Planning a trip to visit family and I'm trying to figure out the best route. I'd like to bring a firearm with me, but going through New York State makes that tricky. I get that there are strict laws there, and if I avoid NY, it really adds to the drive time. I've seen some folks mention alternative routes, but I'm curious if anyone else has dealt with this and what options you decided to go with. It feels like a bit of a puzzle, you know? I'm open to suggestions if you've got any tips for making this work.
Road Trip with a Gun
- Thread starter Alan
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Alibiiv
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What are you planning on taking with you for a firearm. If it is a handgun I would carry it in a locked container that does not say "GUN" all over it. We use the DeWalt stackable boxes when we go up hunting, all three boxes are locked, the ammunition is in one box, the handguns in another, and our holsters are stored inside of the third box. There is NOTHING that shows or indicates there are firearms inside of these three boxes. Law enforcement has to have "probably cause" to get a search warrant, if there is no talk about a firearm, or there is no evidence of a firearm in a vehicle, as search warrant has to be obtained before a LE officer can search inside of a locked case of any nature. If it is a long gun, a long, hard plastic, locked box applies. It is not an innocuous obviously, however locked and in the locked trunk of a motor vehicle makes it a lot safer. I am not certain, however I believe there is a Federal doctrine that allows the transport of a firearm through "any" state as long as it is unloaded and it is stored separate from the ammunition, but....I am uncertain about this?? What I can tell you is that there are no real sweethearts out there for states to travel through if you are leaving Rhode Island. Connecticut and Massachusetts are no prizes either. Take any long gun with a pistol grip on it, you are going to jail, too many rounds in a magazine, you are going to jail, same applies to Massachusetts. Rhode Island does not recognize any other state's carry permits, "INCLUDING" retired LE officer's "LEOSSA" federal carry permits.
Keep the transported firearm locked, out of sight and the ammo locked and out of sight and separate from the firearm and you ought to be good to go. If you are in a motor home like a coach or Class C, anything behind your seat is considered your home, different laws apply here. I would not put an open gun closet on the wall behind the seat, however you ought to get the jest of this. Or...you could consider taking a boat to where ever you plan to go.
PatchworkJane
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NY's a pain but keep everything unloaded and locked up separate from ammo. Don't make the case look like a gun case. Federal transport law should cover you through the bad states if you do it right. Stay away from anything with a pistol grip to be safe. CT and MA are gonna suck too.
Alibiiv
Member
I will also suggest that you might try looking at a web site USCCA, I am not certain if you have to have a membership or not to get information from them. USCCA is one of the best agencies to that provides insurance for its members. It also provides training and information about firearms restrictions for every state is one is traveling and on the road. I have run across this question a few times as of lately. I "believe" there is a federal statute that provides safe passage through any state as long as the firearm is unloaded and in a locked container/case and the ammunition is separated and locked in a container. As I wrote in my previous reply if the gun, handgun, is locked inside an innocuous container that does not have any indication that there is a firearm inside, and there is nothing that is indicative that there is a firearm inside there is no reason to give anyone, police/trooper, that there is a firearm inside that locked case. Also keep any accessories like holsters or ammunition out of sight, locked inside a locked case inside a locked trunk is best. If you are carrying a firearm, in a locked container and locked in the trunk of your vehicle, don't leave a holster laying in plain view on the back seat. In order to get a search warrant to search for a firearm inside a motor vehicle law enforcement has to have "probable cause" to get a search warrant. That probable cause has to be very convincing to a judge in order to obtain one. Anything that is in plain view helps that officer towards building that probable cause. If asked if you would give permission to search your vehicle the answer is "no", and stick to that answer.
I travel from RI to VT on a pretty regular basis and go through Mass to get there. I keep my guns locked in separate containers and out of sight, no accessories are visible at any time and I stay within reasonable speeds so as not to get pulled over. If you're typically not a magnet for police you won't have any problems anyway. Chances are that you're a law abiding citizen to begin with so you'll likely do your homework on staying legal.
As far as New York goes, fuck that state, I stay as far away from that commie hell hole as possible and if for some reason I have to go, the guns will stay in Vermont with family.
As far as New York goes, fuck that state, I stay as far away from that commie hell hole as possible and if for some reason I have to go, the guns will stay in Vermont with family.