Travel planning

[owb3]

I am travelling from Ohio to New Hampshire in the near future and have an Ohio CCW permit. What is the best way to find the laws for each state I will be traveling through concerning reciprocity, travel, storage, loaded, unloaded, etc. Would probably spend the night in PA.

I know I could go to the attorney general website for each state and wade through all the pages of the law, and I will do that if I need to, but I wondered if there were a more efficient way to get ths information.

 

[Erich]

Well, if you want correct information, you should probably go to the horse's, erm, mouth.

Google handgunlaw.us for links to the various state law sites as well as summaries. Check any information yourself, though - I have too many clients (I do criminal defense appeals) who listened to what other people told them.

 

[Pasifikawv]

NRA-ILA ::

...click on each State you plan to visit or pass thru for an NRA summary of the gun laws...

http://www.nraila.org/recmap/usrecmap.aspx

... click on each State for reciprocity and basic ccw info

 

[owb3]

Thanks for the replies. Looks like travel through New York will be particularly complicated or impossible legally. I just gave it a fast read, though, maybe I missed something or misunderstood, I'll give it a more thorough reading later.

 

[bk43]

If you are transporting a firearm you only need be concerned about federal law. If the gun is unloaded and in the trunk, or in a locked container if there is no trunk, you can go anywhere in the country(even NY). The only requirement is that you can legally have the gun at both your starting point and destination.

Carry, or having a gun ready to rock and roll in the vehicle, is different and state and local laws apply.

Bob

 

[OKFC05]

Thanks for the replies. Looks like travel through New York will be particularly complicated or impossible legally. I just gave it a fast read, though, maybe I missed something or misunderstood, I'll give it a more thorough reading later.

Both NY and NJ have state laws in conflict with The FOPA, and both states have been known to ignore Federal law. If you stop over in NY, then the FOPA won't help you anyway.
NY City does not even pretend to follow Federal law regarding transport of firearms, especially handguns, so NYC is a no-go.

About all you can do is lock the unloaded firearm in a container in the trunk and drive straight through the state, doing nothing to cause contact with the NY police. IANAL.

 

[LenS]

Follow FOPA to the letter. Look it up, read it thoroughly and BRING a copy with you.

Do NOT stop for more than gas/bathroom breaks in states like MA,NY or NJ. Do NOT remove the gun (unloaded, cased and locked) from the trunk (or vehicle if no trunk) under any circumstances in those states. I suggest NOT staying overnight in any of these three states if possible.

Keep the gun case HIDDEN from view, buried in trunk or covered in some way if you have SUV w/o trunk. What isn't seen usually does NOT lead to questions that can further lead to uncomfortable "fishing expeditions"!

 

[bk43]

For reference, here is the law:

18 USC 926A

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.

Note the law says nothing about what are considered necessary stops, like for gas, food or rest, so stops are legal if you are traveling through somewhere. However, even though places like NY and NJ cannot by law regulate interstate travel, they are known to try. As others have said, I'd sure limit any stops there to what is absolutely necessary and keep them as short as possible.

Bob

 

[wheelgun1958]

Pack-N-Go Carry Concealed Trip Planner

 

[unclefish]

I know for a fact that NY does not recognize ccw permits from any states.
I know someone on another forum who was caught in NY
He was arrested and has been charged with criminal possesion of a firearm.
He probably going to do time for this, probably a year at rikers
I also had a similar situation when I moved to NY. Luckily I had friends in high places.
Call the state police in NY they will gladly tell you the rules.
Good luck.

 

[Don_M]

I live in PA but occasionally travel to NH (I used to live there). I spend as little time in NY and MA as possible. Definitely no overnight stays and I'd try to even avoid meal stops. Maybe a quick burger. Mind your manners and don't give them a reason to pay attention to you. Rumor has it that even things like NRA stickers on a car with plates from "shall issue" states can draw attention.

I also have a 10-round mag that stays with the gun. Those evil "high capacity" magazines and "assault weapons" are legal to transport through per federal law, but NY in particular tries to play by its own rules. Also, in some states having a loaded mag anywhere in the vehicle is considered loading the gun.

Get across to VT as quickly and quietly as possible. And enjoy your visit to the Granite State.

 

[Capt Steve]

wheelgun, thanks for the link. Great sight to have readily available (just bookmarked it for future reference)..