Transporting firearms

[uintafly]

Hey all,

This weekend I will be traveling from Utah to Kentucky and plan on bringing my Beretta 92 handgun. Does anyone know the laws in Indiana and Nebraska for out of staters transporting guns? I have no intention of carrying either concealed or open. I will have it unloaded, in a case with a trigger lock. I was most worried about Illinois so I emailed the state police and got verification that I was kosher. I know I am good in Wyoming and Kentucky but can't find anything official for Nebraska and Indiana, though I did send emails yesterday to both. From what I can find I seem to be good in Nebraska except for possibly Lincoln, where we are staying in a hotel 1 night. Anyway, any help is appreciated.

[Bobbo]

Crowe wrote:
Keep it in your home part of the RV. Unless you show off and tell you have a piece how else would lEO know?

If he has to use it EVERYBODY will know.

Since it will be unloaded, locked in a case, nowhere near the ammunition, I am pretty sure this won't happen.

You can ship a gun to yourself. Following all of the rules and laws, box it up, take it to FedEx or UPS and ship it to yourself, C/O your family member. BE SURE IT IS ADDRESSED TO YOU C/O THEM, NOT ADDRESSED TO THEM! Be sure to inform them that when it comes, no one is to open it except you. I shoot competitive pistol and we transport guns A LOT.

Read the answer to question 6 on this ATF FAQ, actually posted on the ATF website.

http://www.atf.gov/files/firearms/industry/0501-firearms-top-10-qas.pdf

[D___M]

mbopp wrote:

D & M wrote:
Just how exactly would the police know if there was a weapon on board? Do they have some kind of miracle scanner that lets them see through walls? I have been carrying a weapon in all kinds of RVs for years and no one knew. I even went across the Canadian border once. (Forgot it was in a cabinet until the Canadian Customs person asked if I was importing any firearms.)

Well, there was a Florida driver with a concealed carry permit stopped for speeding in Maryland. When the cops ran his license and found out he had a CC permit they grilled him and were bound and determined to find a gun. As it turned out the driver knew how tough the Maryland laws are and left his guns home in his safe.

DS went to school in Savannah, Ga. It amazed me on the drug busts on I95 - somebody in a Beemer going 100+ MPH. If it were me I'd be driving an old minivan at 5 MPH over the limit. Moral of the story - don't be conspicuous.

Okay that's one out of about a million drivers that go through here a day. And I travel 95 all of the time and I don't ever remember seeing a motorhome pulled over by the MSP. These stories are mythical.

[Crowe]

Another thought: Since you do not plan on using it for protection, do you know a local FFL dealer that might ship it for you to another FFL dealer that your family knows and you could pick it up there? Assuming you are legal on both ends this might keep you out of inadvertent trouble (breakdown, vehicle stolen, etc.).

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

LOL, my how things have changed.

It was common place to see shot guns and deer rifles in my high school parking lot around bird and deer season. I remember when my friend was showing off his brand new 30.06 at lunch time in the gym parking lot.

And my first car was a Toyota so I'm not THAT old.

Now I just stopped laughing and got very sad for some reason. Now I just got depressed to think I have to worry about carrying a gun across the great US of A.

I have to go; I think I'm getting sick.

[mosseater]

mbopp wrote:

D & M wrote:
Just how exactly would the police know if there was a weapon on board? Do they have some kind of miracle scanner that lets them see through walls? I have been carrying a weapon in all kinds of RVs for years and no one knew. I even went across the Canadian border once. (Forgot it was in a cabinet until the Canadian Customs person asked if I was importing any firearms.)

Well, there was a Florida driver with a concealed carry permit stopped for speeding in Maryland. When the cops ran his license and found out he had a CC permit they grilled him and were bound and determined to find a gun. As it turned out the driver knew how tough the Maryland laws are and left his guns home in his safe.

DS went to school in Savannah, Ga. It amazed me on the drug busts on I95 - somebody in a Beemer going 100+ MPH. If it were me I'd be driving an old minivan at 5 MPH over the limit. Moral of the story - don't be conspicuous.

Laws are made specifically for the lawless. Purposely or inadvertently fulfilling that description doesn't matter either way to the police. Probable cause is what they make it on the roadside. Good luck with that. You get to prove your point in court. I'd rather place my trust in written statute than at the descretion of the cop at hand. The better tac is to adhere to the rule of law whenever prudent. In NJ and MD, and several others, prudent is most of the time, every time. There are few glad tidings toward gun owners in many parts of this country. You don't get to decide. The law does.

[mbopp]

D & M wrote:
Just how exactly would the police know if there was a weapon on board? Do they have some kind of miracle scanner that lets them see through walls? I have been carrying a weapon in all kinds of RVs for years and no one knew. I even went across the Canadian border once. (Forgot it was in a cabinet until the Canadian Customs person asked if I was importing any firearms.)

Well, there was a Florida driver with a concealed carry permit stopped for speeding in Maryland. When the cops ran his license and found out he had a CC permit they grilled him and were bound and determined to find a gun. As it turned out the driver knew how tough the Maryland laws are and left his guns home in his safe.

DS went to school in Savannah, Ga. It amazed me on the drug busts on I95 - somebody in a Beemer going 100+ MPH. If it were me I'd be driving an old minivan at 5 MPH over the limit. Moral of the story - don't be conspicuous.

[RGar974417]

RGar974417 wrote:
There is a federal law called the interstate safe passage firearms act.It allows transportation anywhere as long as the firearm is not immediately accessible and the ammunition is kept seperately from the weapon.Problem is,alot of police don't know about this law and you may get arrested anyways although if you follow the law you will be released or aquitted.Of course that could cost you money for a lawyer and maybe even some jail time until it gets straightened out..When I was President of our Borough Council,our chief who is an NRA member and firearms instructor didn't know about the law until I showed it to him.
So what ever you do,keep a low profile.

Wadcutter took issue with what I said.So read it for yourself.
The actual text of the Safe Passage Act reads as follows:
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.

I gave a synopsis of the ACT and I stand by what I said.Keep a low profile.

[Grey_Mountain]

http://www.handgunlaw.us/

Open Carry States Map

[spoon059]

mosseater wrote:
That trailer isn't your home while towed on the highway. It doesn't confer the same rights until the tongue jack is down and the welcome mat is out. Whether you abide that or not is up to you (it always is, BTW), but if found you didn't, you can find yourself with a very expensive and time-consuming new hobby. Stay safe.

This is an interesting point. I am a police officer and I have asked our states attorney's office about this. They didn't ever provide a definitive answer about whether a trailer is a "vehicle" and subject to the Carroll Doctrine, or if it is a "home" and therefore has a higher level of protection from the 4th amendment.

I was given a "strong suggestion" to treat a RV like a home.

This means that I am to seize the RV and apply for a search warrant if I have PROBABLE CAUSE to believe that a crime has occurred and evidence of the crime is in the RV.

Sorry, kind of off topic and certainly not helpful to the OP. Just thought it was interesting that there doesn't appear to be any case law one way or the other on this.

[NYCgrrl]

D & M wrote:
Just how exactly would the police know if there was a weapon on board? Do they have some kind of miracle scanner that lets them see through walls? I have been carrying a weapon in all kinds of RVs for years and no one knew. I even went across the Canadian border once. (Forgot it was in a cabinet until the Canadian Customs person asked if I was importing any firearms.)

You are so not making me feel good about the Homeland Security Dept:E.

[D___M]

Just how exactly would the police know if there was a weapon on board? Do they have some kind of miracle scanner that lets them see through walls? I have been carrying a weapon in all kinds of RVs for years and no one knew. I even went across the Canadian border once. (Forgot it was in a cabinet until the Canadian Customs person asked if I was importing any firearms.)

[Dakzuki]

uintafly wrote:

PastorCharlie wrote:
Guide To The Interstate Transportation Of Firearms

This is an interesting read. It's kind of crazy to think something that is perfectly normal in 1 state is a felony in another. Though I guess that is true with more than just guns.

Correct. The new marijuana laws are another case in point.

[mosseater]

cpet wrote:
http://handgunlaw.us/

^^^this^^^ has always been helpful to me. USCCA also has info, but I'm not sure if you have to be a memeber to access it.

I would caution about asking the police about law on this matter. It's quite clear they many times do not know the law themselves. I know that seems contraindicated by their chosen profession, but the videos don't lie. Your best bet would be to access the given state's Attorney General website. Most of them have info on firearms transport and possession, etc.

Another important consideration is whether the particular state has a "must notify" provision. Many states require you to notify immediately upon lawful contact of LEO. They mean right now, not 10 minutes from now. Should be the first words out of your mouth if pulled over. That trailer isn't your home while towed on the highway. It doesn't confer the same rights until the tongue jack is down and the welcome mat is out. Whether you abide that or not is up to you (it always is, BTW), but if found you didn't, you can find yourself with a very expensive and time-consuming new hobby. Stay safe.

[2012Coleman]

I'm no authority, but from what I have read, the police would know you you had a permit if you were pulled over. Just don't lie to them if you do. Good luck!