Travel with guns

This spring while enjoying the sunshine at a couple Texas campgrounds I was surprised to read in their fine print rules, NO Firearms. Seems like a rule like that should be disclosed earlier like it was at a county owned RV facility where "No Firearms" was posted at the front gate.

I'm relatively new to the forum and we plan to full time starting late next year. This was a question I also had under consideration. I'd intended to mount a small gun safe in the trailer, plus have the portable lock/box for my carry weapon in the cab. Appreciate Trailertraveler posting the USC as I will have a copy of that with me in addition to my CHL.

I guess if we decide to go to Canada or Mexico we'll figure that out at the time.

Jerrybo66 wrote:
...If a RVer travels across this Country with a firearm in their coach or tow vehicle they will be breaking the law in a lot, if not most States. Even if one tries to observe the confusing State laws, there's always the Mickey Mouse City laws to deal with. There is absolutely NO WAY a person can travel State wide with a firearm legally, no matter how hard he tries...

The right to transport a legally owned firearm is protected by Federal Law which supercedes state and local laws.

"18 USC § 926A - Interstate transportation of firearms:

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."

Have there been some folks hasseled by unknowing or deliberately agressive state and local authorities, Yes. Even New York's very strict laws specifically refer to the federal law. Meeting the requirements of the federal law may require more effort by those travelling in motorhome than those transporting firearms in a towable which is clearly not accessable from the passenger compartment of the tow vehicle. One has to recognize that there is a very real legal distinction between transportation and carrying of a firearm.

http://www.handgunlaw.us/ is updated regularly and you can build a map showing where your permit is legal. The listing for each state lists known "quirks" about that jurisdiction. The downside to traveling with a firearm is some jurisdictions consider Title 18 U.S.C. 926A (the "Safe Passage" act) a suggestion. But pre-emption laws in many states have fixed the problem.

Know where you are and what the rules are there.

Know the laws where you travel or face the consequences if something comes up. We spend most of our time in states that honor our C&C so its normally not a huge deal. When we go up North we tend to go to Canada as well so we leave the weapons in FL.

"No officer, you may not search my vehicle or domicile without a warrant. I do not answer questions without my attorney present. Am I free to go?"

Edit : Also a Utah permit is a good way to go.

Before this subject gets zapped, as most all gun topics quickly do, I'd like to add my two cent opinion. If a RVer travels across this Country with a firearm in their coach or tow vehicle they will be breaking the law in a lot, if not most States. Even if one tries to observe the confusing State laws, there's always the Mickey Mouse City laws to deal with. There is absolutely NO WAY a person can travel State wide with a firearm legally, no matter how hard he tries. So my thought, why bother to even try to appease the irrational politicians? I don't tell anyone I am armed and I don't answer if someone asks. If some bad guy threatens the safety of my wife of over 55 years, the last concern I would have as I put him down, is if some law says it's OK or if I'm not allowed to protect myself or family. I carry concealed where ever I go. No,I am not paranoid, just cautious and aware of the shootings of the bad guys on the streets daily. My wife had her purse stolen at gun point at noon in front of a shopping center. Bad guys are bold and everywhere. I'll not be a victim no matter what big brother says. ... IMO...

down home wrote:

MitchF150 wrote:
Just keep it unloaded and packed away when driving and no issues in the US as far as I know... Once you are parked, you can keep it however you wish inside your RV, just as you can in your home.

If you have a carry concealed weapons permit, you might be allowed to travel with it loaded in some states, but you'd have to check that out for each state.

I live in WA state and have a CCW and I take my gun with me on camping trips, but it's unloaded and packed away while driving.

Legally, I can drive with it loaded in the vehicle, but I don't need to do that.. I can also carry it on my person, loaded, concealed if I choose to..

In WA, it's also an "open carry" state, so you can pack it on your hip if you so desire too... As long as you are legally allowed to own a hand gun, you can do this..

Of course there are rules and regs governing 'where' you can do this and there are places that even with a CCW you can't take your weapon on the premises, but in general public places and in State and National Parks in WA state, you can... :)

When camped, I keep my weapon 'close by' when we are in the RV and secured when we aren't.

You will have to do your own research on what's applicable to where you wish to go, as all states have their own rules and even agreements on where CCW permits are accountable or not.. I think I'm good in most of the NW states, but I have no idea on if my CCW is good on the East Coast for example... But, I'm not planning any trips out there soon, so I don't really care... ;)
LMitch

There is a story about a Lady with a CC from perhaps Nebraska on the net. She properly locked the gun seperate from the ammunition in and airline approved container and stowed by the airline. When she got to New York she was arrested on a felony for having an unregistered (in NY) firearm. This was just a few days ago.

It depends on a couple of things.

If she was just passing through NY and DID NOT TAKE POSSESSION OF HER BAG CONTAINING THE WEAPON WHILE IN NYthen she was arrested unlawfully. Federal law says you can pass through a state with all of these wacky laws if you do not take actual possession of the weapon while in that state. If she took possession of the bag containing the weapon, then all bets are off.

Years ago, I transported handguns from NY to CA. They were properly packaged and I notified the agent about the weapons in the bag. She said she had to check the weapons to see if they were unloaded and proceeded to wave them around in the terminal. First thing she did was pull the pistol out and wave it around with her finger on the trigger. Needless to say some people were alarmed but I was allowed to proceed.

MitchF150 wrote:
Just keep it unloaded and packed away when driving and no issues in the US as far as I know... Once you are parked, you can keep it however you wish inside your RV, just as you can in your home.

If you have a carry concealed weapons permit, you might be allowed to travel with it loaded in some states, but you'd have to check that out for each state.

I live in WA state and have a CCW and I take my gun with me on camping trips, but it's unloaded and packed away while driving.

Legally, I can drive with it loaded in the vehicle, but I don't need to do that.. I can also carry it on my person, loaded, concealed if I choose to..

In WA, it's also an "open carry" state, so you can pack it on your hip if you so desire too... As long as you are legally allowed to own a hand gun, you can do this..

Of course there are rules and regs governing 'where' you can do this and there are places that even with a CCW you can't take your weapon on the premises, but in general public places and in State and National Parks in WA state, you can... :)

When camped, I keep my weapon 'close by' when we are in the RV and secured when we aren't.

You will have to do your own research on what's applicable to where you wish to go, as all states have their own rules and even agreements on where CCW permits are accountable or not.. I think I'm good in most of the NW states, but I have no idea on if my CCW is good on the East Coast for example... But, I'm not planning any trips out there soon, so I don't really care... ;)
LMitch

There is a story about a Lady with a CC from perhaps Nebraska on the net. She properly locked the gun seperate from the ammunition in and airline approved container and stowed by the airline. When she got to New York she was arrested on a felony for having an unregistered (in NY) firearm. This was just a few days ago.

I also am a member of the don't ask, don't tell group. I have a loaded 45 in the coach whenever I am in it. The only exception is my Mexico travel, I leave it with a friend.

Unless you are suspected of being a druggie, a banger, or do something really,really stupid, there is no reason for anyone to search your coach.