So I am planning a trip to the Northeastern states. There are several states that do not acknowledge my carry permit. Anyway, my weapons are shotgun, bolt/lever action rifle, and 357 revolver. None have a magazine that would hold more that 10 rounds. Would I be ok with them in my motorhome if they were in a locked case under the bed? What about don't ask, don't tell? How do you travel with firearms?
That sounds like it'd be fine were you just passing-through a Slave State, but visiting one -- probably not (see more below).
Further, there may be one issue with guns in a vehicle (car/truck) you do NOT live in, and a vehicle (RV) that you DO live in. One is simply transportation, and the other could be considered a "domicile," which SHOULD have more protection (like your stuff in your house does), unless it's NOT considered a domicile and just transportation, even though it's a RV. Yes, it can be a legal nightmare, depending on what state is in question and how "vehicles" are defined, let alone what you HAVE in them.
Personally, unless I were just passing-through an Slave State on my way to a Free State, I JUST WOULDN'T GO there (even a short visit) -- it's too risky as you could be stopped for any reason, however slight/minor. They might even stop you for having certain states' license plates. For examples, when I lived in CO I imagined some cop in another state would see the CO plates and think "Pot on Board" so if they could stop & search my car, they might find pot (I'm moving back to CO soon). And now here in TX, my plates might suggest "Guns on Board." Sure, cops are SUPPOSED to have a good/reasonable (and LEGAL!) reason to stop you, but even a small traffic violation may be the reason...what then if they want to search your car?
Were I just PASSING-THROUGH a Slave State, however, I'd use this Federal law:
18 U.S. Code § 926A (print it out and carry it with you on trips). But VISITING a Slave State -- IMO you're taking a huge chance.
You might want to do some reading here:
the primary focus of this post will be Article 926A of the Firearm Owner Protection Act and its application in transporting firearms across different state lines.
www.concealedcarry.com
But again, I simply won't even GO to those sorry Slave States. My sister lives in DC, and our old houses are in MD and CT (MA is REALLY bad to get caught with a gun) -- the house in VA (Fairfax) I probably could go see, as VA hasn't COMPLETELY folded (yet) but I won't go to DC, MD or CT -- ANY of those places would be a nightmare for me were I stopped and they found my guns (my EDC and the SKS under the 3rd row seat). No thanks...
[NOTE/DISCLAIMER: My SKS is securely tethered, and I do have 2 "car safes" (also securely tethered) for locking my handgun/valuables up if need be when it's not ON my belt and I have to go into a place that bars carrying (but they also store spare ammo for my EDC handgun and SKS). So my guns aren't easy to get by some smash & grab street-trash criminal. I do NOT recommend simply "hiding" or "securing" a gun (unattended, when you're gone from your vehicle) under a seat or whatever -- it needs to be locked-up.]
Still, and being an American with certain RIGHTS, I HIGHLY RESENT having to avoid certain states in this so-called "Union" of states simply because their unconstitutional gun laws (yet the SCOTUS does nothign about it) AND I don't trust the cops there. After all, being an American, ALL states are "my state" so I should be free in ALL of them, not just in SOME. Either ALL Americans have the very same basic/civil rights -- like the 2nd Amendment, and they SHOULD (!) -- or they do not. Clearly, they do not, as their rights -- their exercise of the Bill of Rights -- depends on what state they live in. That's unconstitutional, yes? Because it's NOT "equal protection under the law (14th Amendment)?"
Regardless, it seems our Constitution is is being increasingly disregarded, and as I said, the liberal-biased COURTS do nothing about it. They could START by ruling the whole state of HI unconstitutional (been so since Statehood I guess, 1959) -- and then go after all the other Slave States -- but again, the SCOTUS hasn't been doing its JOB for who knows how long...
-- C
