Transporting firearm from NJ

**poconojoe** · September 26th, 2013, 03:58 PM

A friend of mine wants to come to Pa. and shoot at my pistol range where I am a member.
He lives in NJ. Is it legal for him to transport over the border to a range?
Thank you, Joe

**Bill67** · September 26th, 2013, 04:19 PM

There has been much discussion on this. The traveler holds all accountability to prove that he meets the exceptions to the NJ laws prohibiting carrying guns in a vehicle. Long Guns (NJFID) and Handguns (NJCCW) permits must be held by the gunowner. An exception would be travelling directly to / from a range, but if he gets stopped, is at risk of it not going well. The gunowner must be legal when leaving point of origin in NJ and also be legal when reaching point of destination to be covered under Fed transport laws. There will no doubt be other responses with more concise answers.

**tl_3237** · September 26th, 2013, 07:16 PM

NJites can travel between Pa and NJ DIRECTLY between their residence and a range. Range travel is permitted under 18 PA CS 6106(b)(4) and NJS 2C:39-6f provided the transport is IAW with each state's laws: PA = unloaded, NJ = "unloaded and contained in a closed and fastened case, gunbox, securely tied package, or locked in the trunk of the automobile".

That being said be aware that the NJite must make the Pa range his first outbound from NJ stop and the last stop within Pa when returning to NJ. If you plan to do other activities after the range visit (like go to you house or out to eat, etc), theoretically the NJite would have return to the range and then proceed to his NJ residence in order to garner the 2C:39-6f exception while within NJ on his return leg - he couldn't visit you at your home and then proceed directly to his residence. Also any excursions within Pa outside of range travel would have to qualify under a Pa exception.

The Federal interstate transport statute under FOPA (18 USC 926A) is inapplicable in this instance.

**poconojoe** · September 27th, 2013, 08:38 AM

Thank you guys for the reply. Joe

**jthrelf** · September 27th, 2013, 02:38 PM

going directly to the range to meet you, then directly home, with everything locked, unloaded and secured in the trunk is one of the few exceptions that would actually allow transport!

If pulled over, I would advise for him NOT to inform the officer of what's in his trunk..