Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

We are moving to VA next month and we have to travel in two cars, one with my Wife and Mom and my Dad and I in the truck. However we can't have weapons in the truck so it has to be in the back of my Moms Ford Explorer. I've heard all sorts of nightmares in that state and my Mom is kinda nervous, so my question is, how I should go about transporting my Firearms when we pass through Maryland from Michigan. While the time spent in the state is minimal, we are nevertheless driving in that state.

I would put the guns in some form of container,unloaded of course,with the mags and ammo seperate in other containers and seperated from the guns ... when driving in MD the best advice I can give is do the speed limit and don;t stop anywhere unless you have to/// As long as you follow the proper procedure for transporting a firearm you'll will be fine.

TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 44 > § 926A
Prev | Next § 926A. Interstate transportation of firearms

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. .

Here is a good video on YouTube that addresses this very issue:

http://www.youtube.com/user/sootch00#p/ ... CVbFCQFaxs

Proshooter's post says it: you shouldn't have any problems if your guns are unloaded and not accessible from by you or passengers from..

What I can tell you from living in the People's Republic of Maryland for about 9 years before escaping to Virginia is I was pulled over exactly once - coming back from VA actually after crossing the Bay Bridge.

I believe I was pulled over because I was doing the speed limit. I always do the speed limit or at least within 5 miles. Anyway for some reason, the LEO ran my plates. They didn't match because I was returning from the "Memorial Day Weekend from Hell" when I broke down in Waldorf and had to buy a new vehicle. Everything was legal, but the paperwork had not yet caught up with me. It was 10 AM on Memorial Day.

He asked a bunch of questions including whether I had any drugs, guns, or other contraband in the car. Warned me to get my papers in order and let me go.

It was not a pleasant experience, I didn't care for the LEO's attitude but I later learned he basically did everything by the book so whatcha gonna do?

I know when one anticipates something like traveling through MD and so forth, imaginations tend to run wild. But the fact is, a vast majority of people still move relatively freely - even with guns in the vehicle.

Have a great move.

Andy

I travel through the People's Republic of MD on my way to PA from VA occasionally. I lock up my carry pistol in the trunk, unloaded, separate from the ammo before I leave the house. I stop at the first rest stop in DE to properly arm myself. Coming home, I reverse the process. As long as you conform to the federal peaceable journey laws quoted by ProShooter, you should be fine.

When I had an Explorer, I packed my guns under everything else in the back. They were clearly unaccessible from the passenger compartment w/o dumping the entire cargo load.

jmicheals1984 wrote:We are moving to VA next month and we have to travel in two cars, one with my Wife and Mom and my Dad and I in the truck. However we can't have weapons in the truck so it has to be in the back of my Moms Ford Explorer. I've heard all sorts of nightmares in that state and my Mom is kinda nervous, so my question is, how I should go about transporting my Firearms when we pass through Maryland from Michigan. While the time spent in the state is minimal, we are nevertheless driving in that state.

Curious as to why not in the truck?

mrjam2jab wrote:

jmicheals1984 wrote:We are moving to VA next month and we have to travel in two cars, one with my Wife and Mom and my Dad and I in the truck. However we can't have weapons in the truck so it has to be in the back of my Moms Ford Explorer. I've heard all sorts of nightmares in that state and my Mom is kinda nervous, so my question is, how I should go about transporting my Firearms when we pass through Maryland from Michigan. While the time spent in the state is minimal, we are nevertheless driving in that state.

Curious as to why not in the truck?

In big bold letters, it says in the rental contract that "Weapons of any kind, chemicals, live animals, and explosives or flammable material are not allowed to be moved or transported" in the Budget Truck we rented.

My wife and I go camping in PA. Fortunately, where we cross MD from WVA to PA is only 3 miles and takes 4 minutes if you hit the stoplight. This is the most time I want to spend in MD.

gotta love the peoples republic of maryland

smltooner wrote:My wife and I go camping in PA. Fortunately, where we cross MD from WVA to PA is only 3 miles and takes 4 minutes if you hit the stoplight. This is the most time I want to spend in MD.

+1

There is a route that avoids most of the state if you're interested - come down through PA and take the PA Turnpike to the Breezewood exit. Pick up 522 and you will go through Berkeley Springs WVa to Virginia. I think there is a very brief stretch around Hancock MD, but only a few miles.

clayinva wrote:There is a route that avoids most of the state if you're interested - come down through PA and take the PA Turnpike to the Breezewood exit. Pick up 522 and you will go through Berkeley Springs WVa to Virginia. I think there is a very brief stretch around Hancock MD, but only a few miles.

That is the route I was talking about earlier in this thread.

I wont be renting a truck from Budget anytime soon.

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dorminWS wrote:

SDChop wrote:gotta love the peoples republic of maryland

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Back in the 80s & 90s, I did a lot of duck and goose hunting on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Hauled shotguns around by the dozen - cased and unloaded, but with ammo in a blind bag right beside them. Traded around on a few guns then, too - - - pistols, and even once an M-1 carbine. I can tell you for sure that at least then they had a "gun culture" there that was as strong as anywhere I've been. Never once had anybody call me down or challenge me. Used to go home through downtown DC and stop at the Smithsonian. Don't know whether it was blind luck, or just my honest face and winning ways, but I never had a problem.

My Mom and Dads High School used to have a Gun Club that met at school, and they used to use a field on the property. I remember someone tell me they even brought them into the school to store in their lockers. This was in the 60s and 70s though. Now even plastic knives can get you expelled. Remember that Girl that got expelled for bringing a plastic knife to cut her birthday cake?

smltooner wrote:

clayinva wrote:There is a route that avoids most of the state if you're interested - come down through PA and take the PA Turnpike to the Breezewood exit. Pick up 522 and you will go through Berkeley Springs WVa to Virginia. I think there is a very brief stretch around Hancock MD, but only a few miles.

That is the route I was talking about earlier in this thread.

+1
That's the only route I've used to travel between Akron, OH and Charlottesville, VA since I started legally carrying concealed. (That is, regularly had firearms in my car while traveling.)