Does FOPA protect a traveller on foot?

[General Geoff]

This news article prompted a question in my mind. I understand that FOPA protects gun owners who take their firearms with them, when travelling through gun-unfriendly states, as long as they're secured in the trunk, unloaded, etc..

But what about a traveller on foot, who has nothing more than a backpack or rolling cart? How would he secure a firearm so that he can walk through a state in which he is not allowed to carry openly or concealed about his person? Obviously someone taking such a trek on foot would be well-advised to be armed, so is there a way to do so legally in states like Illinois, New York, etc?

 

[TexasRifleman]

But what about a traveller on foot, who has nothing more than a backpack or rolling cart?

The US Code :

Notwithstanding any other provision of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or any political subdivision thereof, any person who is not otherwise prohibited by this chapter from transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle: Provided, That in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver’s compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.

Doesn't say motor vehicle anywhere but it does say 'vehicle', so backpack is out. Don't think rolling cart would count as vehicle either, since the person isn't in it. Bicycle? Might have an argument there.

Certainly no case law on that so it's just a WAG.

 

[bdickens]

It should.