Building an in-car reference packet

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yhtomit

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Hi there!

Partly in preparation for my move West, and partly because I think it's a good idea anyhow, I would like to have a sort of "glove-box reference" to stash with my insurance and related papers, both for me to refer to and (if ever necessary, hopefully not) if stopped for open carry where legal, for having guns in the car while covered under the Peaceable Journey exception, etc.

So far, I think the best reference I've found is the RV/Car Carry guide at Handgunlaw.us ( http://www.handgunlaw.us/documents/USRVCarCarry.pdf), which starts off with the federal law re: journeys between places where the gun may be legally possessed, then lists relevant provisions by state.

My main intent is to fly quite under the radar, wrt speed and other driving habits, but ,,, trying to head off Murphy's law.

Any recommendations out there for compact, readable, printable materials like this? I realize there are books, but for price and give-away-ability (also, for editing down for my own reference purposes, as I will do with the PDF I just linked to, since some pages wont' apply to my trip at all), I much prefer high-quality, online materials.

Suggestions welcome!

timothy
 
My suggestion is that you use your packet for YOUR REFFERENCE only . Pa- leez don't try to use it to win a roadside legal arguement W/ a cop
 
Something to thin

Most states have a State Police Web site that should have a "firearms laws in our state" section
 
I just recently returned from a training trip to Alabama. Here's what I did:

1. go to office supply store near your office to buy one of those multiple pocket files;

2. Label each file for each state;

3. Print off stuff from Westlaw and Internet, throw in file.

4. Read over everything at bedtime or when in small library.

5. Keep file in your briefcase while traveling.
 
Call BATFE and get them to send you a letter summarizing fed law (FOPA) which guarantees peaceable travel through any state as long as your source and destination states allow you to legally own said firearms.

Carry that letter from BATFE with you in case you need to present it to a cop that does not understand the law.....always remember that if a cop insists on doing something stupid don't resist arrest or you'll get in a REAL heap of poop and go to jail.......you can always politely request that his supervisor come down to address issues of legality of actions....sometimes it works....sometimes it doesn't......sometimes calling the State Police will help straighten things out with a poorly informed local/county cop.
 
I have always kinds of wondered the point of this. If you are not searched, why would this ever be an issue? I've been pulled over with a gun in the car. Just have your seatbelt on, have your license and insurance ready, roll down the window, turn off the car, be friendly. The cop wants to get his job done as quickly as possible and get off the side of the road. I've never been searched. Maybe it's because I have the benefit of not looking like an undesireable. Even if I was searched someday, I know I will win in court because I am following the law.
 
The point is that when transporting a "Collection" including ammo that you've acquired over the years its likely to be on the back seat while the guns are in the trunk....now any responsible/intelligent person would also have packed them up in non-descript cardboard boxes to try to avoid scrutiny or covered them up....the point being when you are pulled over and the cop starts looking in the back seat and starts to ask you what you have in there that is causing the car to ride so low......now he has Probable Cause and in some states can nail you for not informing LEO's that you have guns in car at the time of a traffic stop......

Be careful, don't arouse suspicion and know the Fed and State laws of the places you are travelling through/to.
 
>>Cause and in some states can nail you for not informing LEO's that you have guns in car at the time of a traffic stop......<<

If you don't have a carry permit in that state, I don't think there is any requirement to volunteer that you are transporting firearms.

??
 
jpk1md: Thanks -- that neatly sums up my intent. Not to be either paranoid or provocative, just to know the law and be prepared. Through a combination of PA CCW and open-carry states, it's amazing just how much of a non-event it looks like it can be to cross (most) of the country right now with a gun either on the hip or concealed.

Tom: You may well be right on that, but I wonder: in states where my PA CCW is reciprocated, I would assume that "as per local laws" clause would kick in, so if I would have to under a resident permit of that state, I intend to assume that I would in that state as well. Overall, that seems the path of least possible offense. (Of course, I intend to give no reason be stopped by police at all!)

Cheers,

timothy
 
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"I feel your pain"

As I live in the land of "too many gun laws" and some localities have banned them entirely, I carry a file folder in the pouch behind the seat with printouts of the two (2) state laws that govern transportation. I've never had to use it but as always, I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.:D
 
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