Walking to the range without a LTCF?

[mister215]

So I was wondering what the legalities of this is.
I live about 15 blocks from a gun range. I do not have a LTCF and I do not have a car.
Can I carry my firearm to the range? Can it be on me (which would amount to concealed), or do I need to carry it in a case (which I feel like would be advertising I am walking down the street with a gun)?
Not exactly sure how this might work, from a legal standpoint...

[P-11 shooter]

OC (open carry) is legal in PA so you could walk to the range with your loaded handgun and you are perfectly legal as long as it is not concealed.

[Philbert]

So I was wondering what the legalities of this is.
I live about 15 blocks from a gun range. I do not have a LTCF and I do not have a car.
Can I carry my firearm to the range? Can it be on me (which would amount to concealed), or do I need to carry it in a case (which I feel like would be advertising I am walking down the street with a gun)?
Not exactly sure how this might work, from a legal standpoint...

You can carry a firearm concealed or in a vehicle if you are going directly to or from a range and the firearm is unloaded and any ammunition is stored separately (see section 6102 for the definitions of firearm and loaded).

I carry my pistols to the range in a plastic box, secured by a lock, with no ammunition inside the box. The locked box is necessary to comply with the federal "gun free schools" law. If you pass within 1000 ft of a school, you need a PA LTCF or the gun must be unloaded in a locked container.

§ 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.

[Philbert]

OC (open carry) is legal in PA so you could walk to the range with your loaded handgun and you are perfectly legal as long as it is not concealed.

OP is in Philadelphia. No open carry without a PA LTCF.

[SteelHorse]

You live in Philadelphia. You can not open carry in Philadelphia. Carry it unloaded in a locked case. Ammo in a different case.

[Ed in PA]

OP is in Philadelphia. No open carry without a PA LTCF.

Ok, I'll bite... What's the limit on this? Is this only for Philadelphia "proper"? OP says Philadelphia as his location, but it could be a generalized area. When I travel out-of-state, for example, I'm from Pittsburgh. I don't really live there but it helps people get a better idea.

Sorry, I'm not trying to rustle feathers. I am just trying to get the best info for the OP.

Ed

[Philbert]

Ok, I'll bite... What's the limit on this? Is this only for Philadelphia "proper"? OP says Philadelphia as his location, but it could be a generalized area. When I travel out-of-state, for example, I'm from Pittsburgh. I don't really live there but it helps people get a better idea.

Sorry, I'm not trying to rustle feathers. I am just trying to get the best info for the OP.

Ed

It's for Philadelphia County, since the city and county share borders.

[gnbrotz]

Ok, I'll bite... What's the limit on this? Is this only for Philadelphia "proper"? OP says Philadelphia as his location, but it could be a generalized area. When I travel out-of-state, for example, I'm from Pittsburgh. I don't really live there but it helps people get a better idea.

Sorry, I'm not trying to rustle feathers. I am just trying to get the best info for the OP.

Ed

The "legal boundary" would be city limits. But as Philbert has already noted, the "city" area is identical to the "county" area.

[mister215]

Thanks for the responses.

I live in the city proper. There is NO doubt about if where I am or are going is within the city limits.

What's your guys opinion? If I carry it in a locked carrybox, I still feel it is obvious what I am carrying, making me a potential target.
I would feel much more comfortable, feeling it was more non-descript, if I were to carry it on my person, unloaded, and with my gear bag in my hand. Would this constitute separate? I would have zero ammunition on me coming or going because I would be purchasing it and using it at the range.

**After rereading Philbert's post about 1000 feet from schools, I am thinking the best solution may be to keep it in a locked box, and then throw it in a bag. Would seem to comply with law without making me a target.

Again, thank you all for your help.

[imperialism2024]

Briefcase or computer case? And if it doesn't have a lock built in, you could probably just use one of those cheap luggage locks for which the company uses one key for all of its locks, and that could be broken by looking at it hard enough... but AFAIK, the GFSZ does not specify that it must be a good lock...