Help Concerning Transporting in NC, VA, WV, and PA

[Sportcat]

Me and the wife are driving to Pennsylvania this Saturday to visit my grandmother. On the way we will be passing through NC, VA (will spend the night there), WV, and on into PA. On the way back we'll spend the night in WV.

I would like to have my Beretta 92 with me along the way, but I'm not up on the transport/ carry laws in these states. I've e-mailed the Attorney Generals and Law Enforcement Divisions in each of these states, but am still waiting on responses.

I am a CCW permit holder in SC, but I don't believe that means squat in my neighboring states.

Anyone have knowedge if, and how I can take my Beretta with us?


thanks

 

[cuchulainn]

This might help you start:

http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws.asp?FormMode=state

(Edited to put up correct link. Oops.)

 

[anchored]

In w. va., you can carry your loaded handgun in your car as long as its not concealed. we don't have permit reciprocity with SC. more at packing.org.

 

[JohnBT]

You don't even need a permit to keep it on the seat in plain view in Virginia. Don't cover it up with a jacket or newspaper or anything while you're in the car.

I wouldn't recommend riding around with a gun on the dash - might scare somebody into calling the cops on you.
____________

I saw a guy defend himself in court in Richmond a few years ago - although he never had to as it turned out. He'd been stopped because his car matched the description of one involved in a nearly shooting. The policeman testified that during the stop he saw the corner of a gun's butt sticking up out of the little pocket on the front of the Buick's seat. Therefore, he charged the guy with having a concealed gun.

The judge made him repeat the story 3 times before giving the officer a tongue lashing. "If you could see it, it wasn't concealed."
The defendant never said a word the entire time and walked out smiling.

One more story. Years ago a guy was stopped downtown in front of City Hall for a burned out tail light. He'd been at the range with me and had seven handguns on the front seat - 3 or 4 of them loaded. It drew a crowd of patrol cars and they proceeded to talk guns for 20 minutes or so. They didn't even give him a warning for the bad bulb.

John

 

[Unisaw]

If you're taking I-81 North, you will cut through MD briefly. That's a whole 'nother ball of wax and you should do some very careful research about MD handgun laws.

 

[Sportcat]

I plan on staying out of Maryland

 

[boing]

http://www.jus.state.nc.us/NCJA/firearms.htm#transporting

It's not exactly cut-and-dried, but it's something.

Try giving the Attorney General's office a call. Emails will probably go unanswered.

 

[The Reaper]

Here's the VA Code on transportation

http://www.vsp.state.va.us/cjis_trans_fire.htm

At the bottom of this page you should find South Carolina on the list of permits VA recognizes.

http://www.vsp.state.va.us/cjis_cwp.htm

So conceal in VA no problem.

If you have questions on legality of carry anywhere in VA, the second page referenced should answer almost all your questions. No place that serves adult beverages for consumption on the premisis is the big one to remember. That means most restaurants.

Have a safe trip.

edited for typo

 

[Sportcat]

Update

Here's what I've heard back from my e-mails over the past 24 hours. Let's see if the AG's and State Police are correct...


NC - only response led to an unfriendly web site. Any ideas?

VA - No problems since I have a SC CWP. I CAN carry concealed in mycar.

WV - Can carry UNconcealed in my car.

PA - still waiting (my uncle, an attorney in PA, is trying to help out too).


Thanks to everyone who has already reponded. Any folks in NC and PA know if I can carry conealed in my cay, or not???

 

[boing]

You can't carry concealed at all in NC without a NC permit.

 

[KMKeller]

Sportcat, Packing.org also has the relevant info for NC.