Interstate transport of arms

If you are transporting them from one state to another you just need to follow the rules for transportation. The only time I am aware that you need an FFL is selling across state lines.

For example having you gun locked up, unloaded, and not easily available to the drive, i.e. trunk, suffices for most states, not sure about california though.

absolutely keep it unloaded and in a locked gun case in the trunk. Especially through Commiefornia.

I've traveled wa/or/id/mt with pistols and rifles.
None of them were illegal in the respective state
(ie I didn't take any fully automatic weapons from a legal to a non legal state)
They are always unloaded, and in gunbags/cases
They weren't always locked (but that could be a good idea)
Ammo was kept in a separate container/bag etc
I didn't act like a jackass...

I don't know the specific laws for each state, but with a hunting license and valid tag for the states I was heading for (or back from) I wouldn't anticipate too may problems.

I'd be concerned about the 10 rd. magazine nausea in CA, if you're taking anything that exceeds it. The others are all OK, but, yeah,lock 'em up in the trunk unless you 're packing under licence.

cali is the only one i would have a concern about...

MindPilot said:

I was wondering on the issue of transporting arms inter-state. I am on an adventure soon. and plan on crossing several state lines with my arms. I know there are federal laws that restrict this. But have yet to encounter any diffiulty doing such actions in the past. The states involved are : Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, and finally Colorado. i know California and Utah have some special provisions regarding firearems. I also know that Federal law states that these materials must me transported through an Federaly Licencsed Dealer (FFL). Screw that. Gonna keep em with me. Any1 see problems with this scenereio?

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Transporting of guns across state lines is not forbidden, on a federal level. In fact, FOPA (click me) protects your ability to transport across state lines as long as they're properly stored and you're legal to posses the guns in both your state of origin and the destination state.

Say, for instance, I'm traveling to Arizona and the route I've chose to take goes from WA through OR and CA to AZ (I know, not the most direct route out there, work with me here). I am legal to possess rifles, shotguns, and pistols in WA. Say I wanted to bring my AR 15, a couple of pistols, and my pump action shotgun with me to AZ. FOPA's safe passage provision (click me) protects my right to transport all of the above in a locked container (or otherwise inaccessible from the passenger compartment -- the trunk counts in a sedan) from WA to AZ through both OR and CA.

I think you're getting confused with interstate transportation vs. interstate sales. If you're trying to buy or sell across state lines, you need to involve an FFL. If you're just transporting your own guns, you're legal as long as it's legal for you to possess at your origin and destination.

If you feel particularly paranoid about transporting them, print out this and keep it with the guns. (I did when moving from MA to WA last year as we had to go through some pretty anti- states (NY and IL/chicago for starters))

US Code said:

Notwithstanding any other provision of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or any political subdivision thereof, any person who is not otherwise prohibited by this chapter from transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle: Provided, That in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver’s compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.

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thats some good data's caillean, good to know...

+1 thanks caillean Good info!

So then if passing through California with hi-capacity mags. As long as they are locked away in the trunk or say in the toolbox of my pickup. Is OK?

If for instance I was stopped for speeding or any reason and the officer had a hair up his ass, and looked through my vehicle, and found guns and mags not legal in Cali. Would it be a problem.

I think for the sake of argument I would choose to avoid California all together..

bigggbbruce said:

So then if passing through California with hi-capacity mags. As long as they are locked away in the trunk or say in the toolbox of my pickup. Is OK?

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you mean jared loughner-style assault clips?

i kid, i kid...

Daanng; did not even consider all this when I came back to Maple Valley from AZ a few days ago...I took all my Guns and reloading supplies, boxed everything up and crossed into Nevada, Idaho, Oregon then WA...I guess I need to look into packing all that reloading powder and primers requirements..I think I had about 12 pounds of powder and about 6,000 primers....