Open carry on a motorcycle?

[lyellowdragonl]

i was wondering if anyone has done this? lol i know its strange but who knows?

[zephyp]

I've seen several instances of bikers who OC. I think its relatively common especially among the more, shall we say, sultry bunch.

[OakRidgeStars]

I bet your choice of holster would be critical. You don't want to drop that on the highway

[lyellowdragonl]

true true lol i think it would be interesting to see peoples faces LOL

[CajunBass]

As one who's "been down" on a motorcycle, while wearing a gun, I don't recomend it at all. Falling on a gun hurts. I had a bruise about twice the size of the gun the next day. It's not easy on the gun either. Scratched the grips up pretty good (A Smith & Wesson 39-2).

On the good side, the cheap Uncle Mikes nylon holster protected the rest of the gun and the only real damage to the holster was the retention strap was torn almost in two. When I wrote to Uncle Mikes about buying a new one, they sent one free.

After that, the gun went into the topcase on the bike. Anyplace but on my person.

[VBshooter]

As a former biker and Ironworker who has taken a fall or two I heartily agree about not wearing it on your person.. Anything that sticks out or protrudes from your body will follow Murphy''s law and gouge the living snot out of you,,I have seen guys bungee a gun to the handlebars right in front of them for easy access,,

[JacobDW]

blackhawk cqc serpa level 2

[bossgvr4]

After that, the gun went into the topcase on the bike. Anyplace but on my person.

FWIW you'd better have your CHP if your going to conceal it on your bike like that (i.e. in a bag). A Fairfax Police Officer said I was illegally carrying my Sig "concealed in that range bag on the passenger floorboard".

To which I replied "Doesn't the fact that I hold a CHP allow me to carry MY firearm in MY private vehicle CONCEALED ANY WAY I SEE FIT TO DO SO ?" This is in fact one of the MAIN reasons I got a CHP in the first place so I wouldn't have to DICK AROUND with separate locked containers for gun, ammo yadda yadda yadda while going places in VA.

The Officer said "I guess you're right but if you didn't have a CHP I could haul you off to jail, impound your car and confiscate your weapon" NOTE he called it a weapon as if I had some aggressive motive for having it in my car.

[gregj]

I have a few friends that OC while riding. Personally, I dont care for the added attention it draws. I much prefer CC, but whatever floats your boat.

[CajunBass]

After that, the gun went into the topcase on the bike. Anyplace but on my person.

FWIW you'd better have your CHP if your going to conceal it on your bike like that (i.e. in a bag). A Fairfax Police Officer said I was illegally carrying my Sig "concealed in that range bag on the passenger floorboard".

To which I replied "Doesn't the fact that I hold a CHP allow me to carry MY firearm in MY private vehicle CONCEALED ANY WAY I SEE FIT TO DO SO ?" This is in fact one of the MAIN reasons I got a CHP in the first place so I wouldn't have to DICK AROUND with separate locked containers for gun, ammo yadda yadda yadda while going places in VA.

The Officer said "I guess you're right but if you didn't have a CHP I could haul you off to jail, impound your car and confiscate your weapon" NOTE he called it a weapon as if I had some aggressive motive for having it in my car.

Well, you might have something there, but (1) I have a CHP. I just open carry when I want to. (2) I don't see how being locked in a top-case, or even in a saddle-bag on a bike would be any different than being in the trunk of an automobile. Neither one is immediately accessable to the driver/rider. Both would require a full stop, sidestand down, rider dismount, unlock/unstrap/unbuckle the bag/box. A lot different than being in a range bag on the passenger side (front seat?) of an automobile. A tank-bag on the other hand would be readly accessable to the rider.

Of course I'm not a lawyer. What a police officer, or a judge would say, I have no idea.

[bossgvr4]

Your CHP covers you in all instances then on a bike.

The only difference for a non-CHP holder in the instance of putting in the top case is that they are subject to interpretation by the Police officer.

I know that in order to even transport through MD the gun has to be locked and "not within arms reach of the driver". In an SUV all the way in the back of the truck is OK even though it is not a separate trunk. On a bike everything is within arms reach so it would be the officer's discretion to charge the rider/driver. I guess you could make the argument that anywhere in a pickup, 2-seater (i.e. Miata) would also be within arms reach as well.

[Moccasin]

"not within arms reach of the driver". In an SUV all the way in the back of the truck is OK even though it is not a separate trunk.

I'm curious, is that MD law? Federal law (section 926a) does not mention anything about being out of arms reach-

"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."

Full text of section 926a isHERE.

That applies to firearms being transported from one state, through another state/states, to the final destination state. You have to abide by the state laws of your origin and destination though.

[allingeneral]

"not within arms reach of the driver". In an SUV all the way in the back of the truck is OK even though it is not a separate trunk.

I'm curious, is that MD law? Federal law (section 926a) does not mention anything about being out of arms reach-

"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."

Full text of section 926a isHERE.

That applies to firearms being transported from one state, through another state/states, to the final destination state. You have to abide by the state laws of your origin and destination though.

The bolded statement above says "Not within arms reach" to me....

but now that I re-read the posts - Moccasin - you're disagreeing with the point about the legality of the weapon to be "outside arms reach" and that it must actually be locked away separate from the ammunition? That "Outside arms reach" isn't sufficient?

[Moccasin]

Rick, What I'm actually disagreeing with is that the firearm and ammunition must be locked AND out of arms reach in an SUV. An SUV generally has only one compartment, based on this line: "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." all that is required is for the firearms and ammo to be locked in a box, doesn't matter where

I know that in order to even transport through MD the gun has to be locked and "not within arms reach of the driver". In an SUV all the way in the back of the truck is OK even though it is not a separate trunk. On a bike everything is within arms reach so it would be the officer's discretion to charge the rider/driver. I guess you could make the argument that anywhere in a pickup, 2-seater (i.e. Miata) would also be within arms reach as well.

I understand the law to cover vehicles with a trunk differently than vehicles without a trunk and that "readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment" means put it in the trunk and 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" means that in an SUV, truck, etc. it must be in a locked box, no reference to where .

[StaffordCarry]

I carry open often on my bike with never a problem.

Craig

[40shooter]

I would like to see a guy with an ar trapped on his back while riding a bike, I bet that would draw some attention. But is it legal?

[herseyc]

I carry open on my bike all the time and have never had a problem.

Hersey

[zephyp]

I would like to see a guy with an ar trapped on his back while riding a bike, I bet that would draw some attention. But is it legal?

Depends on where you are and if you have a CHP. Heres the link to the VA code.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504 ... 18.2-287.4

[eagleye44]

Very interesting topic folks. I never thought about OC on a bike, mainly because I haven't owned one since my late teens. But none the less It's been great reading your exchange. When I think of Bike OC I think of the outlaw biker with the shotgun in a sheath strapped to the side of bike...or was it the Terminator? *shrug* maybe I just watch too much TV.

[newdovo]

While traveling on I-95 through Richmond, I saw a guy on a sport bike open carrying. But the spectacle was not just the pistol, but the whole picture. A very nice looking sport bike, with a color scheme of black, white, and yellow. He had a jacket, helmet, pants, and boots with the same color theme. And a matching holster (black, white, yellow) with a black polymer handgun on his hip. Very high sense of fashion; very tastefully done, though. The guy looked like a super-hero.

Parry