CCW Question

[ricklee4570]

I know you are not supposed to transport a firearm in a vehicle unless it is unloaded and in plain view. With that said, what if you possess a CCW? Can you then keep it loaded in a glovebox, or under the seat if you decide that you dont want to keep it with you (possibly going into a school, etc.)

Or what if you are j ust going for a drive, does the CCW allow the weapon to basically be hidden in the vehicle or only on your person?

Thanks!

[ProShooter]

I think that you guys are mixing up transporting and carrying. They are 2 totally different things....

[allingeneral]

My opinion as a non-lawyer type follows:

Handguns:
Non-CHP holder may carry and/or transport loaded, in plain view at all times, but not in a school zone.

CHP-holder may conceal a loaded firearm anywhere in the vehicle on on your person at any time except on school grounds, court houses, federal property (Post Office, military installations, etc).

As for schools, my understanding is that if you have a CHP, you can conceal in your vehicle for pick-up and drop-off of student only. You are not to exit the vehicle or carry/handle your firearm in any manner while on school grounds.

Long Guns:
Transporting a long gun is restricted by rules from county to county, especially during hunting season(s).

There are links in the upper left of the site (Code of Virginia and Hunting Regs) which detail the finer points of all of the above-mentioned cases.

[ProShooter]

I think that you guys are mixing up transporting and carrying. They are 2 totally different things....

Well gee, instead of posting cryptic responses why don't you provide an explanation? I'm not going to split hairs over the difference in the terms transporting and carrying.

I'm not sure how my response was cryptic. It was a brief statement and I'll be happy to elaborate...

As it relates to being in a vehicle - Carrying a handgun in your car is when the handgun is anywhere within your reach in the passenger compartment, or wingspan to use a legal term. It can be loaded or unloaded. If you have a CHP, you may carry the gun concealed anywhere inside the passenger compartment, tucked under your shirt, in your briefcase, in the glove compartment, under the seat, etc. If you do not have a CHP, the gun must not be "hidden from common observation". It can be laying on the seat next to you, the dashboard, etc. There is no stipulation that it be loaded or unloaded.

Transporting a firearm relates to the Federal law regarding safe passage when transporting a firearm from a location where you are legally eligible to possess it, to a location where you are legally eligible to possess it. Under the transportation rules, the gun must be unloaded, in a locked container separate from the ammo and the gun secured in the trunk of your car.

For example, I could carry a handgun in my car, tucked in my waistband, concealed with my Virginia CHP from Virginia into West Virginia....no problem.

If I was in my car traveling from Virginia to Pennsylvania by way of traveling through Maryland, I would have to, upon reaching the Maryland border, unload my gun, and place it in the locked container in the trunk until such time that I reach Pennsylvania. I would be transporting it through Maryland. Once in Pennsylvania, I could then retrieve the gun and begin carrying it again.

Knowing the law and the correct use of terms like transporting and carrying is not splitting hairs. Its simply part of being a responsible gun owner. You would not imagine the calls I get from gun owners asking my opinion about carrying/transporting, etc. Most people are very confused as to what the laws actually say, or they have part of it correct and part not because that's what they were told. Heck, I had a woman call yesterday to sign up for our safety class because a State Trooper friend told her that she had a better chance of getting her Virginia CHP if she took some type of firearms training class. Her impression was that she could just apply without proof of training.

[zephyp]

If I was in my car traveling from Virginia to Pennsylvania by way of traveling through Maryland, I would have to, upon reaching the Maryland border, unload my gun, and place it in the locked container in the trunk until such time that I reach Pennsylvania. I would be transporting it through Maryland. Once in Pennsylvania, I could then retrieve the gun and begin carrying it again.

I would slightly modify this statement to read "...upon reaching the Maryland border I would consult my GPS or map for an alternate route to Pennsylvania..." -

That gives me an idea. Maybe one of you programmers could whip up a GPS program that routed you around gun unfriendly states... - OR - alerted you before crossing the border that you needed to take action. You could also include other things like radar is illegal in this state, etc.

[ProShooter]

If I was in my car traveling from Virginia to Pennsylvania by way of traveling through Maryland, I would have to, upon reaching the Maryland border, unload my gun, and place it in the locked container in the trunk until such time that I reach Pennsylvania. I would be transporting it through Maryland. Once in Pennsylvania, I could then retrieve the gun and begin carrying it again.

I would slightly modify this statement to read "...upon reaching the Maryland border I would consult my GPS or map for an alternate route to Pennsylvania..." -

That gives me an idea. Maybe one of you programmers could whip up a GPS program that routed you around gun unfriendly states... - OR - alerted you before crossing the border that you needed to take action. You could also include other things like radar is illegal in this state, etc.

haha, good idea!

I read that someone on a gun board created an Ipod app that searched for ABC licenses for open/concealed carry locations....I'm sure anything can be done these days.

[allingeneral]

My friends, it is always good to provide details when posting to help answer questions. It is also very helpful to provide an actual cite of the law where appropriate. This helps people who are new to owning a firearm by providing them legal information which they can read and comprehend on their own, then pose further queries as necessary so that they can be as informed as possible, thereby staying on the proper side of the law when owning and carrying their firearm.

[ProShooter]

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[ProShooter]

You were being cryptic in that you made a statement which left open a question, something you have done in other threads on this forum. Almost as if you want someone to respond directly to the post. If you want to state that there is a difference in the terms “transport” and “carry” then providing an explanation of that difference would seem to be a reasonable expectation. Someone posed a question and instead of assisting with the answer you chose to make a statement that further confused the issue. Seems to me that part of being a responsible gun owner and a responsible instructor would be to help clarify things instead of muddying the issues further.

Actually, I made a statement that I thought might lead the reader to some research on the issue and provide some insight to the OP as to where he might find an answer. At the time of my "cryptic" post, I did not have the time to get into the 4 paragraph explanation that I would have originally liked to offer. You asked (rather rudely IMO) for an explanation, so I obliged. Now you don't seem to like the manner in which I post here? Gee whiz, sorry. I answer many questions here, time permitting and am happy to do so. I teach a class on the laws and could easily tell someone to sign up for a class or I could just keep my mouth shut and ignore a request for information. Too many times though, I see bad info passed around these various gun forums and I feel an obligation to offer my knowledge on the subject.

[allingeneral]

so, ricklee - has your question been answered?

This isn't the norm here at VGOF. We usually all get along rather well. Let us know if you have any other questions, or need any clarification on this one!

[ProShooter]

ricklee - please feel free to pm me any further questions that you have so as to not irritate anyone else with my posted responses. I'll be happy to assist you.

[ricklee4570]

Question Answered! Thanks!!