CC reciprocity maps are great and I've used them many times. I'm talking about the states that throw the middle finger at the Constitution and will arrest you for simple transport.

There really aren't many parks in the NE anyway. We've hit a lot of the desert SW and are looking at the Pacific coast. I THINK I'm OK with locked unloaded transport in WA,OR,and CA.

FOPA protects you if you are legal at both your origin and destination. A complex route looping back home might not clearly fit FOPA in a particular situation the way a one-way day trip would. An overnight stay may not be allowed, plus there is the hazard of moving the weapon to/from the hotel room if someone observes something they think is suspicious.

I would definitely not overnight in the really unfriendly places, and would not make any sightseeing or other unnecessary stops. NJ, NY, CT, MA, DC, CA, Chicago.

Keep it stored such that it doesn't have to be removed, and is not visible, if you have to change a flat tire or access tools.

Remember the lines "Am I being detained or am I free to leave?", "I do not consent to search", and "I am asserting my 5th Amendment right to remain silent".

^^^^
Pretty tough to see the parks in CA without spending several days there. Looking at their DOJ website, it appears that unloaded and locked is OK.

Illinois and California

Do the anti-gun states simply ignore 18 U.S. Code § 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."

quote:

Originally posted by MNSIG:
Pretty tough to see the parks in CA without spending several days there. Looking at their DOJ website, it appears that unloaded and locked is OK.

In CA, an unloaded handgun in a locked container is kosher, and you can have the ammo/magazine in the same container as well. The law does not specify exactly what a "secured container" is, I have used a backpack or a duffel bag at times with the zipper locked together with a small padlock. If you have a lockable trunk, it is considered a locked container.

Oregon has similar transport laws, but I do believe the ammo cannot be in the same container.

quote:

Originally posted by 229DAK:
Do the anti-gun states simply ignore 18 U.S. Code § 926A - Interstate transportation of firearms?

Yes. They arrest you anyway knowing that the process and expense of exonerating yourself will act as punishment to gun owners, thereby acting as a deterrent to having a firearm.

quote:

Originally posted by MNSIG:
^^^^
Pretty tough to see the parks in CA without spending several days there. Looking at their DOJ website, it appears that unloaded and locked is OK.

Very true!

If your handgun, accessories, and ammo are all legal to possess, then legal is legal. The issue is a rogue LEO who decides to give you a hard time. I see the risks being a traffic stop, a flat tire or similar situation, or a do-gooder calling the police if they identify you have a firearm.

The problem is that FOPA does not protect you if you are making visits within that place. So you must ensure that your objects are fully legal AND there is no way anyone could claim you were carrying concealed or brandishing, etc.

e.g. carrying a pistol box from the car to your hotel room could be considered carrying concealed. A locked box with no magazine or ammo in the same container defeats that claim. Better yet, a locked box inside a suitcase so that no jerk sees it and calls the police. Storage within your hotel room (or campsite) needs to be researched. e.g. in my state (Utah) the law specifies any temporary room or campsite is the same legally as your residence. But idk if CA or other such places might have specific laws that would dictate how you keep the firearm in your hotel room.

Vehicle break-ins are epidemic in National Parks. I would never leave anything in a vehicle which you would hate to have stolen. Thieves are looking for a quick score. Cash, valuables, guns, etc. Either use the safe in your hotel room or have a good strong box securely attached to your vehicle.

Most buildings in a National Park are no-guns allowed. They are a Federal Facility per 18 USC 930. Welcome Centers, lodges, etc. I have carried into a bathroom in a separate building many times in Parks and Forests, but only in friendly states, under the logic that an outhouse is not a place where federal employees regularly perform their work duties (the facilities are maintained and administered by private contractors) and thus do not meet the definition of "Federal Facility". A private concessionaire business such as a restaurant or gas station within a park is not a "Federal Facility", but I use judgement about carrying into those places.

quote:

Originally posted by MNSIG:
^^^^
Pretty tough to see the parks in CA without spending several days there. Looking at their DOJ website, it appears that unloaded and locked is OK.

CA is very unfriendly toward concealed carry for non-residents, but the CA laws are not at unfriendly about transporting one or more locked up, unloaded firearms in a FOPA compliant way. They are also not unfriendly toward being armed in your domicile (hotel room, parked RV).

The thing about CA is that it is a collection of counties and they all have different Sheriff’s and different politics. While at one point the Kern County Sheriff actually had a radio ad running that said roughly, “I don’t have the budget or deputies to do this all on my own. If you are a law-abiding citizen, get yourself down to my office and get your CCW so you can be part of the solution.” and there are other counties that are very CCW & rights friendly (particularly inland and in the north), there are also other counties (looking at you San Francisco & Los Angeles) that are very CCW and rights unfriendly.

There is state preemption, but some jurisdictions still pass laws that violate the premise. I would not worry in the least in the National Parks areas, but if I had to go into the LA or San Francisco areas or maybe even the San Diego area, I’d be careful not to attract any attention.

Canada

Regarding handguns, Washington is fine as long as you have no magazines over 10 rounds. There is some CCW reciprocity with a handful of states, but Minnesota's carry permit is not one of them. The workaround is to apply and get a Utah CCW, which out-of-state residents can do if they have taken the appropriate recognized training course before applying. Utah's CCW is recognized in 35 states. (EDIT: However don't plan on bringing a semiauto rifle with a caliber larger than .22 rimfire to the state; almost all of those are considered quite evil by the dimbulb leftist lawmakers here. Same 10rd mag limit applies, so no 25rd 10/22 mags.)

Oregon doesn't recognize any state-issued CCW other than their own, but transporting a handgun in a lockable box in your vehicle is considered acceptable. The sales bans and mag limits that the state planned on implementing last year got stalled in their state court system (ruled unconstitutional as it rightly is), so for the time being Oregon still is technically a free state.

I would not concern myself with IL. especially if your NOT traveling through Cook County/ Chicago.
If you keep your firearm in a locked case,NOT LOADED, but loaded magazines in the same case, in the trunk, you would have no problems, this applies to ALL of IL.
This applies to PASSING THROUGH the State.