Road Trip Gun storage...A lot of states.

[Birdmang]

I am driving from IL to CA and will be traveling through Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California. On the way home I will be going through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri.

I wanted to bring a pistol with just for protection because it will be me and my lady and a lot of driving at night and in places I am not familiar with.

Do I need to look up laws on where my gun can be in every state?

Maybe someone from each state could tell me where I can legally keep it?

Thanks!

 

[John Wayne]

At a minimum, you should look up every state's gun laws. It wouldn't hurt to print off copies of the law, or even call state police in those states to confirm what you found on the websites is current, and that you interpreted it correctly.

Firearm laws are very inconsistant from state to state, and often follow no rhyme or reason. In South Carolina for example, it's legal to have a loaded handgun in the glovebox of your vehicle without a permit. In North Carolina you have to have the gun in plain sight, as in on the dashboard or seat next to you. In California either one of those are felonies!

There are a few books that have compiled gun laws from all states. I'd buy one and keep a copy of it in your vehicle. Also consult usacarry.com for info.

Be very hesitant about seeking advice from someone online just because they live in a state. Even state websites can't be relied on, I know for a fact at times that SC's has not been up to date with the current law. That's why it's a good idea to call the police in each state; in the event that you do run into trouble you can at least prove that you made every reasonable effort to find out and abide by the law.

 

[NavyLCDR]

It also depends on your CCW permits and if those permits are recognized by the state you are physically in at any given moment. Also, you have to lock it up if you are travelling through a National Park.

Your best bet is to transport the gun according to FOPA (18 USC 926a), which means the gun is unloaded, in the trunk, with the ammo in the trunk as well. If you are in a vehicle without a trunk, both the unloaded gun and the ammo must be in a locked case in the passenger compartment.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/usc_sec_18_00000926---A000-.html

Once you stop somewhere (assuming a motel) you can take the gun in the case into your room and then load it and keep it ready in the room with you.

And, of course, since your destination is California, you can't have any magazines over 10 round capacity.

And remember, if you are stopped for a traffic violation and asked if you have any weapons, and if you are transporting it according to FOPA, the answer is that you have an unloaded handgun locked in the trunk (or case) being TRANSPORTED according to Federal law. If the cop wants to see it, the answer is no. He has no reason to search your vehicle or see the gun.

 

[Birdmang]

Alright, I will be playing it safe and legal.

I don't have any CCW permits anyways.

 

[Leanwolf]

I don't know about other States but if you're going into California, you can only carry your handgun, unloaded, in your locked trunk. It can not be loaded. No loaded magazine in the butt; no cartridges in the cylinder. No ammunition "attached in any manner" to the firearm.

If you are in a SUV or vehicle without a locking trunk, then the handgun must be carried in a locked hard case, unloaded.

A handgun is not considered "loaded" even though there is a loaded magazine or revolver's speed loader present, either in the locked case or trunk, or even in your pocket . (People vs. Clark, Calif. Appellate Court, 1996, 45 Calif. App. 4th 1147, 1152.)

Once inside your motel, etc., that is considered to be your "home." Load it up if you wish but don't walk outside with it loaded.

Info from Calif. Rifle & Pistol Assoc. You can also go to www.calguns.net for more info.

Follow this Calif. law and you won't be in violation.

Have a safe trip.

L.W.

 

[Birdmang]

By the way I am from Illinois so I am used to carrying it by my laws locked in the trunk unloaded. Just thought I may have more freedom outside my state haha.

 

[NavyLCDR]

By the way I am from Illinois so I am used to carrying it by my laws locked in the trunk unloaded. Just thought I may have more freedom outside my state haha.

If you want to go by state laws and open carry, then you will have more freedom in some states. WY, ID, NM, AZ, MT, SD, and NV for instance you can carry your loaded handgun so long as it remains visible. You can open carry it in a holster on your belt and keep it loaded in the vehicle so long as it remains visible.

http://www.opencarry.org/opencarry.html

We just quoted the Federal law which is supposed to protect you in case a state law is more restrictive, except NY is reported to not recognize the Federal law.

 

[Hoxviii]

In Missouri you can have the gun loaded and concealed or unconcealed on your body or off while in your vehicle. You also have castle doctrine rights while within your vehicle.

Only thing you have to be careful about is if you want to get out of the vehicle armed. Open carry varies by municipality. It is legal anywhere unincorporated, but inside city limits proper you never know.

 

[MovedWest]

I made a similar trip in recent years. My intent was similar, but also different. I took my weapons with me as an act of responsibility - I didn't trust the lock on my apartment door while I was away. I also transported some heirloom weapons back with me as hand-me-downs. All these weapons were locked tightly in my Cabela's bulletproof steel cases (I swear these cases are the best!).

I did however keep a loaded 44mag (44spl Hornady JHP's) tucked in a backpack within reach behind the passenger seat for protection. I'm certain I broke lots of laws by doing that, but driving 3000 miles each way it was a risk I was willing to take. You can get out of jail, but you can't get un-dead, un-robbed, etc. There is no one out there to help you if you get into trouble.

Obey the traffic laws, avoid questionable scenarios, and don't forget to take that left at Albequerque. You'll arrive safely in CA.

-MW