Transporting Firearms

[Kind of Blued]

Federal law says the following:

Notwithstanding any state or local law, a person shall be entitled to transport a firearm from any place where he may lawfully possess and transport such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and transport such firearm if the firearm is unloaded and in the trunk. In vehicles without a trunk, the unloaded firearm shall be in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.

What is meant by "unloaded"? Empty chamber? No ammunition 'in the gun/magazine'? No magazine inserted? No ammunition in the same container as the gun?

 

[bigjohnson]

"Unloaded" means no ammunition in the gun. You can transport ammunition in the same container as the gun. I don't think it would be wise to press your luck and have a loaded magazine in the same container as the gun, but if you put the gun and a box of cartridges in your hard-sided gun case and locked the whole thing in your trunk, you would be in compliance with the law.

 

[Kind of Blued]

I re-found the statute for Colorado, where I live and regularly carry a rifle in my trunk, magazine inserted, with the chamber empty, and am in full compliance with the law. Actually, it would still be legal if the rifle was unconcealed and on my passenger seat.

http://cbi.state.co.us/ccw/Statutes/33-6-125.asp

I'm trying to figure out where I stand for my trip to Kansas.

 

[bigjohnson]

For interstate travel, you must comply with the provision of the Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986 (Title 18, US Code, Section 926A), which says that you can legally transport a firearm interstate from any place where it is legal for you to possess the firearm to any other place where you can legally possess the 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."
Colorado law may permit you to carry a loaded rifle in your truck, but many states do not. Take the safe course and follow the FOPA on this one.

 

[Kind of Blued]

Yeah it looks like the Fed law is all I have to go on; I just can't dig anything up on Kansas.

You may notice that the Fed law says:

...neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle.

Meaning that both rifle and ammunition can be as close to each other as you want and the rifle can be as close to "ready" as you want, so long as the firearm is, in fact, "unloaded". If a loaded magazine is next to a rifle, the rifle is obviously not loaded. The rifle can be picked up and no ammunition will come with it or be attached to it in any way. While I do understand the allure of avoiding a situation with an ignorant police officer by "playing it safe", I still wish they defined "unloaded" more clearly.

 

[Solo Flyer]

I just can't dig anything up on Kansas.

This what I've located about Kansas.
Vehicle carry:under state law,loaded firearms may be carried in plain view,glove box or vehicle storage compartment.
Firearms may not be concealed on one's person(some localities may regulate this aspect stricter)without a CHP.
Johnson County and Topeka are 2 examples.
Sounds like bigjohnson has the right idea with Kansas's patchwork quilt gun laws.

 

[nambu1]

In WV, a gun can be transported in a vehicle unloaded and not accessible to ammo (gun and ammo must be separated).

 

[Scoutsout2645]

In NJ: Empty chamber, empty magazine if one is in the gun, secure in a case, ammo/loaded mags separate from the gun (ie: gun is in the trunk in a closed, latched or zippered gun case, ammo/mags are in another bag next to said case in the trunk)

 

[Aguila Blanca]

Yeah it looks like the Fed law is all I have to go on; I just can't dig anything up on Kansas.

But the Federal law only applies to interstate tramsportation, and then only if possession of the firearm(s) is legal at the place the journey begins AND at the place where the journey ends. If you are asking about how to transport within Kansas, the Federal law simply is irrelevent.

 

[Catherine]

http://www.ksccw.com/site/

There are several people on this board that may help you when it comes to Kansas.

Google 'State Gun Laws' for the states that you are interested in.

Best wishes.

Catherine

 

[Robby]

http://carryconcealed.net/packngo/index.php This site helps with links to the laws of the states your going thru. Especially for CC.