I see what you are saying. It just adds to the overall frustration many of us law abiding citizens encounter when traveling to different states, and even cities within those states.
Uh, yeah. No kidding.
From the way I read the various laws just regarding legal transport, much less concealed carry, I'd have to alter the way I transported a handgun several times to be in strict compliance.
Well, no, technically it doesn't. If you pack your gun and ammo in accordance with the Safe Passage provision of the Firearm Owners' Protection Act of 1986 (
FOPA) you may pass through any state while on a journey from somewhere you're allowed to posses that gun to somewhere else where you're allowed to posses that gun without regard to laws that are more strict in some states you might pass through.
That of course says nothing about how the firearm would be unloaded and out of reach if I needed it for self protection.
Yes. That is the basic provision of the Safe Passage provision. Unloaded and inaccessible to the driver.
I never travel in a car long distances without a firearm, and the thought of needing to have it while locked in my trunk, unloaded in certain states seems absurd, especially having a CCW.
Of course.
Presumably a couple of the states would allow me to have it on my person even while driving if they reciprocate with FL CCW, but I would be wrong based on what you said about the bucket on Tuesday in the rain.
Actually, is isn't nearly so bad as all that. When planning a trip, go to
www.handgunlaw.us and print out the document for each state you'll be passing through. As you approach each state, read over them and see if there's anything different from the laws you normally have to follow. Usually they are fairly consistent. The biggest differences will be things like whether you may open carry, whether you have to notify a police officer if stopped, and which areas in that state may be off-limits. The vast majority of the states that allow some form of concealed carry have no problem at all with you having your weapon with you while driving a car. In fact, I can't think of
one that issues a permit (or allows carry without it) that DOESN'T allow you to have it with you when driving.
Clearly FL allows transport via car on ones person if they have a CCW, where other states either do not, or are not specific.
Again, which states that you CAN carry concealed in DON'T allow you to have it with you in the car? I've never heard of that before, ever.
I also wonder how the laws views a mobile home vs. a car. Wouldn't someone who's actual home is the motor-home be entitled to greater rights as to storage and access vs. someone in a car?
Again, it is dependent on state laws, but generally in your motor home, when parked and set up as your residence (or domicile) you are not considered to be carrying a concealed weapon in public.
But, if you have your carry permit anyway -- and it is recognized by the state you're in -- that shouldn't make any difference.