Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association
Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 23
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Foglesville, Pennsylvania
    (Lehigh County)
    Posts
    553
    Rep Power
    21854

    Question Is open carry of rifles legals?

    I'm not talking about walking down a crowded street with an AR or AK in hand but carrying a lever rifle around my property and the woods behind my property.

    Would that be in violation of any laws? Would I find myself in any type of trouble? Etc.? Thanks in advance.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    ?, Pennsylvania
    (Berks County)
    Posts
    2,152
    Rep Power
    18666

    Default Re: Is open carry of rifles legals?

    I asked this question a few days ago. This was the response I got:

    Quote Originally Posted by LittleRedToyota View Post
    yes, legally, outside of philly even without an LTCF. it would be legal in philly as well with an LTCF.

    now, one must differentiate between "legal" vs. "good idea"...

    the former is objective, the latter is very, very subjective.
    I'd say you'd be fine. Anyone else have any input?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Oil City, Pennsylvania
    (Venango County)
    Age
    56
    Posts
    2,772
    Rep Power
    418438

    Default Re: Is open carry of rifles legals?

    Quote Originally Posted by Sir Knight View Post
    I'm not talking about walking down a crowded street with an AR or AK in hand but carrying a lever rifle around my property and the woods behind my property.

    Would that be in violation of any laws? Would I find myself in any type of trouble? Etc.? Thanks in advance.
    Only thing you might get for that is the Game Commission trying to get you for hunting out of season. What are you planning on shooting?


    Glock Pistols.......So simple a Caveman could fix them!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
    (Allegheny County)
    Age
    36
    Posts
    249
    Rep Power
    598

    Default Re: Is open carry of rifles legals?

    Quote Originally Posted by Sir Knight View Post
    I'm not talking about walking down a crowded street with an AR or AK in hand but carrying a lever rifle around my property and the woods behind my property.

    Would that be in violation of any laws? Would I find myself in any type of trouble? Etc.? Thanks in advance.
    Game Commission might have an issue with it.

    But if its just for coyotes attacking your animals or squirrel, ground hogs, etc shouldn't be an issue.

    If you just so happen to stumble upon a man who has murder in his eyes and runs up to you with a knife and you need to shoot. Then at least you know what you will answer as to "why were you carrying your rifle around in the first place?"

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
    (Allegheny County)
    Age
    36
    Posts
    352
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: Is open carry of rifles legals?

    Yes it is. Other than LittleRedToyota's response I had a convo with a city cop from zone 4 who knew that it was legal too. I think many of them might.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania
    (Crawford County)
    Posts
    34
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: Is open carry of rifles legals?

    Quote Originally Posted by markheck1 View Post
    Only thing you might get for that is the Game Commission trying to get you for hunting out of season. What are you planning on shooting?
    This happened to me a long time ago while hunting on my paps farm. I had stopped hunting and was walking back to the 4 wheeler when I saw someone standing by it. (keep in mind I had my loaded rifle over my shoulder) When I walked around the corner and saw someone there I stopped and said something like " Sir please identify yourself" It was getting dark and hard to see yet light enough not to need a flashlight.

    He informed me he was a PA WCO and wanted to know what the lights were going in circles around in the field. I laughed and informed him it was a tractor mowing corn stalks. He didnt care for that and asked if my firearm was loaded. I said yes and he proceeded to write me a citation for hunting after hours even though I said, I was at the time, just carrying a loaded firearm on private property.

    Long story short we went in front of the local DM and This guy got reamed up and down by the DM saying that if he didnt see me walking possessing a light source looking for game and my firearm was on my shoulder that there was nothing he could do because I was on my family's property.

    The WCO also asked me something to the extent of "so in you are out in the woods at noon and you decide you're not hunting anymore then you believe you're not hunting?" I tryed my best not to laugh and said "sir that's exactly what I am saying" "I know it is not the smartest thing but if I take my orange off and don't display my license at noon, in the woods, on my family's property, I am then just carrying a loaded firearm on private property and am no longer hunting" The DM got a good chuckle out of that too.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Franklin, Pennsylvania
    (Venango County)
    Posts
    3,920
    Rep Power
    15878968

    Default Re: Is open carry of rifles legals?

    Quote Originally Posted by weavagra View Post
    This happened to me a long time ago while hunting on my paps farm. I had stopped hunting and was walking back to the 4 wheeler when I saw someone standing by it. (keep in mind I had my loaded rifle over my shoulder) When I walked around the corner and saw someone there I stopped and said something like " Sir please identify yourself" It was getting dark and hard to see yet light enough not to need a flashlight.

    He informed me he was a PA WCO and wanted to know what the lights were going in circles around in the field. I laughed and informed him it was a tractor mowing corn stalks. He didnt care for that and asked if my firearm was loaded. I said yes and he proceeded to write me a citation for hunting after hours even though I said, I was at the time, just carrying a loaded firearm on private property.

    Long story short we went in front of the local DM and This guy got reamed up and down by the DM saying that if he didnt see me walking possessing a light source looking for game and my firearm was on my shoulder that there was nothing he could do because I was on my family's property.

    The WCO also asked me something to the extent of "so in you are out in the woods at noon and you decide you're not hunting anymore then you believe you're not hunting?" I tryed my best not to laugh and said "sir that's exactly what I am saying" "I know it is not the smartest thing but if I take my orange off and don't display my license at noon, in the woods, on my family's property, I am then just carrying a loaded firearm on private property and am no longer hunting" The DM got a good chuckle out of that too.
    This is a great story to demonstrate that gun does not always equal hunting as gun does not always equal bad guy.

    For some reason antis and even fence sitters cannot grasp that concept for OC. (Some gun owners, too, I might add)
    It is you. You have all the weapons that you need. Now fight. --Sucker Punch

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
    (Allegheny County)
    Age
    36
    Posts
    352
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: Is open carry of rifles legals?

    ^make that MANY gun owners...

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Schwenksville, Pennsylvania
    (Montgomery County)
    Age
    40
    Posts
    442
    Rep Power
    99

    Default Re: Is open carry of rifles legals?

    That's an interesting story. What do "WCO" and "DM" stand for?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Three Points, Arizona
    Posts
    2,722
    Rep Power
    1607091

    Default Re: Is open carry of rifles legals?

    Wildlife Conservation Officer WCO

    District Magistrate

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 97
    Last Post: April 29th, 2014, 01:38 AM
  2. Replies: 8
    Last Post: October 25th, 2010, 11:32 AM
  3. Open Carry vs. Concealed Carry ~ A paper by Garry E. Harvey
    By Pa. Patriot in forum Concealed Carry
    Replies: 84
    Last Post: November 29th, 2008, 05:41 PM
  4. American Made Open Sight Rifles?
    By jdpate in forum General
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: May 11th, 2008, 01:49 PM
  5. Concealed Carry vs Open Carry Card
    By Mtbkski in forum Concealed Carry
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: August 7th, 2007, 11:38 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •