Handgunlaw.us Seeking Assistance on Carrying Long Guns in Vehicles

**Gary Slider** · October 25th, 2014, 03:52 PM

www.handgunlaw.us is seeking assistance in cataloging all the states laws/regs on keeping a long gun in a vehicle all the time. Due to what is happening in the world and here at home I am seeing the question more and more about carrying a long gun in a vehicle all the time. What just happened in Canada got me 5 emails on the day it happened and at least one every days since about Long Guns in Vehicles. Loaded/Unloaded. Cased/Uncased. Trunk or back of vehicle or anywhere in the vehicle or not allowed etc etc. Information people would need to stay within the law in their state or a state they travel to with a long gun in their vehicle. Sad to say but it is us good guys/gals that only obey the law but we have to know what they are to stay within them.

All this info will be assembled and put into one document for all the states. It will be available free for anyone who wishes to view the information. There is no more knowledgeable people to ask than those who live and use firearms in their home state is the reason I am asking this on a lot of different state specific Firearm Forums.

The laws/Administrative Rules Laws on Long Guns can be almost non-existent or spelled out completely. Many times they can be found in the hunting laws. If you could assist Handgunlaw.us with the alpha/numeric code for a state statute or Administrative Rule or a link to the states hunting laws that spell out the states stance on carrying long guns in vehicles it would be greatly appreciated. I have to have something official from a state agency. I would appreciate an email with the info sent to admins@handgunlaw.us as I can miss PM’s etc if possible.

This will takes a few months to gather all this info and catalog it as I have to check everything out. I will post a link to the finished document on every Firearm Forum that I post this request on. That link will also be added to www.handgunlaw.us Thank you for your time and assistance. Handgunlaw.us is what it is because of all the assistance I get from those who give me a heads up on law changes and help me in so many different ways to keep Handgunlaw.us up to date.

**rwilson452** · October 26th, 2014, 03:02 PM

In Pa you may not carry a loaded long gun in a vehicle or even touching it. It need not be cased. However the ammo must be in a separate container. carrying a long gun in a bag and having the ammo in a side pocket is allowed. putting a loaded mag in the same compartment of the bag as the long gun is not. tossing your long gun on the back seat and putting your ammo in a shopping bag is OK. These laws were established to prevent poaching and spotlighting game at night.

Short barreled firearms are under a different set of laws and are rather strict unless your properly licensed. In PA it is called a Licensed to carry a Firearm ( LTCF)

**ungawa** · October 26th, 2014, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by rwilson452

In Pa you may not carry a loaded long gun in a vehicle or even touching it. It need not be cased. However the ammo must be in a separate container.

False. You can bury your long arm in ammo and it is legal.

(there is a tiny bit of question since "loaded" is only defined for firearms and not for long guns. But most generally agree this is the definition and a loaded long gun is a summary offense anyway).

**Armor Snail** · October 26th, 2014, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by ungawa

False. You can bury your long arm in ammo and it is legal.

(there is a tiny bit of question since "loaded" is only defined for firearms and not for long guns. But most generally agree this is the definition and a loaded long gun is a summary offense anyway).

Yes. The law specifically states loaded, detached magazines must be separated. Non detachable magazines/tubes/cylinders must be unloaded.

An empty shotgun mag tube but a side saddle holding shells is fine.

**knight0334** · October 27th, 2014, 10:53 AM

Gary,

For long guns in PA, here are the issues.

1. Long guns do not require a LTCF to carry them openly or concealed, whether loaded or unloaded. PA 18.61.6106 only governs "firearms" which are handguns/SBS/SBR's. However, PA 18.61.6107 requires that anyone carrying any sort of gun on public property have a LTCF during a declared state of emergency. Also, within a City of the First Class(Philly is the only one) - a LTCF when carrying any sort of gun on public property - see 18.61.6108.

2. In vehicles - 18.61.6106.1 prohibits carrying of all guns loaded in a vehicle, but then exempts "firearms"(handguns/SBS/SBR) when you have a LTCF or are exempted under 6106(b).

For most of Title 18, Chapter 61 - "firearm" is defined as:

"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.

However, there are certain subchapters that also have their own specific definition that typically covers all sorts of guns. ...like 18.61.6105, certain parts of 6106(b), and a few others. But what I listed in 1 and 2 near the top details the most important issues.

The game law on the subject matter is Title 34, Chapter 25, Section 2503 - but game laws really only pertain to things when you are going to or from your hunting destinations, and during your hunting excursion. http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal...chapter_25_pdf