MA to FL , how to transport

mg440rt

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Someone may know of a website where I could get this info . I plan on driving down to FL from MA in late Nov . I'd like to take my carry with me . I have a MA LTC and I also have a FL LTC . Any input as to what , if any problems , might be encountered along the way ? Thanks for any help .
 
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New York, New Jersey, and Maryland would seem to be the most restrictive parts of the country that you will likely travel through. There are a number of web sites that you can click on your states concealed carry license, and they will show which states honor the MA and FL permits. I too have a FL permit, which I aquired before WV had agreements with GA and AL. Now we have reciprocity with 38 states, and as long as I stay away from the 10 that we don't have agreements with I'm OK.

Be especially careful in New Jersey, though.

Best Regards, Les
 
This has come up before. First of all, place the gun in a locked container, unloaded. Place the ammo in another locked container, then bury both under clothes and luggage. Best route is to take I 84 down through CT, and across a bit of NY into PA, then I 81 south out of Scranton. Don't stop in CT or NY. Avoid NYC, all of NJ, Baltimore, DC and other big cities. Drive the speed limit. Need a copilot? I'm sick of winter. :D
 
I would say that as soon as you are into Virginia, you could get it back out and load it and wear it for that matter.

Well, I might be wrong. It may depend on whether your permits are Resident or non resident. SC might be problematic. Check this website. There are others: Concealed Carry Permit Reciprocity Maps - USA Carry

Best Regards, Les
 
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Hi. If you have your sidearm secured and separate from the ammo, then carry in the free states, you should be fine crossing through NJ. If your MA permit is honored in PA, taking I81 south to I64, you will only have to worry about NY and MD. Usually, NJ doesn't hassle people transporting secured firearms.
 
First of all, place the gun in a locked container, unloaded. Place the ammo in another locked container, then bury both under clothes and luggage. Best route is to take I 84 down through CT, and across a bit of NY into PA, then I 81 south out of Scranton. Don't stop in CT or NY. Avoid NYC, all of NJ, Baltimore, DC and other big cities. Drive the speed limit.
Word for word, this is exactly what I was going to suggest.
Safe trip.
 
When you get to NC, squeeze off a few rounds for me, ok?

Kidding. Do what everyone else said.
 
This is good advice, to which I'll add a bit more. I've done similar trips a number of times over the past couple of years.

As Squarebutt says, take the MA 'pike to I 84 down through CT and into New York State. This will keep you out of NYC and NJ. As long as your firearms are locked up securely, you should have no problem even if you are stopped. Just don't mention that you have firearms and you should be fine.

If you're stopped, say as little as possible, don't allow a search.

Take I-81 as far south as you can. Check the counties that you are passing through in PA. LTCs in PA are issued by the county sheriffs and they determine if they will issue to non county residents. Find a county that does issue along your route and stop in to get a LTC. It took me 10 minutes in Berks County.

If you have smart phone or iPhone, download the app "Legal Heat". It's a good guide to reciprocity and the laws of the individual states.

Unlike MA, most states don't require a permit or license for mere possession. So, as long as you keep your stuff locked up, you should be fine. Unfortunately, MA, NY, and NJ do require permits for mere possession.

hangunlaw.us is a good source of information a well.

This has come up before. First of all, place the gun in a locked container, unloaded. Place the ammo in another locked container, then bury both under clothes and luggage. Best route is to take I 84 down through CT, and across a bit of NY into PA, then I 81 south out of Scranton. Don't stop in CT or NY. Avoid NYC, all of NJ, Baltimore, DC and other big cities. Drive the speed limit. Need a copilot? I'm sick of winter. :D
 
"C'mon down!" as Jim Dooley used to say for Northeast Airlines. Should be right cool by late November. Certainly under 85 during the day. Bring lots of money, nobody works around here 'cept me. Joe
 
This has come up before. First of all, place the gun in a locked container, unloaded. Place the ammo in another locked container, then bury both under clothes and luggage. Best route is to take I 84 down through CT, and across a bit of NY into PA, then I 81 south out of Scranton. Don't stop in CT or NY. Avoid NYC, all of NJ, Baltimore, DC and other big cities. Drive the speed limit. Need a copilot? I'm sick of winter. :D

LMAO!!.....
 
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This is good advice, to which I'll add a bit more. I've done similar trips a number of times over the past couple of years.

As Squarebutt says, take the MA 'pike to I 84 down through CT and into New York State. This will keep you out of NYC and NJ. As long as your firearms are locked up securely, you should have no problem even if you are stopped. Just don't mention that you have firearms and you should be fine.

If you're stopped, say as little as possible, don't allow a search.

Take I-81 as far south as you can. Check the counties that you are passing through in PA. LTCs in PA are issued by the county sheriffs and they determine if they will issue to non county residents. Find a county that does issue along your route and stop in to get a LTC. It took me 10 minutes in Berks County.

If you have smart phone or iPhone, download the app "Legal Heat". It's a good guide to reciprocity and the laws of the individual states.

Unlike MA, most states don't require a permit or license for mere possession. So, as long as you keep your stuff locked up, you should be fine. Unfortunately, MA, NY, and NJ do require permits for mere possession.

hangunlaw.us is a good source of information a well.

PA. is very friendly to guns. I would (almost never) go thru Ma, Ny, or Nj.
 
mg4rt,

les.b and the others provided you with excellent guidelines for your trip - especially New Jersey where a Pennsylvania correctional officer was arrested for illegally carrying a handgun. Eventually, the prosecutor declined to prosecute the case. I wonder who was the "New Jersey official" who ordered Sergeant Hughes to be arrested in the first case? See:
Corrections officer charged with carrying gun in New Jersey | WTOP
NRA-ILA | Accident Victim, Corrections Officer Treated to "New Jersey Justice" for "Illegal" Firearm
 
That officer and the nurse who was arrested, had their weapons within reach and not secured in any manner. The charges for both were dropped while a certain high ranking elected official was running for a national office.

Even more problematic are PA of NY/NJ properties where more than one person has been arrested after checking in weapons at airports. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that FOPA doesn't apply.

Which is why I avoid traveling through the state of NJ, or any airports under the PA control.


mg4rt,

les.b and the others provided you with excellent guidelines for your trip - especially New Jersey where a Pennsylvania correctional officer was arrested for illegally carrying a handgun. Eventually, the prosecutor declined to prosecute the case. I wonder who was the "New Jersey official" who ordered Sergeant Hughes to be arrested in the first case? See:
Corrections officer charged with carrying gun in New Jersey | WTOP
NRA-ILA | Accident Victim, Corrections Officer Treated to "New Jersey Justice" for "Illegal" Firearm
 
I believe possession of Hollow Point Ammo is illegal in NJ.

No, its only illegal if you use hollow points in the commission of a crime, or if your a convicted felon. Hollow points are allowed,and sold in Dicks and other sporting good stores in New Jersey. Legal to own, shoot, and use for home defense.
.
 
18USC 926a gives you the authority to pass through any state if gun is unloaded and secured away from ammo.

Ken:

You are absolutely correct. The only problem with that law is, that some states have unilaterally decided that Federal law does not apply to them, and arrest folks who are in compliance with the USC that you cite. Of course someone wrongly arrested, and prosecuted may eventually prevail in court, but at great cost in both attorney fees, bail bond expenses, and who knows what else. Just as some jurisdictions have decided that LEOSA does not apply to them. So prudence dictates caution in entering known or suspected areas where such policies are employed. Of course, most of our knowledge of these events is anecdotal, and is garnered from news reports and we all know that these sources are sometimes unreliable, so I don't claim any special knowledge othe than what I see on the NRA's web sites, and ordinary tv and periodical stories.

Best Regards, Les
 
I believe possession of Hollow Point Ammo is illegal in NJ.

Tarsam is partially correct. I have never heardof anyone being hassled with OTM bullets or ammo. The issue rests with expanding hollow points (EHPs). You can own EHPs for use at the range or at home, provided that they are boxed and separated from firearms and not in plain view. The outlawing of EHPs gives prosecutors an extra charge that they can file if someone is being charged with a criminal activity.

Currently, if I feel the need, I turn to the Hornady Critical Defense ammo, which is not being viewed as EHP ammo. All I can say is, go figure ...
 
This post is a prime example of why we need a United States of America Concealed Carry Law and the problems with allowing each individual state to decide what is legal and constitutional.

You are going to have to review the laws in each state you travel through to ensure you meet the laws in that state for carrying a weapon either in your vehicle, or on your person....

If you are a CC licensed individual, you will need to check for reciprocity status in each state you will be carrying your weapon.

You also may have to drive around some states that don't allow guns of any kind to be transported ??????

Sure wish the NRA would step up it's efforts to have a consolidated CC law passed........
 
18USC 926a gives you the authority to pass through any state if gun is unloaded and secured away from ammo.



This is correct, but at least for NY, they consider any stop in the state as meaning that you are no longer just transiting and therefore the federal law no longer applies.

As others have said lock unload gun in one container, and place magazines and ammo in a separate locked container, with both containers being buried under luggage in the back. Avoid NY, NJ and MD to the maximum extent possible and when passing through, transit directly through the states without stopping if at all possible.

Handgunlaw.us is a good site for researching each state.
 
This post is a prime example of why we need a United States of America Concealed Carry Law


What the federal government gives the federal government can take away at the stroke of a pen.

It is better kept with the state and a federal law making all state ccw license/permit (What ever your state calls it.)
being accepted like a state drivers license is accepted in all 50 states.
 

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