Traveling East on I-40 with pistol. Final destination is NC. HELP!

[Mags]

Going to NC via I40 most of the way, plan on carrying my 9mm M&P with me. Okalahoma and Texas appear to be the only states on the way that accept my NM CCW permit. Will take a detour to Huntsville AL and then continue to NC then once in NC I will travel to SC then back to NC with the pistol staying in NC for the next 4 years with my in-laws.

How should I legally travel with my handgun in Arkansas, Tennesee, Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina?

I plan on staying the night on the way will that affect any legal en route status?

Do NC handgun permits only apply if the handgun is purchased through a storefront?

Will myself or my father in law require the pistol permit to poessess my handgun?

 

[Carter]

I really don't know why NC doesn't recognize N.M., but oh well.

Open carry is fine in NC, but SC its a no-no. You don't need a pistol permit to posses the handgun, just to buy/transfer ownership, etc. A handgun permit/CCW is required for a private sell/transfer as well, not just a store front.

Some parts of NC (mostly officers attitude) can be quirky about where the handgun is supposed to be in the vehicle if it isn't locked in the trunk. The general rule is on the dashboard. You can put it on the seat, but some officers will still try to get you for concealing it. Heard a horror story about that from a gentleman I know pretty well. That incident happened in Charlotte.
So to be safe, trunk or dashboard.
Outside of the car, open carry is fine.
Can't carry in to places that serve alcohol (be careful some places that you wouldn't expect serve alcohol, like some pizza huts). Can't carry in places that have signs (signs are usually very small and almost hidden, so look REALLY hard). No public assemblies, places where you pay admission (like movies), funerals, or parks.
Then the general prohibited places (government buildings, schools, etc).

Hope that helps.

 

[mortablunt]

I beleive it's called "peaceable journey." There's a similar thread elsewhere on another forum that should help you.

http://www.policeworld.net/vb/showt...able-journey-carrying-a-firearm-cross-country

 

[LibShooter]

I think you're OK in Tennessee. The Volunteer state honors all other state's CCW permits with or without a reciprocity agreement.

Tennessee now recognizes a facially valid handgun permit, firearms permit, weapons permit, or a license issued by another state according to its terms, and will, therefore, authorize the holder of such out-of-state permit or license to carry a handgun only in the state of Tennessee.

Here's more info.

 

[Mags]

Thanks guys! Anyone have any info on Alabama?

 

[Sam1911]

In general, you can always travel through a state on the way from somewhere you can legally possess the gun TO somewhere you can legally possess that gun, as long as the gun is unloaded and secured in some inaccessible part of the vehicle. That's the safe-passage portion of FOPA '86.

Most states have firearms laws that are more lenient than that requirement -- FOPA is a minimum standard -- but you'll have to check each state's laws to know for sure:

How should I legally travel with my handgun in Arkansas

http://www.nraila.org/statelawpdfs/ARSL.pdf
http://www.nraila.org/statelawpdfs/ARSL.pdf

Tennessee

http://www.nraila.org/statelawpdfs/TNSL.pdf
http://www.handgunlaw.us/states/tennessee.pdf

Alabama

http://www.nraila.org/statelawpdfs/ALSL.pdf
http://www.handgunlaw.us/states/alabama.pdf

North Carolina

http://www.nraila.org/statelawpdfs/NCSL.pdf
http://www.handgunlaw.us/states/northcarolina.pd

South Carolina

http://www.nraila.org/statelawpdfs/SCSL.pdf
http://www.handgunlaw.us/states/southcarolina.pdf

I plan on staying the night on the way will that affect any legal en route status?

As long as you're on a journey, FOPA covers you for "brief" stops. An unavoidable overnight stop could be considered such. BUT, most of these states (if not all) will have no problem with you possessing a firearm in your hotel room overnight. Check the links above.

Do NC handgun permits only apply if the handgun is purchased through a storefront?

There are two NC "permits." A handgun purchase permit and a carry permit. Can't see how you'd need a purchase permit, but no, they're required to purchase a handgun from anyone, dealer or individual. Again, check the NRA-ILA link to read more.

Will myself or my father in law require the pistol permit to possess my handgun?

No, there is no permit to posses a handgun in NC. However, you may be skirting a federal GCA'68 line here regarding an interstate transfer. Most would say that this is simply a loan, which is legal between private individuals of different states for lawful sporting purposes, but that's a pretty grey area. (See: 27 C.F.R. § 478.30)

IF this is a transfer, you'll have to do the transfer at a dealer and your FIL will need a purchase permit.

 

[Mags]

Thanks Sam.

No, this is not a transfer. The gun will have a lock on that I will only have a key to. My father in law is only storing the firearm until I return from a 4 year overseas tour. All my other guns will be stored by the military but this is my carry gun we are talking about.

 

[Sam1911]

If he can't access it, then it sure isn't a loan for lawful sporting purposes then, is it?

Actually, I'm sure you're fine. Can't see how that would cause any trouble for anyone so long as he doesn't go bank robbing or something.

 

[PavePusher]

http://www.handgunlaw.us/

Has a couple nifty travel applications on the left hand side.