Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

So did anything change in DC when SCOTUS threw out their gun ban?

Cant wait to read the ruling on McDonald v. City of Chicago--should be out in a few weeks.

The only thing that changed after Heller v. D.C. is that now it's technically possible for a citizen to legally own a handgun. If the citizen is willing to jump through all of the ridiculous hoops that the district has implemented.

The reality is that a citizen has better odds winning the lottery than being able to legally possess a firearm. I hope McDonald v. Chicago has a better outcome.

So if your traveling through DC or Maryland do you just lock the gun in a box to stay legal?

meangene wrote:So if your traveling through DC or Maryland do you just lock the gun in a box to stay legal?

Unload, lock it in a box, separate from ammunition, in the trunk, out of reach of the driver or any passengers if traveling through Maryland.

Don't carry at all if you have to enter into DC.

DC is dumb. Guess that's why they have the worst crime rate in the universe.

meangene wrote:So if your traveling through DC or Maryland do you just lock the gun in a box to stay legal?

The key here is through, not to. Federal transport laws protect you as long as you:

1. Do as Rick said
2. Can legally possess the firearm where you start and end your trip.

Do youself a favor. Disable the interior trunk release and never open the trunk for anything when in these zones. Plan to get gas/food on the boarders if you can. If you can do it, don't stop for anything. The less chances you allow for something to go wrong, the less likely it will. Even if the charges don't stick, it will ruin your day.

Or just do better and avoid DC altogether if you possibly can.

CowboyT wrote:Or just do better and avoid DC altogether if you possibly can.

This. Much like New Jersey/NYC, DC doesn't think FOPA applies to them.

Good read:

http://www.nraila.org/gunlaws/federal/read.aspx?id=59

Diomed wrote:

CowboyT wrote:Or just do better and avoid DC altogether if you possibly can.

This. Much like New Jersey/NYC, DC doesn't think FOPA applies to them.

They think that, but has anyone actually challenged them? FOPA exists to protect the transporter and any state law that contradicts that is on shaky ground. I don't know of any case where someone complied with FOPA, but was charged under state law for violating their transport laws. Do you?

I think the states are claiming authority that isn't theirs, but always better safe than sorry. This is why I disable any way into my trunk but the key. Some cars you must take out the fuse.

Well I dirve a Jeep Wrangler so my "trunk" will be a locked box for the handguns (minus the one I'll be armed with). What about long guns/shotguns? I'm assuming unloaded and out of reach is sufficient.

meangene wrote:What about long guns/shotguns? I'm assuming unloaded and out of reach is sufficient.

Correct.

meangene wrote:So did anything change in DC when SCOTUS threw out their gun ban?

Cant wait to read the ruling on McDonald v. City of Chicago--should be out in a few weeks.

The McDonald decision will likely be out on Monday.

meangene wrote:Well I dirve a Jeep Wrangler so my "trunk" will be a locked box for the handguns (minus the one I'll be armed with). What about long guns/shotguns? I'm assuming unloaded and out of reach is sufficient.

If your driving through DC or MD, without a valid permit, you should NOT be armed with a firearm on your person. If your not stopped by the police, then you will be ok, but if by some stroke of bad luck your found in possession of a concealed firearm in DC, your day will surely be ruined. ~Felony CPWL (Carrying Pistol W/O License), Misd. Charges of unregistered firearm and unregistered ammo. At least one night in lock up at DC CCB (Central Cellblock) *which is no picnic.

So is this considered carrying concealed?





Wonder what a DC police officer would do if he saw this under a civilian's control

I think that's probably open carry, lol. So anyways, as long as I don't cross the Potomac with a gun I won't have anything to worry about.

Just watch out on George Washington Memorial Parkway. There is a section that is actually part of Maryland. It is over by Lady Bird Johnson Memorial Park, just North of Reagan National Airport. It is because of the crazy way the border is set up. VA ends at the shore. And the Potomac River and islands that reside there are part of Maryland.


Edit: My mistake, according to VCDL you are actually in DC.

Link to VCDL (Great group for info.) with map showing what portion is not Virginia.

http://www.vcdl.org/static/gwp.html

gunderwood wrote:I don't know of any case where someone complied with FOPA, but was charged under state law for violating their transport laws. Do you?

I can't cite to specific cases, but there have been a couple (out of NYC and the Port Authority) where they gigged someone complying with FOPA for state law violations. The traveller usually won, but it took months of litigation to get there, and in one case, the traveller did lose - though he technically did step outside of FOPA by collecting his checked luggage during an unplanned, airline-forced overnight stay.

I suspect it's mostly cops ignorant of FOPA, with a dash of willful "stay away"-ism thrown in.

gunderwood wrote:

meangene wrote:So if your traveling through DC or Maryland do you just lock the gun in a box to stay legal?

The key here is through, not to. Federal transport laws protect you as long as you:

1. Do as Rick said
2. Can legally possess the firearm where you start and end your trip.

Do youself a favor. Disable the interior trunk release and never open the trunk for anything when in these zones. Plan to get gas/food on the boarders if you can. If you can do it, don't stop for anything. The less chances you allow for something to go wrong, the less likely it will. Even if the charges don't stick, it will ruin your day.

>>>plus you'll be boycotting these oppressive regimes in the process....