Traveling across the USA by car, with firearms

Get this... 2014 United States Traveler's Guide to the Firearm Laws of the 50 States (Gun Laws for All Fifty States, 18th Edition) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0972548955/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_-2fnub01NF3JC

So long as you don't get stopped, you'll be fine everywhere.

Get stopped in DC, NJ, NY, MD or MA ... not at all a sure thing. They all play by their own set of rules.

What state are you going to on the East Coast? You should be fairly safe if you stay out of Northern states.

If you stop overnight, to shop, or to do anything except to put gas in the car, that state's rules can come into effect. It's up to THEIR legal interpretation. If you take the guns out, the state's laws will definitely come into effect.

Send Hew Hampshire $100 and some info and you can get a nonresident permit that will let you carry concealed in a few more states on your route.

Be aware of hollow point laws too.

You'll be OK in PA, but be exceptionally careful in NJ. A newly licensed CCW mother from Philadelphia was put through a real ordeal when she drove across the bridge to NJ. Thankfully, pressure from the NRA & GOA members "helped" the Asst. DA see the erroneous nature of their laws in New Jersey. Enjoy your trip & be safe

If you have an iPhone or iPad, there is an app from Workman Consulting titled "CCW - Concealed Carry 50 State Guide" that has a 5-star rating in the I-Tunes downloads for $1.99. I have and use it myself, as I'm surrounded by "anti" states.

If time permits, look at getting an Arizona or Utah permit. It won't cover all states, but I believe they cover many.

When traveling , always be mindful and alert. The more you should be .

If there was anyway to be able to be concealed at all times that would be awesome but I think that is not doable.

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If you take the following route (WA, ID, MT, SD, IA, MO, KY/TN, VA/NC), then you can - as they all honor WA's permit (*). Getting an AZ or UT non-resident permit opens up WY and NE, but not much else.

Heed the other advice in this thread - stay south of Maryland. Nothing but trouble awaits you in MD, NJ, NY with a gun in the trunk. Heck, in MD, possession of a out-of-state carry permit, even with no gun in the car, can get you all kinds of unwanted attention (google 'Filippidis Maryland' for the story on that one). VA and NC are both great "east coast" destinations.

* Source: http://www.handgunlaw.us

I prefer being able to conceal carry a handgun but I know conceal carry permits from WA to not work in most states. So just play it safe and throw everything in the trunk. I should also mention this isn't like a moving to a new city thing, just a road trip to see the country

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In many states, even without a reciprocal permit ,you can keep the guns inside the vehicle. Guns in the trunk, in a seconds count scenario, do you no good!

I've traveled 49 states. The gun is always beside me unless there has to be another way. In that case, find the quickest legal method.

But you can! Just check www.handgunlaw.us and www.usacarry.com for the legal ways!

I do it every year. No handcuffs yet!

Don't have fear. Just have a safe, wonderful trip!

Not to be nosey, but locked in the trunk unloaded seems less than ideal as an instrument of self defense.

Were you planning to visit shooting ranges along your journey? In that case it would seem logical.

Good advice....

Good posts here thus far....

Id add the site www.gunlawguide.com . It's the main version of the Amazon link.
The lawyer updates it every year too.
Atty David Wong wrote a travel law guide for firearms & knives but I don't recall the name. I didn't think Wong's legal guide is updated. I sent him a website email message but he did not respond.

Legal heat is a CCW cell & tablet app. I think it's on the Google & Apple stores for $4.99 or so. That's handy.

Speaking of handy, get your guns insured, www.nra.org & consider a pre paid legal aid plan like www.ccwsafe.com or Second Call(NRA). To be in a remote area & have a lethal force event may leave you in a bind. If you don't have a lawyer or law firm, look into it.

Rusty
PS; Id also suggest doing some pics or DV of the guns or gear you plan to travel with. Document the serial #s too. I store my Glock 21 .45acp gen 04 details & pic, in my cell phone/email.
If a gun is stolen, you can quickly relay that information to sworn LE officers.

If you have a Washington carry permit, several of the states you will be traveling through do honor it. http://handgunlaw.us/states/washington.pdf

I was surprised at how many states do not honor it.

here is another site to garner info from and just because he is going to the east coast
doesn't mean he is going to yankee land. Georgia has a east coast. enjoy your trip and be careful.

http://www.usacarry.com/concealed_carry_permit_reciprocity_maps.html

BE CAREFUL.

some East Coast states have severe penalties for just being in possession of a "high-capacity" magazine (10+ rounds) ... and I'm not even talking about "carrying" or having a loaded gun accessible in the glove compartment or so.

Lock the guns in the trunk in locked case and think about disassembling the magazines if you cross States like MA, NY ....

Better be safe than sorry.... A firearms charge in one of these States can literally ruin your life and will cost you $$$ to fight

I don't know if I would risk it

Get a small single stack ( 9mm )pistol and load it with full metal jacket.
Keep it concealed unless you need it, stay away from communist states.
Why take a gun in the trunk ? if you need it it wont be available.

Although most of the states on the east coast don't honor the WA carry permit, that still doesn't mean firearms can't be possessed or even kept loaded for defense of a hotel room or camp site. Check the laws of the state(s) you will be in.

The East Coast is a big place. It's about 2500 miles long. snicker.
Don't even think about cutting through Canada to avoid tolls and cut some travel time. You'll be arrested, charged and turned over to Homeland Security. Unless you spend the money($25 Cdn) for a Canada Customs declaration. No CCW. No 4" or under handguns. No .25 or .32 calibre handguns. No handgun mags over 10 rounds. Trigger locks on everything. Lotta BS to drive about 3 hours. snicker.

You also need to keep in mind that multiple courts have ruled that the Federal travel law is a protection against prosecution and not protection against arrest or confiscation. Courts have ruled that knowledge of the law in other jurisdictions is too great a burden for the cops. Even to get out of prosecution you may need to provide evidence of your ultimate destination.

The guy flying from one legal location to another legal location and ended up with an unscheduled layover at JFK lost his Federal lawsuit. Took him something like 2.5 years to get his gun back.

Mike

@CMC

your advice (concealing a pistol with disregard to state laws) is a sure way to the slammer in many Northeast States....

doesn't matter if it's single stack or not or if it's ball ammo..... explain the MA State Trooper that.... :banghead:

@TexasGun CMC said to avoid "communist states".

Mike