Moving From Indiana, can brother store handguns?

[andyrping]

Hello all, could really use some help...

I am in the process of relocating to PA from Indiana. I'm currently working in PA, but am staying in a hotel until we close on our house in Indiana and we find a new one in PA.

I have an Indiana license to carry hanguns (open or concealed) and it is accepted in PA via stautory reciprocity. Once we close on our house though, I will have to give up my Indiana residency and will then also lose my LTCH because IN does not issue non resident licenses.

Now, I have a brother that lives in Pittsburgh who used to have his carry license, but it expired a few years ago and he hasn't renewed it yet.

So, my question is... Can I bring my handguns to my brother's residence and store them there until I become a PA resident and then get my PA license? I will be transporting them while I still have my active Indiana LTCH.

Sorry for the long post, but I need to figure this out soon and any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Andy

[West Chester]

You do not need any license to own/ transport pistols or rifles in PA. You can bring them with you and keep in your house, apartment, hotel, etc

You only need a LTCF to conceal, pistol loaded in car, and a few other things.

Edited for clarity, law posted below

[PisnNapalm]

No you cannot give them to your brother to hold for you. He would need to have a valid PA License To Carry Firearms (LTCF) in order to store your handguns.

On the bright side, there is no reason at all why you cannot bring your property (handguns) into Pennsylvania and keep them in your residence.

Also, there is no gun registration here in PA.

EDIT:: I strongly urge you to read this:: http://forum.pafoa.org/concealed-ope...carry-you.html

As well as this:: http://forum.pafoa.org/concealed-ope...nsylvania.html

[rady8um]

In PA, you cannot loan firearms to an individual without a LTCF. Having your brother store them for you is really no different than loaning them.
But, as West Chester stated, you need no license to have the guns at your place of residence in PA, no matter if it is your own home or a hotel for the night. Bring 'em with you!

[jcabin]

Apply for your LTCF while you're living here in PA. Keep the hotel bills to use as proof of residency and explain to the sheriff that you're moving here and living in the hotel until your home in indiana sells.

[gnbrotz]

Apply for your LTCF while you're living here in PA. Keep the hotel bills to use as proof of residency and explain to the sheriff that you're moving here and living in the hotel until your home in indiana sells.

I think this would be a tough sell, and would be surprised to find any sheriff who would accept a hotel receipt as proof of residency, and would not want to use the motel address as the 'physical address' listed on the LTCF.

IMO, there's no real rush since as has already been stated, there's no license necessary to possess firearms in one's place of abode. As soon as you have a physical address, get your driver's license changed and head on down to the Sheriff's office. It should be just a matter of weeks and is a very simple process (unless you happen to end up in Philly).

[andyrping]

Thanks guys! So from what I am interpreting, I would be ok to store my handguns in my hotel room so long as I do not carry them until I have a valid license?

(4) to carry an unloaded and securely wrapped firearm
from place of purchase to one’s home or place of business,
to or from a place of repair, or in moving from one place
of abode or business to another, or from one’s home to
a vacation or recreational home or dwelling or back, to
recover stolen property, or to a location to which the
person has been directed to surrender firearms or back
upon return of the surrendered firearm;

[marinville]

You do not need any license to own/ transport pistols or rifles in PA. You can bring them with you and keep in your house, apartment, hotel, etc

You only need a LTCF to conceal, pistol loaded in car, and a few other things.

This is not true. It does not matter if the pistol is unloaded, it is still illegal to transport it in your vehicle without a license to carry firearms, with a few exceptions.

However, in this case, the op should be covered because there is an exception for transporting from one place of residence to another.

18 Pa.C.S. § 6106: Firearms not to be carried without a license
(a) Offense defined.--
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), any person who carries a firearm in any vehicle or any person who carries a firearm concealed on or about his person, except in his place of abode or fixed place of business, without a valid and lawfully issued license under this chapter commits a felony of the third degree.
(2) A person who is otherwise eligible to possess a valid license under this chapter but carries a firearm in any vehicle or any person who carries a firearm concealed on or about his person, except in his place of abode or fixed place of business, without a valid and lawfully issued license and has not committed any other criminal violation commits a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(b) Exceptions.--The provisions of subsection (a) shall not apply to:
(1) Constables, sheriffs, prison or jail wardens, or their deputies, policemen of this Commonwealth or its political subdivisions, or other law-enforcement officers.
(2) Members of the army, navy, marine corps, air force or coast guard of the United States or of the National Guard or organized reserves when on duty.
(3) The regularly enrolled members of any organization duly organized to purchase or receive such firearms from the United States or from this Commonwealth.
(4) Any persons engaged in target shooting with a firearm, if such persons are at or are going to or from their places of assembly or target practice and if, while going to or from their places of assembly or target practice, the firearm is not loaded.
(5) Officers or employees of the United States duly authorized to carry a concealed firearm.
(6) Agents, messengers and other employees of common carriers, banks, or business firms, whose duties require them to protect moneys, valuables and other property in the discharge of such duties.
(7) Any person engaged in the business of manufacturing, repairing, or dealing in firearms, or the agent or representative of any such person, having in his possession, using or carrying a firearm in the usual or ordinary course of such business.
(8) Any person while carrying a firearm which is not loaded and is in a secure wrapper from the place of purchase to his home or place of business, or to a place of repair, sale or appraisal or back to his home or place of business, or in moving from one place of abode or business to another or from his home to a vacation or recreational home or dwelling or back, or to recover stolen property under section 6111.1(b)(4) (relating to Pennsylvania State Police), or to a place of instruction intended to teach the safe handling, use or maintenance of firearms or back or to a location to which the person has been directed to relinquish firearms under 23 Pa.C.S. § 6108 (relating to relief) or back upon return of the relinquished firearm or to a licensed dealer's place of business for relinquishment pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S § 6108.2 (relating to relinquishment for consignment sale, lawful transfer or safekeeping) or back upon return of the relinquished firearm or to a location for safekeeping pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 6108.3 (relating to relinquishment to third party for safekeeping) or back upon return of the relinquished firearm.
(9) Persons licensed to hunt, take furbearers or fish in this Commonwealth, if such persons are actually hunting, taking furbearers or fishing as permitted by such license, or are going to the places where they desire to hunt, take furbearers or fish or returning from such places.
(10) Persons training dogs, if such persons are actually training dogs during the regular training season.
(11) Any person while carrying a firearm in any vehicle, which person possesses a valid and lawfully issued license for that firearm which has been issued under the laws of the United States or any other state.
(12) A person who has a lawfully issued license to carry a firearm pursuant to section 6109 (relating to licenses) and that said license expired within six months prior to the date of arrest and that the individual is otherwise eligible for renewal of the license.
(13) Any person who is otherwise eligible to possess a firearm under this chapter and who is operating a motor vehicle which is registered in the person's name or the name of a spouse or parent and which contains a firearm for which a valid license has been issued pursuant to section 6109 to the spouse or parent owning the firearm.
(14) A person lawfully engaged in the interstate transportation of a firearm as defined under 18 U.S.C § 921(a)(3) (relating to definitions) in compliance with 18 U.S.C. § 926A (relating to interstate transportation of firearms).
(15) Any person who possesses a valid and lawfully issued license or permit to carry a firearm which has been issued under the laws of another state, regardless of whether a reciprocity agreement exists between the Commonwealth and the state under section 6109(k), provided:
(i) The state provides a reciprocal privilege for individuals licensed to carry firearms under section 6109.
(ii) The Attorney General has determined that the firearm laws of the state are similar to the firearm laws of this Commonwealth.
(16) Any person holding a license in accordance with section 6109(f)(3).
(c) Sportsman's firearm permit.--
(1) Before any exception shall be granted under paragraph (b)(9) or (10) of this section to any person 18 years of age or older licensed to hunt, trap or fish or who has been issued a permit relating to hunting dogs, such person shall, at the time of securing his hunting, furtaking or fishing license or any time after such license has been issued, secure a sportsman's firearm permit from the county treasurer. The sportsman's firearm permit shall be issued immediately and be valid throughout this Commonwealth for a period of five years from the date of issue for any legal firearm, when carried in conjunction with a valid hunting, furtaking or fishing license or permit relating to hunting dogs. The sportsman's firearm permit shall be in triplicate on a form to be furnished by the Pennsylvania State Police. The original permit shall be delivered to the person, and the first copy thereof, within seven days, shall be forwarded to the Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police by the county treasurer. The second copy shall be retained by the county treasurer for a period of two years from the date of expiration. The county treasurer shall be entitled to collect a fee of not more than $6 for each such permit issued, which shall include the cost of any official form. The Pennsylvania State Police may recover from the county treasurer the cost of any such form, but may not charge more than $1 for each official permit form furnished to the county treasurer.
(2) Any person who sells or attempts to sell a sportsman's firearm permit for a fee in excess of that amount fixed under this subsection commits a summary offense.
(d) Revocation of registration.--Any registration of a firearm under subsection (c) of this section may be revoked by the county treasurer who issued it, upon written notice to the holder thereof.
(e) Definitions.--
(1) For purposes of subsection (b)(3), (4), (5), (7) and (8), the term "firearm" shall include any weapon which is designed to or may readily be converted to expel any projectile by the action of an explosive or the frame or receiver of the weapon.
(2) As used in this section, the phrase "place of instruction" shall include any hunting club, rifle club, rifle range, pistol range, shooting range, the premises of a licensed firearms dealer or a lawful gun show or meet.

And no, you can not leave the pistols in your brother's possession if he does not have a valid LTCF.

[gnbrotz]

Thanks guys! So from what I am interpreting, I would be ok to store my handguns in my hotel room so long as I do not carry them until I have a valid license?

Correct. You also can't just drive them around in your vehicle, even unloaded, until you are licensed. There are a few destinations that you may travel directly between and be exempt from licensing, such as your home or place of abode, place of business, target range or repair shop.

[fingers80002]

He has an IN permit, IN has reciprocity with PA, His IN will be valid until he officially moves here, maybe longer, depending on IN statute.