Carrying in Maryland and PA (and Richmond)...

[JohnBT]

"Other than Virginia they said it wouldn't be an issue." The MD police said what?

The law here isn't complicated. Unload it and lock it in the trunk. Or leave it in plain sight in the passenger compartment.

Any legal gun owner can transport a handgun, loaded or unloaded, in a car in Virginia as long as it can be seen. Just put it on the seat next to you or jamb the muzzle between the seat and the seatback of the passenger seat to keep it from sliding around - just don't cover it with anything like a jacket or map. Putting it on the dash is legal, but will draw unwanted attention from other drivers.

I was in court one day in Richmond as a character witness for a client and saw 5-minute case. The young officer had stopped a car matching the description of one involved in a shooting and arrested the driver for having an unlicensed concealed handgun. How did he know there was a gun you ask? The butt of the gun was sticking up out of a map pocket on the front of the seat. The judge dismissed it and chewed the officer out because if he could see it then it wasn't concealed. The defendant didn't have a lawyer and never said a word after pleading not guilty.

Here's another one. A buddy got pulled after dark downtown for a broken brake light. We'd been shooting that day and he had SIX or SEVEN handguns on the seat of his truck and most of them were loaded. It must have been a slow night because a number of cars showed up and they spent a pleasant 15 minutes chatting about guns. He didn't even get a warning for the broken light.

John

 

[SodiumBenzoate]

The law in PA is that unless you have a CCW license, the ammunition and firearm must be stored in seperate containers.

So, put the firearms and ammunition in seperate containers in the trunk, preferably locked, and you'll do fine.

Another option would be to apply for a non-resident CCW permit from Centre County ($19), although it probably won't get to you before your trip.

 

[jwmoore]

There are no Philly specific laws, as it is illegal for municipalities to regulate firearms in Pennsylvania.

Correct, but with one major exception. Title 18, Chapter 61, § 6108 makes an exception for a "city of the first class" (their words, not my opinion ) - open carry is prohibited unless you have a CCW permit. Otherwise, open carry is allowed in the rest of the state (disclaimers about mvpel's situtation apply).

A loaded firearm in a vehicle is considered concealed carry, and requires a permit.

~W

 

[jetdoc]

Sodium, are you saying that me, as a Marylander, can apply for a CCW in PA? Perhaps I'm reading you wrong sir.

 

[Rumble]

Jetdoc-

The way I understand it, PA only issues non-resident permits to individuals who have permits from their home states (with special arrangements for Vermont and Alaska, because they don't issue permits, I believe).

Unfortunately, since MD does technically issue permits (though never in reality, where we all live), PA won't give you a license unless you can provide a copy of your MD CCW. I could be wrong on this, but that's how I think it works.

 

[jetdoc]

Thanks Rumble, I thought it sounded too good to be true. Yea we all know Md technically has a CCW law but its impossible for an average person to aquire one.

 

[Capital Punishment]

Please dont spend any money while in Maryland. Spend all your money in free states whenever possible.

 

[Rumble]

Jetdoc-

One possible solution to the problem would be to get a Florida non-resident permit. To the best of my knowledge (and Packing.org's) they don't require the possession of your home state license to acquire--they just want the application, the fee, fingerprints, and proof of training (NRA course, hunting certificate, etc.).

With a Florida permit, you're good to go in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, and many more.

 

[wdlsguy]

There are several solutions for Pennsylvania:

1) As others have mentioned, you can get a non-resident license from Centre County, PA. $19 for 5 years.

2) You can get a non-resident license from New Hampshire. $20 for 4 years.

3) As others have mentioned, you can get a non-resident license from Florida. $117 for 5 years.

http://www.packing.org/state/pennsylvania
http://www.packing.org/state/new_hampshire
http://www.packing.org/state/florida

It seems the information at packing.org isn't being updated on a timely basis, so take anything you read there with a grain of salt.

 

[Andras]

I got popped by a Maryland State Trooper back in '93 for speeding. I had an unloaded revolver (stapped in a enclosed holster) locked in my glovebox. I told him when he approached because my registration was also in the glovebox. I was asked to step out of the car while he- a) checked that the gun was unloaded, and b) retrieved the registration. When he was done, he left the pistol in the glovebox.

At the end of the stop, he asked me to move my bag of ammo from the back seat to the trunk.

He reduced my ticket from a 63/40 to a 49/40 and we had a decent roadside discussion on the topic. He didn't seem too put-out about the whole thing.

In addition, I had stopped to buy a present for a friend as I was on my way to his brithday party. We were going to be doing some shooting out back. He made nothing of me driving to a different county to buy the present on my way to the party/informal target shoot.

 

[RNB65]

I don't understand why any law abidding citizen who enjoys the RKBA would choose to live in Maryland. It's a small state and the far more gun friendly states of Virginia and Pennsylvania (I'm not sure about the Delaware) are only a short distance away. Why not move?

 

[Norton]

I don't understand why any law abidding citizen who enjoys the RKBA would choose to live in Maryland. It's a small state and the far more gun friendly states of Virginia and Pennsylvania (I'm not sure about the Delaware) are only a short distance away. Why not move?

As small a state as MD is, you have to remember that the traffic is horrendous and that depending on where your job is, it may simply not be possible to live outside of occupied territory. We live in Annapolis and I work 1/2 mile off of the Beltway....a scant 29 miles door to door.

That 29 miles sometimes takes as much as 1.5 hours to drive, especially this time of the year on Fridays due to the beach traffic.

As far as working here, for my part I could bail out and find work anywhere but my wife's job involves a very select position within the Navy and the only place the job exists is either at the Academy or at Navy Yard, DC (and I ain't letting her drive around in SE DC )

 

[offthepaper]

Quote from Norton:
"I guess I should have been clear that my cynicism was not directed at the MSP, who I've found to be very common sensical in their treatment fo firearms owners.

I have a bigger fear of some of the county mounties....especially in PG County
__________________
You can add Harford County to that.
I know exactly what you mean about I-795 (I think we may go to the same range, the MSP actually use that range for practice every Monday or Tuesday) and once you get off on 795 then you have to dodge the state sponsored fund raisers (speed traps) on Rt 140.

 

[06]

Our eldest son came to Aberdeen Proving Grounds for a seminar while he was stationed in Germany. We took the opportunity to visit and drove there. Now I am an old country boy and an avid gun nut(or is that rabid). We carried an M-4,an AK,tactical pump,and three handguns w/ample ammo. Did not think to check with anyone about the gun laws. Got back and mentioned it to a cyber buddy policeman from there. He was very happy that we did not get checked as we would have been "put away". Had no idea that Maryland was so strict. On another note-if you place your firearms into your trunk prior to traversing the state make sure no one sees you-if so they will probably call your tag # into the police. Better to avoid a problem than to have to get your firearms back through the courts.

 

[Jim K]

Most of those "get the gun owners" rulings have come from the fanatically anti-gun Attorney General Curran. He reads any gun law his way and then orders the police and prosecutors to enforce his opinion, no matter what the law says or was intended to say. The laws are bad enough, but someone like that makes things much worse.

Jim

 

[carterbeauford]

In MD....

In trunk, in case, mags unloaded.

I recently travelled a short distance in MD and WV between I81 and I70, then on to VA and ultimately NC, where my PA permit is recognized. I was transporting my PT145 in a locked in a case, unloaded, with the slide locked back. My problem is, my vehicle does not have a trunk as it is a pickup truck. There is no place to safely transport a locked pistol case inaccessible from the passenger compartment, so what am I to do?

If you are familiar with 2003 and up Dodge Ram trucks with 40/20/40 bench, there is a large, hidden compartment under the center seat cushion. The center console flips up and then the seat cushion can be flipped up and will hold even a rather large double pistol case. What are the chances of a LEO even finding this compartment? I didn't even know it was there until the salesman showed me. In the unlikely even I would be 1) stopped in MD in the first place and 2) asked if I had any weapons during the stop I would advise the LEO of the gun, but if I am not asked, I am not going to tell. I like the think the compartment gives me some degree of safety. Thoughts?

 

[Norton]

Quote from Norton:
"I guess I should have been clear that my cynicism was not directed at the MSP, who I've found to be very common sensical in their treatment fo firearms owners.

I have a bigger fear of some of the county mounties....especially in PG County

You got that right, especially when you hear Glen Ivey making statements like he's going to vigorously prosecute all gun infractions to the fullest extent. I guess the PG cops will be staking out the trap range to get those dreaded assault over/unders.

 

[Norton]

There is no place to safely transport a locked pistol case inaccessible from the passenger compartment, so what am I to do?

When I had just a pickup, I put the pistol behind the seat and the ammo on the floor of the passenger seat.