i am a little confused about something...i can legally carry a shotgun UNLOADED?

[delcosheriffsucks]

can i legally carry a shotgun UNLOADED in my car? it would be a long gun not a SBS and if it matters yes, i have a LTCF.

thanks.

[MuzzleFlash]

LTCF doesn't matter with long guns, they're not "firearms."
"Loaded" means "readily loadable." So as long as the ammo and shotgun are stored in separate parts (trunk, glove box) or locked boxes if you can't do that, then you're fine.

[delcosheriffsucks]

LTCF doesn't matter with long guns, they're not "firearms."
"Loaded" means "readily loadable." So as long as the ammo and shotgun are stored in separate parts (trunk, glove box) or locked boxes if you can't do that, then you're fine.

are you serious.....i always thought you couldnt keep them in the car at all unless going to or from certain places like gunsmith hunting or targetshooting, things of that nature... ::::grabs shotgun:::: throws it in trunk.

[MuzzleFlash]

“Firearm.” Any pistol or revolver with a barrel length less than 15 inches, any shotgun with a barrel length less than 18 inches or any rifle with a barrel length less than 16 inches, or any pistol, revolver, rifle or shotgun with an overall length of less than 26 inches. The barrel length of a firearm shall be determined by measuring from the muzzle of the barrel to the face of the closed action, bolt or cylinder, whichever is applicable.

§6106.1. Carrying Loaded Weapons Other Than Firearms.
(a) General rule.—Except as provided in Title 34 (relating to game), no person shall carry a loaded pistol, revolver, shotgun or rifle, other than a firearm as defined in section 6102 (relating to definitions), in any vehicle The provisions of this section shall not apply to persons excepted from the requirement of a license to carry firearms under section 6106(b)( 1), (2), (5) or (6) (relating to firearms not to be carried without a license) nor shall the provi¬sions of this section be construed to permit persons to carry firearms in a vehicle where such conduct is prohibited by section 6106.

http://www.acslpa.org/pa_uniform_firearms_act.htm

1 - I'm not a lawyer
2- Might want to wait for others to chime in and verify or correct that first.

From what I gather, you can carry a rifle or shotgun loaded or unloaded, concealed or open, with or without a LTCF so long as it's not transported loaded. The only gun which is allowed to be carried loaded in a vehicle is a "firearm" (defined above) if you have a LTCF. If not, then you can only carry firearms unloaded in your vehicle to and from specific locations among other things.

[reverserboy]

Copied from 6102..definitions:

"Loaded." A firearm is loaded if the firing chamber, the nondetachable magazine or in the case of a revolver, any of the chambers of the cylinder contain ammunition capable of being fired. In the case of a firearm which utilizes a detachable magazine, the term shall mean a magazine suitable for use in said firearm which magazine contains such ammunition and has been inserted in the firearm or is in the same container or, where the container has multiple compartments, the same compartment thereof as the firearm.

§6106.1. Carrying Loaded Weapons Other Than Firearms.
(a) General rule.—Except as provided in Title 34 (relating to game), no person shall carry a loaded pistol, revolver, shotgun or rifle, other than a firearm as defined in section 6102 (relating to definitions), in any vehicle The provisions of this section shall not apply to persons excepted from the requirement of a license to carry firearms under section 6106(b)( 1), (2), (5) or (6) (relating to firearms not to be carried without a license) nor shall the provi¬sions of this section be construed to permit persons to carry firearms in a vehicle where such conduct is prohibited by section 6106.

"Loaded" means "readily loadable." So as long as the ammo and shotgun are stored in separate parts (trunk, glove box) or locked boxes if you can't do that, then you're fine.

I could not find the term "readily loadable" anywhere in the UFA.

If the gun is not loaded as defined in 6200...I'd say one would be legal in this case,relating to non NFA long guns.

I'm not a lawyer either.

[Pa. Patriot]

LTCF doesn't matter with long guns, they're not "firearms."

Slightly off topic but important.

Not "firearms" for the purposes of 18Pa.C.S.6106.1 as they do not meet the definition of "firearms" per 18Pa.C.S.6102.

Keep in mind that they ARE "firearms" per different parts of the UFA where they are specifically included as such. I point this out because it is dangerous to say that "long guns are not firearms" per Pa. Law because of 6102. That is only true for sections that default to the 6102 definition. Which is not all sections.

Now, regardless the definition of "firearm", LTCF is irrelevant because 18Pa.C.S.6106.1 prohibits loaded long guns in vehicles by name (shotguns/rifles). LTCF is an exception only for those firearms covered by an LTCF (there's your 6102).

"Loaded" means "readily loadable."

No it does not. It means what the statute says.

"Loaded." A firearm is loaded if the firing chamber, the nondetachable magazine or, in the case of a revolver, any of the chambers of the cylinder contain ammunition capable of being fired. In the case of a firearm which utilizes a detachable magazine, the term shall mean a magazine suitable for use in said firearm which magazine contains such ammunition and has been inserted in the firearm or is in the same container or, where the container has multiple compartments, the same compartment thereof as the firearm.

ref 18Pa.C.S.6102

So as long as the ammo and shotgun are stored in separate parts (trunk, glove box) or locked boxes if you can't do that, then you're fine.

Not correct.
If you read the above definition of "loaded" you will see that there is NO requirement to keep the ammunition in a seperate compartment, locked or otherwise UNLESS the ammunition is in a magazine that the firearm or long gun accepts. Then it needs to be in a separate compartment. Lock not required. This applies to in Pa. only obviously.

[FormerUser123]

Now, regardless the definition of "firearm", LTCF is irrelevant because 18Pa.C.S.6106.1 prohibits loaded long guns in vehicles by name (shotguns/rifles). LTCF is an exception only for those firearms covered by an LTCF (there's your 6102).

Is one to assume carbines qualify as rifles under the law?

[MuzzleFlash]

I could not find the term "readily loadable" anywhere in the UFA.

If the gun is not loaded as defined in 6200...I'd say one would be legal in this case,relating to non NFA long guns.

I'm not a lawyer either.

Nope, that's just my term for lack of a better one. I wasn't able to find the old threads on loaded laws.

No it does not. It means what the statute says.

ref 18Pa.C.S.6102


Not correct.
If you read the above definition of "loaded" you will see that there is NO requirement to keep the ammunition in a seperate compartment, locked or otherwise UNLESS the ammunition is in a magazine that the firearm or long gun accepts. Then it needs to be in a separate compartment. Lock not required. This applies to in Pa. only obviously.

Thanks for the corrections, figured I would play it better safe than sorry until it was filled in entirely.

[Gunny1969]

So, if I understand the law in PA correctly, I could legally keep a unloaded pump action shotgun in my car/truck and have the ammo stored on the side-saddle.

[JCWohlschlag]

As well as what has already been stated about being able to carry an unloaded long barreled shotgun (or rifle) in a vehicle regardless of having a license to carry a firearm (LTCF), it should be pointed out that carrying a firearm of any type, including long barreled shotguns and rifles, during a declared state of emergency (18 Pa.C.S. § 6107) or within a city of the first class, i.e., Philadelphia, (18 Pa.C.S. § 6108) does require a license to carry a firearm (LTCF). This would be an example of what Pa. Patriot mentioned above where “firearm” doesn’t include long barreled shotguns and rifles for 18 Pa.C.S. § 6106.1, but does include them in 18 Pa.C.S. § 6107 and 18 Pa.C.S. § 6108 through either an explicit overriding definition or separate inclusion.