Driving through a non-reciprocal state?

413Maxwedge · Apr 3, 2025

1) I know this forum is not a proper source of legal information.
2) I have researched this topic on the NRA-IL website as well as USCCA.
3) I still gotta ask...

We are planning a vacation and will be driving through 5 states. 4 of them are reciprocal regarding my PA LTC and don't have any regulations preventing me from carrying, keeping in my car or the rental property.
But one of them, that we will only be driving through for 1/2 hour, is not 2A friendly at all.

Without anyone giving bad legal advice, um, does anyone have any tips? I plan not to get off the highway as I quickly drive through that state, but I am a risk-assessor in my professional life and my "worst case scenario" is getting into an accident and waking up in a hospital with handcuffs and a felony charge.

But a worse-case scenario would be getting mugged at a gas station during the other 12 hours of travel time. Or home invasion at the rural mountain vacation home.

Without telling me to do anything illegal, what are your thoughts.

WR Moore · Apr 3, 2025

Pull to the side of the road/go to a rest area BEFORE you enter that state. Seek privacy and unload the firearm, place it & ammo in a case as far from you as possible in that vehicle. After you leave the state in question, recover and reload the firearm and resume your journey.

I'll avoid a comment on your needing to ask this.

murphydog · Apr 3, 2025

Agree with above, and know what the firearm storage laws are in the state in question. It may need to be in a locked container in an inaccessible compartment of the car.

Or perhaps just detour around that state if feasible?

luvsmiths · Apr 3, 2025

Well, this ought to get real good, real soon. This gonna be a loooooong thread.

10 A.M. is too early for popcorn though.

max503 · Apr 3, 2025

Looks like I'll never visit the NE part of the USA.

Oh well. Shucks.

03hemi · Apr 3, 2025

Drive around that state.

dave1918a2 · Apr 3, 2025

If the States initials are NJ, have Your lawyers phone # handy.

AudieMurphy · Apr 3, 2025

either NJ or MD...one poster should've added....store the ammo and gun...SEPERATE...NOT together. and if you and your better half are on the outs....ask her to put the gun in her pocket book

stanmerrell · Apr 3, 2025

It's a dilemma alright. You just have to ignore the law sometimes when it is unconstitutional. You have a right to defend yourself at all times.

tlawler · Apr 3, 2025

03hemi said:
Drive around that state.

I’m with 03hemi…if you only have a half hour traverse through that state, it can’t be a huge detour to go around it.

dockmurgw · Apr 3, 2025

"Or home invasion at the rural mountain vacation home."

Hard to even comment with the states in question being a secret. But, if your rural mountain cabin is in any of the safest and most gun friendly states in the union...VT, NH, ME...then you have a better chance of finding Elvis at a doughnut shop than having a home invasion.

geeollie · Apr 3, 2025

I believe that WR Moore is correct. But, we both could be wrong. So, since you are the one who would be in legal trouble, don't take my word for it.

Do a search on 18 U.S. Code 926A. Sometimes referred to as The Peaceable Journey law.

GnarlsR2 · Apr 3, 2025

Option #1 - Only traveling for 30 minutes through the State of concern, I would drive the speed limit and not stop, if at all possible, and not fret about it. Traveling for several hours is a different issue and poses risk.

Option #2 - For absolute risk mitigation, WR Moore and murphydog have excellent “thoughts”. You can buy a TSA Approved Firearm Travel Case on Amazon for $40 bucks.

https://a.co/d/gzpwFQC

I would want to know what that particular State says about traveling through it with a firearm and comply with the laws.

.38SuperMan · Apr 3, 2025

I have a similar problem. In route to Nebraska I can detour around Illinois and add considerable time to my trip or I can go through the very tip of Illinois and save considerable time and distance. If I take the Illinois route I’m only in the state for one mile or less and I go through a very remote area between Kentucky and Missouri. Actually I’m pretty certain I’m only in Illinois for a half mile or so. I’ve never seen any police in that area and rarely see another vehicle. I don’t like doing this but I just drive on through.

raljr1 · Apr 3, 2025

I will be traveling to Pittsburgh by way of a stop at my son's place in Arlington, VA. I will be taking several handguns with me for my time in the Burgh. No issues between here and Arlington, but it is not feasible to get to PA from there without going thru MD. My handguns will be in the spare tire compartment of my SUV for that portion of the trip. Of course there will be so much other **** in the car that no one could possibly see anything.

mikerjf · Apr 3, 2025

That was my approach to IL as well. But them levee roads are scary!

rwt1405 · Apr 3, 2025

Sounds like my drive from PA to the OBX (Outer Banks, NC) used to be.

I would pull over at the end of DE, unload and lock up my firearm and ammo, in separate locked cases, then place in back of vehicle, drive thru MD (about 1/2 hour) and than pull over in VA to re-arm myself.

In 2023 I took care of that stupid situation by obtaining my MD Wear & Carry permit, and now can drive straight thru, with no stops (for firearms storage) needed.

Just took my MD W&C Renewal course, last month.

Best thing I've done in a while.

413Maxwedge · Apr 3, 2025

03hemi said:
Drive around that state.

I'm considering it. Would add about an hour to the 13hr trip.

413Maxwedge · Apr 3, 2025

dockmurgw said:
"Or home invasion at the rural mountain vacation home."

Hard to even comment with the states in question being a secret. But, if your rural mountain cabin is in any of the safest and most gun friendly states in the union...VT, NH, ME...then you have a better chance of finding Elvis at a doughnut shop than having a home invasion.

I hope your right, but my state is 2A friendly and we still have home invasions.

rwt1405 · Apr 3, 2025

WR Moore said:
Pull to the side of the road/go to a rest area BEFORE you enter that state. Seek privacy and unload the firearm, place it & ammo in a case as far from you as possible in that vehicle. After you leave the state in question, recover and reload the firearm and resume your journey.

I'll avoid a comment on your needing to ask this.

The only thing that I would offer, about this suggestion, is to check the states that you would need to stop, to disarm and then arm again

My understanding is that some states have laws stating it is illegal to have firearms in/at their highway Rest Areas.

Driving through a non-reciprocal state?

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