With the down turn in the economy and potential for employment in another state (gun friendly) what is the legal/best way to get your collection to the new location? Not that I'm moving, but if I have to I'd like to have an idea of what to do.
Moving your collection from one state to another
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Mojo-jo-jo
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Well, that depends...
General answer: Put your unloaded guns in the trunk of your car and drive to your new residence. The FOPA of 1986 permits you to drive unloaded and secured weapons THROUGH any jurisdiction (...as well as banning new machine guns...)
More specific answer: It depends. (yeah, that's specific).
What state are you planning on moving to? If you are going to NY, NJ, MD, IL, CA or HI, then you will likely have to lighten your collection due to prohibitions on specific types of firearms. Some of the aforementioned states also require registration of firearms or a permit to posses one before the firearm is brought into the state.
If you're asking about shipping, you can legally ship firearms to yourself at your new residence. That said, UPS and FedEx won't ship firearms unless one end is an FFL. DHL will not ship firearms at all. Long guns can be shipped USPS to yourself at the new address no problem, but USPS can't ship handguns for a non-FFL. Handguns will likely have to be carried with you in the car or checked on the plane.
If you are going by air, you can put unloaded firearms in checked baggage on most carriers. Most limit the number, however, so if you have a large collection this will not work for you.
All of the national bus companies and Amtrak prohibit firearms either carried or in checked baggage. In addition to violating policy that will probably get you arrested--lawfully or not--ignoring this policy may be a violation of law in states you travel through. In some states it is a felony.
Don't let a moving company move your guns--that is, if you ever want to see them again.
General answer: Put your unloaded guns in the trunk of your car and drive to your new residence. The FOPA of 1986 permits you to drive unloaded and secured weapons THROUGH any jurisdiction (...as well as banning new machine guns...)
More specific answer: It depends. (yeah, that's specific).
What state are you planning on moving to? If you are going to NY, NJ, MD, IL, CA or HI, then you will likely have to lighten your collection due to prohibitions on specific types of firearms. Some of the aforementioned states also require registration of firearms or a permit to posses one before the firearm is brought into the state.
If you're asking about shipping, you can legally ship firearms to yourself at your new residence. That said, UPS and FedEx won't ship firearms unless one end is an FFL. DHL will not ship firearms at all. Long guns can be shipped USPS to yourself at the new address no problem, but USPS can't ship handguns for a non-FFL. Handguns will likely have to be carried with you in the car or checked on the plane.
If you are going by air, you can put unloaded firearms in checked baggage on most carriers. Most limit the number, however, so if you have a large collection this will not work for you.
All of the national bus companies and Amtrak prohibit firearms either carried or in checked baggage. In addition to violating policy that will probably get you arrested--lawfully or not--ignoring this policy may be a violation of law in states you travel through. In some states it is a felony.
Don't let a moving company move your guns--that is, if you ever want to see them again.
I will hopefully not be moving at all, but I do have to it will be to IN, MO, IA or possibly TX. Traveling through NY is what bothers me most since I have non-resident permit for PA and my CT permit is valid in IN. OH seems not to be an issue due to peaceable journey. I guess the cleanest i.e. least risk of breaking any law, would be to ship the handguns to an FFL in the next state of residence. Movers are a no-no. Most company sponsored moves will not cover them any way, but they will be moving my safes
NavyLCDR
member
Just transport them according to FOPA, do not go through NYC, and you will be OK. There is no need to pay the shipping you will have to do with handguns because by combination of Federal Law and company policy they will have to go by Air with UPS or FEDEX. Really, you are making way too much of this, it is very simple. The absolute easiest way to do it is Uhaul trailer with unloaded guns and ammo in the trailer.
FOPA-
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=browse_usc&docid=Cite:+18USC926A
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.
FOPA-
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=browse_usc&docid=Cite:+18USC926A
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.
NavyLCDR
member
Additionally,
You do NOT want to ship them to an FFL in your next state, because you will have to prove to that FFL that you are a resident of the new state, therefore you will NOT get your guns from that FFL until you at least have an established address and ID Card from the new state. If the new state has any kind of restrictions on purchasing firearms such as permits, waiting periods, etc, you will have to abide by those as well. How would you like to find out that you can only get one handgun per month from the FFL you sent 5 handguns to?
You do NOT want to ship them to an FFL in your next state, because you will have to prove to that FFL that you are a resident of the new state, therefore you will NOT get your guns from that FFL until you at least have an established address and ID Card from the new state. If the new state has any kind of restrictions on purchasing firearms such as permits, waiting periods, etc, you will have to abide by those as well. How would you like to find out that you can only get one handgun per month from the FFL you sent 5 handguns to?
Bubbles
Member
If you own any NFA firearms (machine guns, suppressors, SBS, SBR, etc) make sure that they're legal in your new state - you may have issues in MO and IN. Also, while not required for anything except machine guns, you'll probably want to fill out a 5320.20 for all of them.
You don't need to ship your guns to a FFL, you can legally ship them to yourself. Box them up and either ship them to yourself in care of a friend already living there, or box them up and leave them with a friend here to ship to you once you get there. FOPA will provide you protection driving through anti areas if you go that route.
While you can ship them to yourself it can be hard to find a carrier, especially for handguns.
You must also ship them to yourself.
You can ship them to yourself and have someone hold the package, but they cannot open the package.
If someone else ships them to you you run into the transfer across state line rules since you are now residents of separate states.
The best method is to pack them up and put then in the car.
Put them under everything so they are completely out of sight.
justice4all
Member
When I moved to WA from CO, I put all my guns and ammo in the back of my truck, which has a cap, and just started driving. The guns were in cases, and the ammo was in various ammo boxes. All my guns were legal at both ends, and didn't need to beregistered, etc. Under the FOPA, you shouldn't have any problems that cannot be sorted out. Print the law, and take a copy with you.
Yes. I did exactly the same thing when we moved from Calif. to Idaho, in 1997. I had a Ford F250 pickup with a steel Gem Top shell. I put all my firearms, ammo, reloading and hunting stuff, in hard cases, soft cases, boxes, etc., and covered them with non-gun related "stuff." I had a whole lot of guns, I assure you.
Spent one night in Reno, Nev., at the home of a good friend, parking my guns-stuffed truck behind his house, so no possibility of anyone stealing anything. There was no problem on the road and certainly no legal problem moving to Idaho, re firearms.
I would advise, however, if you're unable to "guard" your goods in moving in such a manner, you should try and come up with some way to not leave your truck, etc., at night. Thieves seem to loves motel and hotel parking lots. Target rich opportunities, so to speak.
L.W.
lowracer
Member
When I moved from Texas to Kansas, I threw all my guns in the back of my van and drove 'em. When I later moved from Kansas to California, after checking the laws in my new state, I stopped at my local gun store before leaving Kansas and sold 'em all, every last one.
I've since taken up knitting.
I've since taken up knitting.
TEDDY
Member
moving
its interesting to note that the posters are real conserned about permits and .just pack everything in the far back of truck.and say nothing.thats how I moved and nobody here cares.I would never register a gun unless I was forced to like buying from a dealer.
Trouble comes from talking to much.
its interesting to note that the posters are real conserned about permits and .just pack everything in the far back of truck.and say nothing.thats how I moved and nobody here cares.I would never register a gun unless I was forced to like buying from a dealer.
Trouble comes from talking to much.
Mojo-jo-jo
Member
This is because not having a permit or possessing a prohibited firearm in some states will get you five years in state prison. That's a lot to be concerned about.
chipperi
Member
I moved from from MD to TN I loaded the safe in the back or the truck on its back, put each gun in a cheap wal-mart soft case. piled them into the safe, and drove. Now that I am in TN I can buy or do what ever I want with em.
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