Is the Federal Gun Free Zone Law really this stupid?

[duqjeep2010]

Looking at buying a first home. This home just happens to be within 1000 feet of a school. Through work I talked to a school resource guy for that district and he said that so long as the firearms are on my property I am fine but as soon as I drive onto the road I would be in violation of the law.

Is the law really that stupid? Would I be stuck dealing with officer discretion?

[Gunsnwater]

This was planned that way. The goal was gun control not school safety. The anti gunners were looking to box gun owners in with nowhere to go.

[Emptymag]

You can't carry in bars either.

Sucks, but that's the law.


No it's not.

[internet troll]

You can't carry in bars either.

Sucks, but that's the law.


No it's not.

I see what you did there.

[DasMuller]

I would think you would be able to safely transport your firearms to and from. I'm no lawyer, but I drive through school zones all the time while carrying. I've even been stopped in front of a school for going over the 15mph (sign started flashing after I drove past it, and had a dash cam to prove it). I handed the officer my DL, Ins, Reg, and CCWP. He asked if I was armed, I said yes. He asked where it was, told him Right hip. He said, "ok. lets keep it there and your hands on the wheel."

Anyway, point is, there was no mention of being in violation of any law, state or fed. While this officer may have just been one of the good guys, he let me go with a warning after seeing the video from the dash cam and finally asked what I carry. We then had a 3-4min conversation about the necessity of citizens to be at the ready to help out if needed and how he thought it was great to see more people in PA carrying.

[Steve in PA]

I would think you would be able to safely transport your firearms to and from. I'm no lawyer, but I drive through school zones all the time while carrying. I've even been stopped in front of a school for going over the 15mph (sign started flashing after I drove past it, and had a dash cam to prove it). I handed the officer my DL, Ins, Reg, and CCWP. He asked if I was armed, I said yes. He asked where it was, told him Right hip. He said, "ok. lets keep it there and your hands on the wheel."

That's because with the PA LTCF, you are not in violation of the GFSZA in PA.

[Steve in PA]

Looking at buying a first home. This home just happens to be within 1000 feet of a school. Through work I talked to a school resource guy for that district and he said that so long as the firearms are on my property I am fine but as soon as I drive onto the road I would be in violation of the law.

Is the law really that stupid? Would I be stuck dealing with officer discretion?

If you have a PA LTCF, then you can drive through a school zone with a loaded handgun. You are NOT in violation of the GFSZA. Your "school resource guy" doesn't know squat!

If you do not have a LTCF, then the handgun must be transported in the condition set by the GFSZA.

For rifles and shotguns, they too must be transported in the condition set by the GFSZA. Having a LTCF does not apply here.

Those conditions are; (I) not loaded; and (II) in a locked container, or a locked firearms rack which that is on a motor vehicle;

[DasMuller]

That's because with the PA LTCF, you are not in violation of the GFSZA in PA.

Also, I believe the Fed law was declared illegal by the SCOTUS.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt...ndmark_us.html

[Steve in PA]

The GFSZA was fiddled with after that ruling and is still in existence.

[RTF92.5]

I am certainly no lawyer... but isn't the Gun Free Zone law Federal? Can a local or state officer arrest you if you are in the off campus part of the GFSZA or do they have to detain you and call the proper Federal authorities?

Not that I am advocating testing this premise, which is why my long guns are always unloaded, locked and separated when traveling.

Would be nice if we could get a national right to carry with any state permit, including GFSZA, and national pre-emption laws to take all of these deliberate headaches out of knowing/following the law.