My first question when reading the OP was... New York city or New York State?

If not the city... and depending on the town in New York... I lie the idea of flying into a different state and just renting a car one way.... lock the gun unloaded in the trunk while traveling through New York and Illinois and holding your nose.

Would I do it. Sure I back packed all over Europe, to include Croatia and Bosnia.
But thankfully you don’t have to.

Plenty of options. They may add a step or two but it is very doable.

Fly into Vermont.
I also have a nice old wood stock pump shotgun and a couple old pistol caliber lever actions just for such a thing.
That are legal pretty much everywhere that I can think of.
Sure it may not be on my person all the time but better than nothing.

No

I’ve never had a flat tire yet I would never leave home without a spare tire in the trunk.

There's about zero risk of going unarmed. That said, were it me and I insisted on carrying, I'd contact an FFL in the first border state to NY on my route (likely around Erie PA) and figure out shipping it to them to transfer back on your way. Alternatively, it might be possible to Fedex it to yourself at a hotel in a legal state on your route where you'll be staying. Call the manager, tell them you have a box coming and ask to hold it for you (you'd have to check whether this is legal...believe it is but I'm not an attorney)

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
Alternatively, can you ship your carry rig to an FFL outside of New York, and just pick it up on the way home?

Exactly what I was going to write.

Also as another member wrote this is America and presumably you won’t be visiting any crack dens.

I traveled from Fl to NY last Thursday. It does suck not being able to carry; however my girls and I all carry knives and keep our heads on swivels.

From someone who travels a lot. Picking your stop for the night in advance and getting off the road and into your room early evening will also keep you from having to stay somewhere less desirable/safe and out of trouble.

Best of luck.

quote:

Originally posted by Bulldog7972:
I’ve never had a flat tire yet I would never leave home without a spare tire in the trunk.

This. It is a mindset thing. You’d probably be fine, but probably sucks.

I’ve never done this, but would it be possible to fly into a different state, park your pistol at an FFL, either fly or rent one way and drive to New York, then pick up your pistol on the way back through?

While there are states where one can’t carry concealed, isn’t New York the only state where possession of a handgun is illegal? I’d highly recommend checking the laws of all states on your route or routes, I think that NY is the only state that doesn’t recognize the Firearm Owners Protection Act (FOPA).

No sane person should every fly, travel, or otherwise find themselves in New York with any association to a firearm.

If another option is available, such as Vermont or an FFL outside of New York then by all means. But never have a weapon inside New York.

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
This is America, not Afghanistan. Yes, I would drive across country without a firearm.

Keep your head on a swivel, stay out of obviously bad neighborhoods, don't flash your wealth, and don't be a loudmouth. The odds that you will be gunned down in the middle of the street by a complete stranger for no reason is near zero.

Your biggest risk is having stuff stolen out of your trailer. Or even having the trailer completely stolen. In both cases, it's likely cheaper to just let them take stuff or the trailer than it is to engage in a gunfight.

This right here. I have travelled through almost all of the lower 48. Most of the time I have never had a firearm. We live in a pretty safe country. I would plan my route accordingly. I would drive a little extra to avoid shit neighborhoods. Stay on the interstates. You’ll be fine.

Yes.

For most of the last 20 years I traveled frequently, in and outside of the US, and was not able to carry a gun except in a few circumstances. I drive whenever I can and have driven 20 plus hours away on a few occasions.

I’d prefer to have a gun but sometimes it’s impossible. I stay on interstates and tend to stop at large truck stops, which now are typically very well lit and typically busy. I try to drive mostly during the day and stay in 3-4 star hotels in decent areas.

"This is America, not Afghanistan"

despite my own apprehensions, this observation is
somewhat soothing.

As evidence of accuracy, my #2 son just last month completed an essentially solo BICYCLE trip from Seattle to Ohio without firearms.

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
Alternatively, can you ship your carry rig to an FFL outside of New York, and just pick it up on the way home?

No. As a non resident of that state an FFL can't transfer a handgun to you.

There are exemptions for you to have a handgun in NY temporarily, this wouldn't be one of them.

Fly into another state, drive through NY, okay. Stopping and moving mom (assuming she lives in NY) would be the problem legally. And if there's the possibility of drama, you really don't want it with you.

As a former NY resident chiming in I will tell you absolutely do not chance going to NY state with a handgun.
Even if all FAA rules and FOPA rules are adhered to if landing at a NYC region airport you will be detained and arrested immediately.
A legal long gun ( pump shotgun or lever action) if fine if you land outside of NYC ( like someone suggested Vermont) however NY state law does not let you have a loaded long gun in your car, so it is essentially a useless club during much of the trip.

Outside of NYC the state is pretty laid back regarding blades, so would take a good knife or two. The big flashlight and other options are not a bad idea.

Outside of the urban areas (NYC sadly now my former Buffalo, Rochester ) you could easily mistake NY for free America most places.

Ship one to a fellow member (in care of yourself) in the route you plan to use.pick it up there.

But yeah, if I couldn’t fly with one, I’d be ok w/o a gun on the way home. I wouldn’t be happy about it but I’d do it.

Would I? Yes.
Would I be more comfortable armed? Certainly.

Some years back I bought my VW Touareg at a dealer in NJ. I flew into Philadelphia with my handgun, met a very nice forum member who held it for me while I went to NJ and bought the car, and then picked it up on my way out. If you want a personal carry weapon, that is your best bet.

If you want protection on the road, just fly in and buy a shotgun at the first available place- maybe even NY. As long as it has an 18” barrel and is 26” overall, it can even have a pistol grip and is still a “shotgun”, and you can buy one nationwide under federal firearms laws. You CANNOT buy a Shockwave, as it is not technically a “shotgun”.

State laws could mandate waiting periods or restrictions on vehicle carry, so you’ll have to check those for states on your route. I’m personally good with a shotgun in my car and hotel room, and you can sell it when you get back home. If you take a small loss on the sale, consider it a rental fee.

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
Alternatively, can you ship your carry rig to an FFL outside of New York, and just pick it up on the way home?

This^^^ plus read Gary Sliders Handgunlaw site for each of the states you will travel through.

Many, including places like Illinois, aren't as bad (restriction wise) as you would think if you follow the laws there.

quote:

Originally posted by OttoSig:
No sane person should every fly, travel, or otherwise find themselves in New York with any association to a firearm.

If another option is available, such as Vermont or an FFL outside of New York then by all means. But never have a weapon inside New York.

this x1,000

just google the current state of affairs of Riker's Island prison / jail

you don't want to spend 10 seconds near that place

-----------------------------------------------

i have made the trip north to south and south to north on the west coast 4 times. I have made the trip north to south and south to north on the east coast, 8 times now, will be doing another here in a few weeks. I have made the trip east to west and west to east 3 times by car.

If you are traveling coastal states, and rust belt states, do not travel with a concealed carry gun.

The laws that allow you to travel with weapons are federal, and those states have repeatedly put people in jail regardless of what the federal law says.

Federal laws allow you to move your guns from one residence to another. Some states interpret that to mean if you stop, any kind of stop, in their state you are violating that law. That includes hotels, motels, gas stations, and rest stops.

NY, NJ, ILL, PA, CT, RI, MA, and others along your list do not give a shit. If you get pulled over and they sniff you have a gun, you have just made that traffic cop's day. If, and I hope you do not have to, you use the gun in their state. You are fucked. Royally and totally fucked.

The best thing you can do is getting there. And if shit goes sideways. Leave. It may only be with your mother and the cloths on her back but leave.

If you are worried about traveling across this nation, plan ahead. Get gas at only well-lit stations, Stop at well-lit rest areas, Rent hotels with well-lit lots. Bed and breakfasts in rural towns are great options also.

Travel by freeway/interstate as much as possible. Track your gas, and move at a constant pace.

I have driven this nation a shit ton of times, I love driving across this awesome nation of ours. I do not carry weapons along the coasts, or the rust belt, for the above reasons. I am hyper vigilent, and careful with my travel plans and Itinerary.

I've done it.

In 2009, I drove from Houston, TX, to Anchorage, AK, with my Dad and cats. I was unarmed due to crossing the Canadian border and all of my fun stuff is illegal in Can-eh-duh. I could've had a 12 gauge (think hunting gun not SD gun) or bolt action rifle with me, but it would've had to have been locked in hard case and ammo locked in separate hard case (i.e. excuse me Mr. Badguy or bear, please give me 5 minutes to defend myself). It was an uneventful trip (no flats, no breakdowns, no thefts) except for 5 tense minutes in Cheyenne, WY. It was a clear, sunny morning and we decided to stop for gas at a large, clean gas station. Dad headed into the c-store, and I noticed a pick-up truck w/ 2 men pull into an adjacent gas pump and they had a shiny, new high-end tool box in the back end (I can't remember whether Mac, Snap-On, etc) which stood out to me. A minute or so later some white trash tweeker looking female pulls into the gas station and begins yelling at the guys with the tool box and one of the things she yells was "you're dead when xxx gets here." Shortly after, her significant other (also looks like a white trash methhead ) arrives at gas station at high rate of speed and skids to a stop. I hustled into c-store, turned Dad around who was walking out front door, and had the clerk call 911 (my cell phone was in truck). Turns out the two men in the pickup with the toolbox were repo men who didn't gas up before repossessing the toolbox and that gave the white trash who quit making payments on their fancy toolbox and fancy tools time to catch up with them.

Did I need a gun? No, the LEOs arrived fast and nothing escalated beyond screaming. Probably would not have needed one even if police took longer to respond as I have no interest in jumping in somebody else's shootout.

Would I have felt better in c-store if I had a little friend on my hip? Hell yes!

In 2017, I drove cross country to visit Dad and I definitely had a Sig on my hip. Part of it was the Cheyenne incident.

quote:

Originally posted by OttoSig:
No sane person should every fly, travel, or otherwise find themselves in New York with any association to a firearm.

If another option is available, such as Vermont or an FFL outside of New York then by all means. But never have a weapon inside New York.

That reminds me SigP220, comb through your bags to ensure you don’t have any magazine. You get caught with a standard capacity mag here in NY it’s as bad as a pistol.

Don’t count on TSA catching it either. I flew with a loaded 17 round mag in my computer bag at least three (3) times before it was caught.

Whenever I come back to the north country I basically empty my truck of everything just so I don’t miss a magazine.
NY sucks…