Armed on the water?

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Franco2shoot

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I am a minimalist shooter, but do believe in my responsibility to take care of my own, hence I have several weapons, PPK/1911/Blackhawk + some BP shooters. I live in Norther Va, and since we principally boat the Potomac, I have often wondered what the LEGAL aspects of keeping something like the PPK on board for those nites when we want to overnite either in the Potomac or the Chesapeke bay.

My guess is that it is a NO-NO both from Coast Guard standpoint, as well as Maryland DNR (I think they own the water to within a few feet of the Virginia coast.). And no matter what the Legal aspects are, I subscribe to the "Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6." rule of law. But I am curious, do the rules change if I get my CCW license? The Boat is considered my second home for tax purposes, does this change things?

KKKKFL
 
I have always wondered this sort of thing

But I always thought about more of the issues of the open sea, and how you can travel to/ from ports. I will be interested to see the responses to this.
 
Marine shotgun as an Option

That's really funny...
Good choice for a ship, but on my boat there isn't enough room to swing a cat.

From the "V" berths, with the cabin door closed, you would hear someone trapesing over the foredeck or trying to jimmy the cabin door open. I wouldn't want anything bigger than a snubbie, and in most cases I would think that yelling at any midnite boarder would be enough to scare them off. "IF HOWEVER it doesn't" you might want something to stop the intruder from harming you or your family. So that's the intent.

Now I recall the last time the CG came on board for a routine Safety inspection they did ask "Are there any firearms onboard? I didn't have any and answered so. But, one could have been stored in a cushion. It's not like they went through with a metal detector, looking. And what if I had a CCW license good in Virginia?

KKKKFL
 
i posted a thread inquiring about this subject (spend a lot of time inshore and offshore doing the rec fishing thing), and some coasties posted that your boat is not your home, but a conveyance, and is thus not subject to search and seizure protections that your home is.

coasties come, you have to declare your CCW, even if you are in VA state waters.

obviously, if you are in MD waters, you should not be CCWing unless you are one of the rare critters who has a MD non-resident carry permit.
 
AFAIK, there are no federal laws prohibiting firearms on boats. You have to abide by the laws of whatever state (or country) you enter with your boat (use a GPS and be aware of where the boundary lines are located). I suspect most of the boats traveling the Intracoastal Waterway have guns aboard. Pretty much all the boaters I know routinely carry at least one gun aboard their boat.
 
The only reason the Coast Guard asks about weapons is so they will be secured while they are doing their boarding. If you are in violation of any local laws they can call the appropriate authority. In some areas (Florida for example) the CG will be more suspicious if you told them you didn't have any firearms. MD law (according to packing.org) seems to prohibit any kind of transportation of any firearm on the waterways unless it is under specific conditions (to the range, gunsmith, etc). If the MD state border goes to the low water line on the south shore of the Potomac this would make anyone 100' from shore in Virginia in violation.

I sure there is some case law on this somewhere.
 
I worked as a merchant marine for 13 years.And i always carryed. The cg would get on board once every 4mo they never seached for guns they just went to the wheel house talked to the captain then got off. The cg did find the 2qts of gin i had one time they just told me to get rid of it an i did the next day out in the gulf we drank it.But that was 25yrs ago.
 
I'm in the Coast Guard.

The laws of the state you are in will apply. Get a good GPS and stay in VA waters and don't push your luck. If you have a license. (I hate the word permit) Stay in VA waters and you'll be all right. If you don't have a license then you would be charged with carrying a concealed weapon. It's constitutionally illegal but get a license.

2am on the side of the road isn't the time to argue constitutional law with the local police. :eek:

Sorry, Not my law. If I had my way about it the entire U.S. would follow Vermont and Alaska.

Jeez I'm glad I live in WA....... :banghead:
 
I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that hunting waterfowl with a gun is legal in MD waters on a boat. So, a blanket ban on firearms on vessels in MD doesn't fly.
Hopefully you can find well informed sources to help you out.
If your vessel is properly equiped (if it's 2nd house; it is) then it should be considered your "abode". MD law does allow firearms in your abode, right?
You might have to be cased/locked underway; but it should be legit.
Agian, find some more well-informed sources.
In MD is it DWR or F&G? Might be a place to start to reconcile my first statement with what you see so far.
 
from what i can find on the topic, you can legally have loaded firearms on a boat if it is stopped and anchored. If it is moving under sail, oar, motor, etc. it is considered a motor vehicle for these purposes. However mileage may vary where you go.
 
I kept a sailboat in Solomons Md for 23 years, usually had a gun on board, especially when anchored out. Boat is considered an extension of your home, you can be armed while aboard, even in MD. A little discretion goes a long way, however . . .

As noted, the CG doesn't really care as long as firearms are properly secured.
 
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