Transporting Handgun

[patrickfq]

I am a Pa resident w/ccw. I drive thru many states for work and pleasure. I have an on-board safe in my vehicle. Am I legal or not, having an unloaded handgun locked/unloaded in this safe, when traveling thru a non-Recip. state.
Where can I get immediate info on New Reciprocity States. Thanks

[donm]

A good resource is www.handgunlaw.us. There are numerous threads on the topic on this forum as well. The short answer is "sometimes." Federal law allows you to transport in the manner you describe directly through any state, provided you are permitted to have the gun in both the origin and destination states. I wouldn't make more than a brief stop for food or gas in some states, like NJ, MA, and NY. Overnight is "iffy" and stopping to visit a friend or family pretty clearly makes that your destination.

There are also some state laws that make things even more confusing. In Ohio, having a loaded magazine or speedloader anywhere in the vehicle "loads" the gun.