Road trip with a gun

[Gunsmoker]

I don't have a CCW. (of course I wouldn't have one. I live in CA)

If you bring a gun on a road trip, can it just be chilling in the trunk separated from the ammo? Or does the gun have to be locked in the trunk?

If I'm driving to other states, say Nevada, does this change anything?

And for those of you that bring guns with you to the hotel, how do you secure the gun in your room? (away from cleaning maids)

[gotgunz]

I don't have a CCW. (of course I wouldn't have one. I live in CA)

This is not true; realize that CCW is possible in California just not in your screwed up county of residence..... yet you stay and complain

And for those of you that bring guns with you to the hotel, how do you secure the gun in your room? (away from cleaning maids)

If my gun and the maid are in the room at the same time it means we are doing things that would distract her attention from the gun .... LOL

[CSACANNONEER]

Every state has different laws. In Ca., if it's a handgun, it needs to be unloaded and stored in a locked container. If it's a longun, it just needs to be unloaded.

I'm not sure about current laws in NV but, when I lived there, a loaded gun in the glove compartment was legal. DO NOT try this without verifying that it is still legal!

[aplinker]

You should stop off in NV and get a NV/Utah/FL CCW and carry across 2/3 of the country.

[dfletcher]

I just drove cross country from NH to CA, kept the Berreta 9000s in the trunk of the car. I got stopped in Utah - my rental car had South Carolina plates so the trooper of course wanted to do a search. When I told him I had a handgun in the trunk his response was "I don't care - is it unloaded?"

So far as keeping it in a hotel room, my stays have usually been 2 days or less and when that's the case I tell them I don't need service. If I step out for a while I've left the gun in my bag under the "previously worn" skivvies. On an occasion where I was in a hotel for a while I separated the frame & slide, took the slide & ammo with me when I was out of the room & room service present.

[icormba]

When you are driving cross country you must follow the rules of your own state. Locked away in the trunk the California way. Look up the Federal law and know it.

I drove from California to Texas (Dallas) a few years ago and didn't have any problem. I even got pulled over by a Texas State Trooper who asked if I had any firearms in the car... I said yes and said that it was locked away in the trunk (300z hatchback). He asked if I had a permit in which I said California doesn't require a permit and if it was locked separate from ammo in my state... it was ok. He was ok with that and just gave me a warning for making a lane change without using my signal.

[code33]

When you are driving cross country you must follow the rules of your own state. Locked away in the trunk the California way. Look up the Federal law and know it.

[ocabj]

When you are driving cross country you must follow the rules of your own state.

No, you don't. You have to follow the rules of State or locality in which you are located it at that time. Generally, a locked and unloaded firearm will suffice. But some places have looser laws. Some places allow loaded firearms in a vehicle even without a CCW.

[icormba]

When you are driving cross country you must follow the rules of your own state. Locked away in the trunk the California way. Look up the Federal law and know it.

I was implying that his home state was California. I didn't really word it right, from the ATF site, the wording is as follows:

May a non-licensee transport firearms interstate for sporting or other lawful purposes?

Yes, provided the weapon is unloaded and in a locked trunk or, in a vehicle lacking a trunk, in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console. Also, the carrying and transportation must be lawful in the place of origin and destination.

[18 U.S.C. 926A, 27 CFR 478.38]

[Carbide]

no need to beat a dead horse, already been explained in this thread several times.

[submaniac]

Hi. I bought a house in Las Vegas and am currently shuttling between NV and CA. About NV gun laws...it is perfectly legal to keep a loaded gun in the car, passenger compartment too (don't have to keep it in trunk), and keep it in the glove compartment of your car. NV is an open carry state. (Technically California is too, but don't try it unless you want to sit in jail.) The only proviso is that, at least in Clark County (Las Vegas) anyone who brings in a handgun into the county must register it with the police within 24 hours. The police will issue you a blue card that you must keep with the gun. So yes, you can drive with a loaded gun in the car, but you may get in trouble for not having the card. Also, if you are interested in a CCW, under NV law the sheriff is REQUIRED BY LAW to issue a CCW to anyone who does not have a criminal record/other disqualifications to own a gun (Like not insane), and YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A RESIDENT OF NEVADA TO OBTAIN ONE. I'd second the suggestion to get a NV/Utah/FL CCW. Most of the major dealers in NV (a main one is "The Gun Store" whose big billboard to rent a fully auto AK or AR you will see prior to entering LV) offer the course. You have to sit through 9 hours of classes and qualify with your gun. But after that, you can CCW through like 30 states because of reciprocity. I am going get mine soon too. And, I think having a CCW in three other states, will help you get a CCW in California (one of the questions that the California CW asks is if you have a CCW in other states). Good luck.

[Ghugly]

My son and I have California CCW's. We took a road trip to Saint Louis last month. He brought his laptop with him. Prior to crossing state lines, we would find an open wifi spot and check all the CCW laws in the upcoming state. It was actually kind of fun, educational too. In New Mexico, open carry is legal state wide, however our California permits were no good. So..I guess...... if we carried concealed...we were illegal....but no one could see, so I guess it wouldn't matter ...... but, if they did see .......then the weapons weren't concealed .....so they were legal. We put them in the trunk.

[BossHogg]

If you follow the CA laws you should be in good shape no matter what state your in except new york city.

[Python2]

And, I think having a CCW in three other states, will help you get a CCW in California .

I absolutely disagree, while the application asked for it, it will not help you one way or the other. It might even be a disadvantage having multiple CCW as they may portray you as a Rambo kind of guy. Check out CalCCW forum, lots of factual informations about CCW.

[ccwguy]

When you are driving cross country you must follow the rules of your own state. Locked away in the trunk the California way. Look up the Federal law and know it.

I drove from California to Texas (Dallas) a few years ago and didn't have any problem. I even got pulled over by a Texas State Trooper who asked if I had any firearms in the car... I said yes and said that it was locked away in the trunk (300z hatchback). He asked if I had a permit in which I said California doesn't require a permit and if it was locked separate from ammo in my state... it was ok. He was ok with that and just gave me a warning for making a lane change without using my signal.

Not true. You can follow their laws not California's. A gun on your seat empty in or outside of a holster is legal in Cal. But when it can't be seen readily it is deemed concealed and must be locked away to doj standards, not federal. Governments do not overlap. State laws are what you should know. Federal really has little meaning in some real states, beating a dead horse, maybe. Fact is, hearsay is always just that:hearsay. Nevada's only issues for instance is- carrying concealed is illegal without permit. You can have a loaded gun in the car, but not on your hip or shoulder rig in plain sight, that's considered 'concealed carry' in a motor vehicle. federal laws do not mention that part. Accurate info is important.