Vehicle gun transport in Ohio without CCW

[ColumbusJBR]

Hey guys, I recently became employed at a gun shop in Ohio where the owner encourages us to open carry while working. Problem is I do not yet have my CCW and am a little fuzzy on the ohio laws regarding vehicle transport without a CCW. I've looked over the revised code but you know how those things can be worded somewhat confusing. I'm just gonna throw out a possible scenario and perhaps someone could tell me if its legal? Lets try...

I keep the empty holster and a loaded mag with me in the cabin of the car. I keep the unloaded handgun in its closed case in the trunk. When I get to work, I arm myself. When I leave work, I unload the gun and put it back in the case in trunk. Loaded mag is with me up front.

How am I lookin? I guess I just get slightly confused if a loaded mag could possible represent a 'loaded gun' in some eyes. Or is it possible to have the gun loaded anyway, just cased and in the trunk? I'm not sure.

Anyway thanks for any insight.

 

[WR Moore]

Posing the question to someone from the District Attorney's office of whatever county you live/work in would get you a much better answer. If you don't want to talk to the county prosecutors office, does your employer have ads for, or conduct, CCW training classes? Ask the instuctor.

I neither live nor work in Ohio. I would suggest that you unload and case the firearm inside your place of employment and remove it from the case there too. Having the loaded mag in the passenger cabin may also be an issue, depending upon how Ohio statute is written. Again, ask the local authorities-although the DA may refer you to a specific office of the State Police. If so, check with them.

 

[haywood]

Sounds good to me. The govonor signed this Spring, I believe, that a loaded mag that is not in the gun makes it an empty gun. Just keep them separated. To be safe, I think it would be better to put the mag in the glovebox.

 

[Georgiat01336]

Sounds like you are doing it the right way. I would either unload the mag or keep it in the glove box. The new house bill 495 says you can have a loaded magazine as long as it is separated from the gun. Do your backseats fold down making you able to reach the trunk from the cabin? If the answer is yes you would be breaking the law. If no you are legal. Best bet is to unload the mag though. Hope that helps.

 

[ColumbusJBR]

Sounds like you are doing it the right way. I would either unload the mag or keep it in the glove box. The new house bill 495 says you can have a loaded magazine as long as it is separated from the gun. Do your backseats fold down making you able to reach the trunk from the cabin? If the answer is yes you would be breaking the law. If no you are legal. Best bet is to unload the mag though. Hope that helps.

The back seats do fold down, but they lock when you push them all the way back and you have to unlock them from trunk to fold them back down. (I drive a coupe, Honda prelude).

I agree that keeping the mag unloaded would be safest, I was just wondering if I could avoid loading and unloading a magazine daily. Wow that sounded lazy lol. Keeping them in the glovebox sounds like a good idea.

I really am just looking forward to getting my CCW so I don't have to worry about this.

Thanks for the advice guys

 

[fonejack54]

The scenerio you described is perfectly legal. Be careful about HB 495. It may just pertain to long guns. For answers to ANY questions in Ohio go to Ohioans For Concealed Carry. The forum has the most knowledgeable people on Ohio gun laws.

 

[RJTshooter]

My 2 cents: the way I understand it in my state is they must both be locked separately, not including glove box or center console. If you could find a small cheap lockbox to carry loaded mags you would be good here in the north east.

 

[cracker57]

I was taught that the federal way to transport a firearm and ammo is
1 the gun is unloaded and locked in a lock box ( glove box does not count)
2 Ammo is locked in a separate lock box (mags must be empty)
3 both lock boxes are not assessable.
This is what I was told would be good in any state, that's why its federal.
Now just because I was taught this does not mean it to be true.
If I were you I would e-mail your question to the right authority, then always print out the answer they e-mail you back.

 

[gtmtnbiker98]

Keep the weapon unloaded and render the weapon in a manner as to require you to be forced to leave the vehicle in order to make it operable. As in, storing in the trunk if possible and if not possible, store it in an enclosed case separated from ammunition in the back of the car and you'll be fine.

The General Assembly recently changed the definition of loaded, so you can now have loaded magazines in the car, just not loaded in the firearm.