Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Hi all,

A few days ago I decided I'd like to work on modifying some musical instrument or sport/gym duffel bags for discreet transport of my shotgun/rifle. My concern is legality of carrying firearms in a case obviously intended to disguise the contents. I've done some searching on the forums and through the Code but haven't been able to find anything, so I figured I'd ask.

I figure it's fine in VA, but I just want to be sure. I know there are some States out there that contain some language that limit firearms cases to those "expressly intended for the containment of firearms" or something like that. Certainly what is "expressly intended" to contain a firearm can be argued, but I'd rather not even have to worry about it.

Thoughts?

Steve

I am not aware of any such law but IANAL.

Did even more searching and can't find a thing, so I am assuming this is fine.

Virginia is more concerned about where you carry a rifle than what you choose to carry it in. Just be aware that different localities in the state have different laws when it comes to long guns.

The most important is to keep it unloaded while in transit.

OakRidgeStars wrote:Virginia is more concerned about where you carry a rifle than what you choose to carry it in. Just be aware that different localities in the state have different laws when it comes to long guns.

The most important is to keep it unloaded while in transit.

Definitely. I only ever transport them to/from the range. This is mainly for keeping the neighbors out of the loop.

Most legality issues with gun disguises only matter if you can fire it while still disguised.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

rromeo wrote:Most legality issues with gun disguises only matter if you can fire it while still disguised.

This is the answer.

A case is a case, what it looks like is irrelevant. Knock yourself out. Just make sure you can't fire the gun while it's in the case.

If you can fire from inside the case it becomes an AOW, and is regulated by the NFA act.

As was said above a case is a case.

Now if you are transporting a Thompson I think there is some regulation that you have to use a violin case.

jdonovan wrote:If you can fire from inside the case it becomes an AOW, and is regulated by the NFA act.

As was said above a case is a case.

Now if you are transporting a Thompson I think there is some regulation that you have to use a violin case.

With a Fedora, of course.

Thanks for the replies, guys. I figured I was in the green... just wanted to make sure! If my experiments this weekend go well I'll have some pics to share.

As promised... firearms/custom-discreet-carry-rifle-shotgun-case-t9508.html

I've got Musiciansfriend open in the other tab looking at some guitar hard cases for my LWRC. It's a great discreet way to transport the gun without people freaking out.

A 'cello case constitutes "securely wrapped". No problem. "El Mariachi's" guitar case would not pose a problem in Virginia, except that the handguns would require a CHP to be carried in loaded and ready state.

I've got a Thompson Model T1 1923A-1 (the semi-automatic version of the "Tommygun"). It came in a hard case, but there was an option to order a "violin"-style case from the gun supplier. I ordered it pretty much as a lark. Of course, it would have been "intended for use as a gun case" even if that restriction had applied. I couldn't see that it did. Trouble is, I've never used the cotton'-pickin' thing. Just not that many social occasions where a feller can carry a tommygun these days. Besides, I'm not sure it has a compartment for the optional 50-round drum I ordered. Funny; I bought that tommygun because it was soooo cool and I thought I just couldn't live without one; but now that I own one, it's about as useless as the proverbial boobs on a boar hog. It's still really cool as man-toys go and I ain't selling it (before one of you offers to buy it), but it's just more trouble than it's worth. I'd rather burn .45ACP in one of my 1911s.

One of the manifold benefits of being out here in these remote, underdeveloped mountains among these reputedly unschooled and unsophisticated folks (who are nonethekless the salt of the earth) is that few if any folks around here would get upset to see a neighbor carrying a gun (or, for that matter, a truckload of guns) into his house; and if they did, the rest of us would tell them to shut up and butt out. Of course, there's always the issue of whether someone would see you carry an expensive gun into your house and them come back in the night and steal it. That is probably a real risk.

In a former occupation I had to hide things in plain sight all the time . When carried off properly it's actually a rush to pull it off...Amazing what can be used to hide something and not have anyone be the wiser.

user wrote:"El Mariachi's" guitar case would not pose a problem in Virginia, except that the handguns would require a CHP to be carried in loaded and ready state.

Doesn't he have a machinegun and a sawed-off rifle or shotgun in there?