PA Carry in Vehicle

[Mr. D]

Hi!

I got into a discussion with the local gun shop owner today about carrying handguns.

He said that 1)If you are under 21, you can't transport a handgun in a vehicle without a hunting license (when it is unloaded) and that 2)If you have a LTCF, you HAVE to carry it concealed.

I know he's wrong on both of those and I'm trying to look up the actual law on both, but I'm not having any success. Can anyone provide a link to PA carry laws online?

Thanks!

~Dale

 

[ChuckS]

You're correct on both counts. But it isn't simple to find all the firearms laws.

Here is a link to title 18 chapter 61
Title18 chp61

You can travel to/from a range and place of repair, for instance. See sec. 6106.

See sec. 6109 for licenses, including a sportsmans license, which is the only option for someone 18-20 y-o. Title 34 further elaborates about the hunting aspect of firearm laws. The PGC site has a link to those laws.

Sec 6110.1 which defines a minor as < 18 y-o. So yes you can transport at

You won't find any open carry laws there aren't any, either for or against. OC is legal by default (and confirmed in case law).

The gun shop owner needs to be educated because he doesn't know what he's talking about.

Here is a hand brochure:
PennsylvaniaGunRights.pdf

Hope that helps.

 

[Steve in PA]

Anyone, 18yoa or older can transport an unloaded handgun to or from the range (and a few other places). There is no need for a license to carry, hunting license, etc. Remember, lacking the LTC it must be UNLOADED.

A LTC "allows" the person to carry concealed on or about his person or in a vehicle. Concealed carry is NOT required.

A Sportsman's Permit allows any person 18yoa or older to carry a handgun concealed while hunting, fishing, trapping, going to or coming from those places. A SP is NOT a concealed carry license in that you cannot use it to carry while running down to the local 7-11, Wal-Mart, etc. It is only good for the reasons listed above.

The law on carrying concealed or in a vehicle;

§ 6106. Firearms not to be carried without a license.
(a) Offense defined.--
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), any person who
carries a firearm in any vehicle or any person who carries a
firearm concealed on or about his person, except in his place
of abode or fixed place of business, without a valid and
lawfully issued license under this chapter commits a felony
of the third degree.

One of the exceptions in which a LTC is NOT needed to transport an unloaded firearm (handgun) to the range;

(b) Exceptions.--The provisions of subsection (a) shall not
apply to:

(4) Any persons engaged in target shooting with a
firearm, if such persons are at or are going to or from their
places of assembly or target practice and if, while going to
or from their places of assembly or target practice, the
firearm is not loaded.

The definition of loaded;

"§ 6102. Definitions.
"Loaded." A firearm is loaded if the firing chamber, the
nondetachable magazine or, in the case of a revolver, any of the
chambers of the cylinder contain ammunition capable of being
fired. In the case of a firearm which utilizes a detachable
magazine, the term shall mean a magazine suitable for use in
said firearm which magazine contains such ammunition and has
been inserted in the firearm or is in the same container or,
where the container has multiple compartments, the same
compartment thereof as the firearm.


Tell your gunshop owner he doesn't know what he is talking about.

 

[Mr. D]

Hmmm... that brings up an interesting point - I was under the impression that, being under 21, I could open carry while out and about as long as I unloaded in the car and locked the ammo in a separate container. Is that not true?

ETA: Where are my manners... thanks for the links and quotes!

~Dale

 

[Steve in PA]

You can open carry at 18yoa, but the trouble is you cannot transport the handgun by vehicle to where you want to OC.

The places you can carry without a LTC are very limited like to the range, gunsmith, etc.

So no, lacking the LTC you cannot transport your unloaded handgun to location "X", get out of the vehicle, load it up and OC.

 

[Mr. D]

Ok, that makes sense. Actually, it doesn't. It's really maddening, in fact! Grrrr.... Do you have any idea how many guys I know who were married when there were 19?! So folks like that are immune to threats of violence? Or is it that they are so irresponsible that the likelihood of them making a stupid mistake outweighs the possibility of self defense?!

Harrumph.

~Dale

 

[Steve in PA]

Why is the drinking age 21? Why can you vote at 18? Why can you enlist in the armed services and die for your country at 18?

Don't have the answers to your questions.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Why can you enlist in the armed services and die for your country at 17?

Corrected that for ya! But, I think there is some DOD regulation against sending 17 year olds to combat zones....

 

[Blofeld]

Used to kill me that I could carry a belt fed automatic weapon all day long and buy beer at McDonalds in Germany, and then take leave, come back here, and be unable to get a beer or a handgun in the country I was serving.

I think that underage military guys deserve a break in age restrictions.