Driving through other states with a PA LTCF

[Log9mm]

I know this has been talked about on this forum because I read it here but I was unable to find it during my search so I will ask all of you. I thought I read that with a LTCF you are legally allowed to have your firearm in your car with you while driving through other states. I understand that without reciprocity you would not be able to carry the firearm with you in that foreign state, but is it being in your car with you ok? Almost sounds too good to be true hence me second guessing what I thought I had read previously. Thank you for your help!

-Logan

[knight0334]

Your PA LTCF allows you to carry concealed or transport a loaded firearm in PA, or in other states that honor our license via a blanket honoring or a reciprocal agreement. Not all states honor our license.. Some states treat your vehicle as an extention of your place of abode and not require a license in your car just as if you were carrying inside your house.

It all depends on the state in which you travel through..

PA's law however honors ALL state licenses for transporting a loaded firearm(handgun, SBS, SBR) in a vehicle while in PA whether we have an agreement or not.

[Steve in PA]

Some states have a "peaceable journey" law, some don't.

[gnbrotz]

As mentioned, the laws on this will vary from state to state. I'm doing some research for my trip to KY. I'll be starting in PA and driving through MD, WV, and KY (in that order).

MD's "peaceable journey law" has some limitations. I can pass through, but my gun must be unloaded (this includes mags) and cased separately from the ammo. Also, both my origin and destination must be places where I can legally possess/carry my weapon. Unloading and casing doesn't make me legal for a day of sightseeing around the state. Here's a little snippet from handgunlaw.us:

under Title 18, Section 926A, of the United States Code, a person who is not prohibited from possessing, 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 place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment. In the case the vehicle does not have a compartment separate from the driver's compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked compartment other than the glove compartment or console.

For my trip, this means that when I reach the MD border, I'll need to pull over to unload, seperate and case my weapon and ammunition in my trunk and keep it there until I pass into WV. From there on out, I'll be good to either OC or CC, since I OC is legal in both WV and KY and they also both have reciprocity with PA for concealed.

[markheck1]

How far out of your way would it be to not go through MD?
WV, and KY are reciprocal as you stated

[axmdr40]

http://www.handgunlaw.us/

Read it, learn it, live it, love it

[gnbrotz]

Originally Posted by markheck1

How far out of your way would it be to not go through MD?

Mileage wise, only a few miles, but it would add at least an hour to my trip. I'm still playing with routing options, but the best choice, not taking the firearms issue into account, is definitely through MD.

[God's Country]

Originally Posted by Steve in PA

Some states have a "peaceable journey" law, some don't.

AFAIK all states have peaceable journey as per federal law. Some states choose to either ignore it or interpret it to suit their liking.

[Frenchy]

Originally Posted by Steve in PA

Some states have a "peaceable journey" law, some don't.

What you are looking for is the Peacable Journey, this means You may not be able to travle through Ohio on your PA. LTCF, but you can in Indiana. Now say You where going to the Flea Market in Rogers Ohio, you could not carry in your car. But say you where going to Indiana to visit some one, and did not plan on a stop (other then maybe putting in gas) you can carry "through" the state. Now say you planned on going on through Ohio, then Indiana, then finish your drive in Illinois you would not be able to claim the peacable journey because the state you aer finishing your trip in is not a state where you can carry with your PA LTCF.

The Peacable journey rule is you have to leave and arrive in a state that allows you to carry on your permit and make no stops. Obviously you have to stop for gas and maybe to sleep, but not to shop.

Here you can see where the map of the states that Honor Your PA LTCF, although WV is yet to be colored, it seems it may now be ok there as well, but for exaple sakes, If you where going to FLorida, you could on your PA. Resident LTCF use the peacable Journey. I say PA Resident permit because Florida asks you carry your driver's permit as well. If your Drivers permit is from an other state, they will not honor your "Non resident" permit and for this reason all the states in between do not have to either.

[chesire17201]

Originally Posted by gnbrotz

Mileage wise, only a few miles, but it would add at least an hour to my trip. I'm still playing with routing options, but the best choice, not taking the firearms issue into account, is definitely through MD.

and since i know you'll be using I-81 to get thorugh Md, it is only 12 miles ( i used to have to track mileage when i drove truck, and had to go this way daily) from Pa to Wv. So, while yes it is a MAJOR pain in the A$$, just unload, separate, lock etc, and get through as fast as possible, theoretically, about 12 minutes at 60 mph.,( yes 60, for some reason, as soon as you hit exit 7 area in Md it goes from 65 to 60 till the last 2-3 miles of the state) and hit the rest area right after the bridge in Wv and re-arm yourself........much better than any of the ways you'd have to go to avoid the republik of Md.....