Question about gun transportation

[TA_Raider]

Hi all, as many of you know it is time for the holidays. Soon, my family and I will be travelling and from Florida to either Tennesee or Virginia, not sure yet. By my family, I mean mom, sister, and me. We are planning on taking 2 guns, 1 pistol and 1 rifle. Is it legal for us to carry them in the car unloaded across state lines? How about the pistol loaded in the glove compartment for protection or would someone need a ccw for that?

Thanks in advance

 

[wdlsguy]

One option is to transport them under the federal peaceable journey statute:

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.

18 USC 926a

Another option is to transport them according to the laws of each state you are passing through. This requires a bit of homework. Here are a few websites for you to consult:

http://www.opencarry.org/travel.html
http://www.handgunlaw.us
http://www.packing.org/state (lots of useful information, but much of it is outdated)

 

[TA_Raider]

So, basically I have to carry it in the trunk?

 

[wdlsguy]

The safest thing (legally) is to transport them in the trunk, cased and unloaded.

Do you know which states you will be traveling through? Some states allow you to carry a loaded handgun in your car without a permit, others don't.

 

[TA_Raider]

That is what I meant. I was reading and I think it was in SC I could carry it loaded but in Florida or Georgia, I believe it was, it had to be unloaded and "out of easy access".

 

[wdlsguy]

Here is what packing.org has to say about Florida:

It is not necessary to have a license or permit to carry a loaded firearm in a private vehicle, so long as the gun is "securely encased". Florida law defines a weapon as being securely encased if the firearm is in a glove compartment, whether or not locked, in a snapped holster (not worn on your body!), in a zippered gun case or in a box or other container that requires a lid or cover to be lifted or opened in order to gain access to the firearm. These restrictions do not apply to any person who holds a valid Florida Concealed Weapon License or a reciprocal state license/permit.

http://www.packing.org/state/florida/#statecar_law

I encourage you to get licensed in Florida, because you would be golden in AK, AL, AR, AZ, CO, DE, GA, ID, IN, KY, LA, MI, MO, MS, MT, NC, NH, ND, NM, OH, OK, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, and WY.

http://www.handgunlaw.us/documents/USReciprocity.pdf

 

[Erinyes]

That is what I meant. I was reading and I think it was in SC I could carry it loaded but in Florida or Georgia, I believe it was, it had to be unloaded and "out of easy access".

Check again on GA. Loaded handgun is okay inside the car as long as it is either completely unconcealed (like sitting on the dashboard) or in a "seperated compartment" (the law specifically mentions glove boxes and console compartments as okay).

 

[Wholio]

Ohio law reads the same.