Are We Allowed to have a gun in an RV for protection?

[fdwarren]

Is it legal to carry a firearm in an RV. I am not paranoid, but I like to be prepared.

[tplife]

US Federal Law protects temporary enclosures (cabin, motel room, RV, tent) as a LEGAL RESIDENCE. You are permitted to possess and carry a loaded firearm within your campsite (temporary residence) without need for special permits, as it qualifies as a "residence". I live in California, more or less the most restrictive state in the nation, so I HAVE and MUST be aware of these laws. We are tent campers and have/possess handguns at all times. I carry in my vehicle at all times, including LEGALLY on military bases. When I travel to D.C., I fly to BALTIMORE airport and disembark for my rent-a-car there as I don't need to store my firearm at the airport in DC, but rather LEGALLY "pass through" DC, following federal carry laws (inside a lockbox, with the loaded magazine not attached, but in the same container), and staying overnight on Pennsylvania Avenue, as I'm "passing through". Same rules when I visit NJ. Sure, check the laws within your states of travel, follow the NRA guidelines, and understand the Constitution's federal protections regarding 50-state "residence" rights you have.

[hooligan]

intheburbs wrote:

hooligan wrote:
You do have to check each State you intend to travel through.

Not exactly. The Firearms Owners' Protection Act of 1986 grants safe passage through restrictive states, if the traveler is only making short stops for food and gas.

CLICK HERE

It's reported (NRA) that New Jersey may treat FOPA as an affirmative defense. A LEO can arrest you and confiscate weapons while you appear in court so that a judge can determine if you met the FOPA requirements.

Maryland is also very strict in enforcing it's gun laws.
It is unlawful for any person without a permit to wear or carry a handgun, openly or concealed, upon or about his person. It is also unlawful for any person to knowingly transport a handgun in any vehicle traveling on public roads, highways, waterways or airways, or upon roads or parking lots generally used by the public.

[Bobbo]

beemerphile1 wrote:

DrewE wrote:

Wijames wrote:

If you dont have a concealed carry permit it's illegal to carry a firearm in a motorhome in in every state unless the home is parked and hooked up. Even then it's a grey issue in some states like Virginia. I personally wouldn't do it and I've worked in law enforcement.

"Every" is a strong word, and makes this an incorrect statement. Carrying a firearm in a vehicle in my home state of Vermont, for one, is quite legal without any sort of permit unless one is e.g. a felon who may not own a firearm. Most states are rather more restrictive, several a lot more restrictive.

They didn't say any state, they said every state which is correct.

In TN and MS, that I know of, it is not illegal to carry a firearm in your vehicle without a permit, so it is NOT correct to say it is illegal in "every" state since it is legal in some states.

There is a difference between the interpretation "it is not legal in each state," which is how I read the post, and "there is at least one state where it is not legal," which is the only way the phrase is correct.

[beemerphile1]

I have the CCW app on my phone and find it very useful. The app knows where I am and knows where my permits are honored.

My Ohio resident permit and Pennsylvania non-resident permit make carrying concealed legal in 39 states. I avoid states that don't honor my 2nd amendment rights and spend my money in those that do.

An 18.5" barrel shotgun makes a good home defense weapon and is legal in most states.

Many states require a CCW to have a loaded weapon in a vehicle and a MH is a vehicle when not parked and tethered to utilities.

DrewE wrote:

Wijames wrote:

If you dont have a concealed carry permit it's illegal to carry a firearm in a motorhome in in every state unless the home is parked and hooked up. Even then it's a grey issue in some states like Virginia. I personally wouldn't do it and I've worked in law enforcement.

"Every" is a strong word, and makes this an incorrect statement. Carrying a firearm in a vehicle in my home state of Vermont, for one, is quite legal without any sort of permit unless one is e.g. a felon who may not own a firearm. Most states are rather more restrictive, several a lot more restrictive.

They didn't say any state, they said every state which is correct.

[Bobbo]

intheburbs wrote:

hooligan wrote:
You do have to check each State you intend to travel through.

Not exactly. The Firearms Owners' Protection Act of 1986 grants safe passage through restrictive states, if the traveler is only making short stops for food and gas.

Firearm in a locked case and unloaded, ammunition separate, inaccessible by the driver, and you're good to travel through any state, even silly states like New York, California or New Jersey.

CLICK HERE

I am not a lawyer.

But you can not stop for the night.

[intheburbs]

hooligan wrote:
You do have to check each State you intend to travel through.

Not exactly. The Firearms Owners' Protection Act of 1986 grants safe passage through restrictive states, if the traveler is only making short stops for food and gas.

Firearm in a locked case and unloaded, ammunition separate, inaccessible by the driver, and you're good to travel through any state, even silly states like New York, California or New Jersey.

CLICK HERE

I am not a lawyer.

[hooligan]

NRA has a list of individual state laws. Click on a State and it has detailed information. You do have to check each State you intend to travel through. NRA- Gun Laws

Watch for the "small details" that can cause seriuos problems. (prohibited ammunition, inform officer you are carrying, businesses restricting entry if armed, etc)

[EsoxLucius]

Carry usually means on one's person. A long gun unloaded in a case, separate from ammunition and the driving compartment, is entirely legal during transport. When parked in your RV, in a place customarily used for sleeping and living in an RV, a loaded long gun is legal in MOST jurisdictions in the nation. Handguns add some complexity to the situation, but is not a mystery if one explores local regulations.

[Bobbo]

DrewE wrote:

Wijames wrote:

fdwarren wrote:
Yes, the gun is properly registered in the state of MD. I do not have a concealed carry permit.

If you dont have a concealed carry permit it's illegal to carry a firearm in a motorhome in in every state unless the home is parked and hooked up. Even then it's a grey issue in some states like Virginia. I personally wouldn't do it and I've worked in law enforcement.

"Every" is a strong word, and makes this an incorrect statement. Carrying a firearm in a vehicle in my home state of Vermont, for one, is quite legal without any sort of permit unless one is e.g. a felon who may not own a firearm. Most states are rather more restrictive, several a lot more restrictive.

TN and MS also allow a gun to be carried in a vehicle without a permit. The car is considered under the "Castle Doctrine." I don't know about other states.

MS has had that for a long time, but TN only recently passed it into law.

[DrewE]

Wijames wrote:

fdwarren wrote:
Yes, the gun is properly registered in the state of MD. I do not have a concealed carry permit.

If you dont have a concealed carry permit it's illegal to carry a firearm in a motorhome in in every state unless the home is parked and hooked up. Even then it's a grey issue in some states like Virginia. I personally wouldn't do it and I've worked in law enforcement.

"Every" is a strong word, and makes this an incorrect statement. Carrying a firearm in a vehicle in my home state of Vermont, for one, is quite legal without any sort of permit unless one is e.g. a felon who may not own a firearm. Most states are rather more restrictive, several a lot more restrictive.

[Wijames]

fdwarren wrote:
Yes, the gun is properly registered in the state of MD. I do not have a concealed carry permit.

If you dont have a concealed carry permit it's illegal to carry a firearm in a motorhome in in every state unless the home is parked and hooked up. Even then it's a grey issue in some states like Virginia. I personally wouldn't do it and I've worked in law enforcement.

[Olddud]

wbwood wrote:
So what do I carry for protection daily, away from work? Nothing. What do I use for protection at home? Strategically placed items. No firearms. I prefer the aluminum softball bat. A 9 iron is decent as well. 🙂

Just ask Tiger Woods about that 9 iron. 🙂

[garyhaupt]

Right off, I am Canadian, so..I'm already sorry.

"Do you find that the riff raff stays away from RV campgrounds?" If someone were to have 'riff raff' around them while camping and felt that that was a life/death situation and pulled out the hardware...just where do you think this is going? Someone is going get badly injured and likely dead. Over what? Noise? Yelling? Maybe even a theft of a cooler?

If a person does have that 'bad feeling', it is time to leave. Not hang around to see if they are right.


Gary Haupt

[wbwood]

Per the "riff raff" commment...I guess it depends on what you are talking about. Are there thefts in campgrounds? sure there are. If you search the forums you will see where people will mention that stuff was taken. We had a cooler taken from underneath our camper several years ago while we slept. It was recovered in the dunes the next day. More than likely kids. For my RVing Illustrated facebook page, I receive daily news items that I pass on. Almost daily, there is an article about someone being found (wanted) in a campground or RV park. Every once in a while, you will see about a crime that happened in an RV park. But campgrounds and RV parks are not single out as trouble spots. They are just no different than anywhere else. So you will need to decide what riff raff is. If you think because you are behind a gate or there is security that there won'r be any there, then you may be surprised.

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