cross country travel??

[jal910s]

let's say I am on a trip from my house in MI. going to visit a relative in, oh... let's say CA. I am travailing by car at 70 mph. and obeying the law of the road. I do not have a concealed carry permit, but would like to be able to defend my family if the need arises. where should I keep my pistol, loaded or unloaded with a mag. handy, and what should I do if "randomly" stopped??
Do I need to be concerned about the local laws, or do my home state laws apply??

 

[woftrax]

My understanding of "safe journey" common law is that most all states recognize it.. firearm in your trunk unloaded and ammo in passenger compartment or vice versa..each State law and practice does apply for out of state travelers..

I researched from the Midwest to Ohio and found that all States that I passed through recognize the citizens right to a safe journey and have a right to defend same..

 

[ACP230]

MCRGO has a link showing which states honor MI concealed carry permits.
I referred to it before going to N. Carolina early this month.

Wisconsin, Illinois and California are three of the states that don't recognize concealed carry permits.

 

[Markcuda]

This is me, it may not be legal, but this is me.
Glock 26, in a case, 10 round magazine in the same case,gun not loaded, under the passenger seat.
Your mileage may very.

 

[JWiley]

In general you are subject to the laws of the state you are in, not the state you reside. Safest would be to have the firearm unloaded, magazines, speed loaders also unloaded, in an inaccesable spot of your vehicle. Trunk, back seat storage compartment, or similar. Ammo, separated, in another.

Do check the states you will be traveling through. You may be able to carry is some, without a licence. ( see handgunlaw.us and opencarry.org )

 

[jj2am44]

A traffic stop usually does not provide the police with enough probable cause for a search of your vehicle. If he asks if he can search, just tell him "I do not consent to a search of my vehicle". If you agree to a search and he finds some stuff he shouldn't, then they can use it against you. I am not a lawyer and this is my opinion.

 

[P&R Fan]

But also consider certain municipalities stronger laws, such as Morton Grove, Illinois. Also Chicago, where I believe the Daley administration may practice capitol punishment for people who don't choose to be a victim.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I do not have a concealed carry permit, but would like to be able to defend my family if the need arises.

No problem, unless you want to be in compliance with the law. If that is the case, too bad about your family.

Do I need to be concerned about the local laws??

Only if somebody who counts finds out that you are breaking the law, which will almost surely happen if you ever need to use a gun.

 

[Win712]

In our home state you must have handgun unloaded and inaccesable, with ammo stored separate from the weapon unless you have a CPL. Your best bet is get your CPL and you are safe to carry in most states other than WI, IL, NY & CA. It takes 4-6 weeks to get a permit after taking an approved training course. It just isn't worth the hassel without a permit for the sake of $200 in training and license fees. To check where your Michigan CPL is valid check this site, Handgunlaw.us

 

[PDL]

Interesting responses so far - I sure as H wouldn't follow some of them.
Interstate transportation of firearms is covered by Federal law. That is the traveling part of your question. Check this for a start.
US CODE: Title 18,926A. Interstate transportation of firearms
What it's saying is if you have an unloaded firearm, secured either in the trunk and/or lock box. You're usually ok. Some states let you carry a firearm locked in the glove box, most don't.


In several states you've got some options if you have a CCW that's reciprocal etc.
Here are a couple of other sites to look at.
Handgunlaw.us
NRA-ILA ::
USA Carry - Open and Concealed Carry Information and Community

 

[Bratastic007]

+1 to JJ2AM's reply.

Know the laws of the States through which you travel. Keep the weapon out of reach and out of sight in any jurisdiction that would have an issue with it.

If you do get pulled over, conduct yourself in the same manner you would if you did not have a firearm in the vehicle. Don't disclose anything voluntarily. Do not consent to a search. To search your vehicle, the police would need one of the following:
(1) Probable cause;
(2) Consent;
(3) a warrant;
(4) the ability to see the gun or other contraband (drugs, etc.) to give them reason to search you;
(4) the right to arrest you, after which they could conduct a search of your car; or
(5) be impounding your car for another reason, and taking an inventory of your car's contents prior to impounding it.

Don't give them permission, or a reason to search, and you'll be fine. It will also help if you don't sweat profusely when the officer approaches the vehicle to let you know you have a tail light out.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Your best bet is get your CPL and you are safe to carry in most states other than WI, IL, NY & CA. To check where your Michigan CPL is valid check this site, Handgunlaw.us

Few if any New England states recognize other states' concealed carry permits. RI does allow you to pass through.

 

[jj2am44]

The Firearms Owners Protection Act allows through travel of all states as long as you are only stopping for gas, food, etc. As soon as you stop at Uncle Floyd's in a state like Illinois, your travel status is over. Your handgun must be legal in the state you start out in and be legal in the state you end up in--a continuous journey. Without a LTCF in a state, as long as they are locked in the trunk and unloaded, you should be OK. I would keep a low profile any how. One item of note--in Ohio, with a loaded magazine and even a loaded speedloader, the empty gun is considered loaded.

Like Bratastic007 said--it pays to know the laws of every state you pass through.

 

[BeginingOfTheEnd]

What about open carry laws? Do any of the states you guys are reffering to acknowledge these laws? For instance, here in Montana you can open carry any where except gov. buildings and bars, period. I've been pulled over a couple of times, carrying, fully loaded, one in the chamber, with no problems/questions. A girl I know carrys a loaded gun mounted under the dash. Again, no problems. I'm not familier with other state laws and I realize Montana is the last best place for a reason, but don't other states recognize open carry laws?

 

[rpbcab]

I have a concealed carry permit in Tennessee. I do travel to other states for work and for pleasure. Whenever I must go to another state I take the time to print their laws and rules about carrying guns in their state. I make sure that I comply. It only takes a few minutes to make a folder for these rules and a review of them before you enter a new state may save you an extended visit to their local slammer, which might just spoil your trip. Some states even legislate what kind on ammo they allow... (Really, look it up)

 

[jj2am44]

What about open carry laws? Do any of the states you guys are reffering to acknowledge these laws? For instance, here in Montana you can open carry any where except gov. buildings and bars, period. I've been pulled over a couple of times, carrying, fully loaded, one in the chamber, with no problems/questions. A girl I know carrys a loaded gun mounted under the dash. Again, no problems. I'm not familier with other state laws and I realize Montana is the last best place for a reason, but don't other states recognize open carry laws?

Yes, some do. BUT, only if you are on foot. It does not apply to being in a vehicle. Here in Pa., you need a License To Carry a Firearm (LTCF) in a vehicle or in Philadelphia-a first class city (over 1 million people). Even non-residents can open carry in Pa. with some exceptions, of course-Post Offices, federal buildings, secure areas of airports, etc.
Do yourself a favor and get your permit-or whatever they call it in Michigan. Even better, get a Utah non-resident as well.

 

[Faulkner]

In the last five years I've traveled for work or pleasure in nearly half of the states. I was either in a car or on my Harley, and I always carry. Not once have I had the opportunity to visit with a law enforcement officer while traveling. I think the main reason is I don't speed (well, excessively anyway), I don't drink and drive, I drive courtiously, I don't flip off other drivers who don't, I don't have loud pipes on my Harley, and I generally try to not do things that bring special attention to me.

The only place of all my travels I did not carry was Washington, D.C.

It's really not that hard. For those who say, "the big bad police are always picking on me for NO REASON,", I say, yeah, right.

 

[bk43]

As soon as you stop at Uncle Floyd's in a state like Illinois, your travel status is over.

The federal law says state laws do not apply when legally transporting through all of the states. It also is silent on where you may stop, or for how long, while in transit. There is no case law I am aware of that limits stops in any way.

Bob

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

It's really not that hard. For those who say, "the big bad police are always picking on me for NO REASON,", I say, yeah, right.

For one reason or another, my experience has been like Faulkner's. Of course, I'm only 65, so I may just have been lucky so far.

I have been stopped a few times for speeding, probably because I was speeding, but that's all the stop dealt with.

 

[Chromedhearts]

I have found that people that make a habit of carrying all of the time get comfortable with it and thus do not get in an uncomfortable, agitated state which would telegraph that you are doing something "wrong" (not). That gets more people in trouble with the law than you'll ever know, they "Look Guilty". That applies to drug dealers, murders, kidnappers, and people carrying a gun who feel that they're doing something bad. So if you are not in the habit of carrying, you might consider starting. Get a permit, cpl, what ever your state calls it and get comfortable with it. I have known people for years that never had a clue that I was armed.
I also make it a policy to not go to states where it would be a felony to carry a gun. 'Had to make a tough decision one time on a buisness trip, that would have took me some where that does not recognize our right to be armed.