cross country trip.

[mike6161]

Hi
I will be going to Oregon next month and would like to take a handgun with me but do not know the legal way to bring it with me. I will be going through Ohio, Indiana, Chicago Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, south Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. I would like to know if it is legal to bring it with me and how can I do it legally. The handgun is a colt combat commander 38 super 7 round MAG. I will not have my CCW by the time i make the trip.

Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

 

[limpingbear]

As far as I know, as long as you have it in a locked case separate from the ammo and inaccessible to the occupants of the vehicle, you should be good to transport everywhere but Chicago. FOPA allows you to drive through the city, but unless you have one of their FOID cards don't stop. Personally I would avoid Illinois altogether, as it has the most restrictive and potentially troublesome gun laws.

 

[Blackbeard]

If it's after June 9th, you might not have any trouble in Illinois. Stay tuned!

 

[Drail]

I lived in The Glorious People's Republic of Illinois for 12 years and I will drive around that State. Regardless of what the current law is most (but not all) of the cops there do not believe in the 2nd Amendment.

 

[Texan Scott]

No routine traffic stop or other police interaction that doesn't involve handcuffs should have anything to do with the contents of your car trunk. You should not give permission to search your vehicle at all, in any case. Remember, just because YOU understand and comply with the terms of FOPA, does not mean they will.

 

[NavyLCDR]

As far as I know, as long as you have it in a locked case separate from the ammo and inaccessible to the occupants of the vehicle, you should be good to transport everywhere but Chicago. FOPA allows you to drive through the city, but unless you have one of their FOID cards don't stop. Personally I would avoid Illinois altogether, as it has the most restrictive and potentially troublesome gun laws.

There is no requirement to separate the unloaded gun from the ammo - both together in the same locked compartment or locked case is perfectly legal. Having the ammunition separate from the gun, but accessible to the occupants of the vehicle will NOT comply with FOPA, such as if the unloaded gun is locked in the trunk of the vehicle and a box of ammo is in the glovebox.

In Ohio, unless the law has changed, and it might have, the magazines for the gun must be unloaded as well (if the person transporting the firearm does not have a recognized CCW permit.)

 

[NavyLCDR]

As far as I know, as long as you have it in a locked case separate from the ammo and inaccessible to the occupants of the vehicle, you should be good to transport everywhere but Chicago. FOPA allows you to drive through the city, but unless you have one of their FOID cards don't stop. Personally I would avoid Illinois altogether, as it has the most restrictive and potentially troublesome gun laws.

There is no requirement to separate the unloaded gun from the ammo - both together in the same locked compartment or locked case is perfectly legal. Having the ammunition separate from the gun, but accessible to the occupants of the vehicle will NOT comply with FOPA, such as if the unloaded gun is locked in the trunk of the vehicle and a box of ammo is in the glovebox.

In Ohio, unless the law has changed, and it might have, the magazines for the gun must be unloaded as well (if the person transporting the firearm does not have a recognized CCW permit.)

 

[herrwalther]

Along your route, there are three states that do not honor your Ohio permit: Illinois, Wisconsin and Oregon. Oregon offers non resident permits so you might want to consider applying for one if you want to carry in that state.

Follow FOPA regulations and then some:
1) Firearm outside immediate reach of you/passengers (AKA trunk NOT glovebox. The latter doesn't count even if locked.) If you do not have a trunk it must be in a non glovebox locking container.
2) Ammunition locked up separate from firearm. (not required but good idea anyway)
3) Firearm unloaded of course. Can dismantle for good measure but not required by FOPA
4) Short stops in Illinois and Wisconsin: gas and food. Don't visit anyone or any place going through.
5) Don't consent to any search. In writing or verbally.
6) And finally don't make yourself a target: Drive the speed limit, don't drink alcohol etc

 

[oneounceload]

Why does everyone think that even if you stopped for a traffic infraction, the police are going to strip search your vehicle and find your handgun which will be in your suitcase? It simply doesn't happen.

 

[mike6161]

Thank you for the info I will keep it locked up unloaded in the trunk in a locked case. I will not give permission to search my car but if it is searched I want it to be legal so there are no handcuffs involved. I hope one day we do not have to worry about this.

Thank you all for the info it is greatly appreciated

 

[rtroha]

In Ohio, unless the law has changed, and it might have, the magazines for the gun must be unloaded as well (if the person transporting the firearm does not have a recognized CCW permit.)

The law did change as of March 27th. The magazines no longer have to be unloaded.