Traveling for Christmas (need some thought's)

Supercat · Post by **Supercat** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:30 pm

My family and I are going to drive from Dallas to Pennsylvania for christmas. I have never left Texas under my CHL to other states so I have a question.
I know that my TX CHL covers me the whole trip except the little tip of VA. But I am takeing 6 pistols as my nephew loves shooting and his dad only has one gun and he wants me to bring mine. I will carry one and case the rest.
In the off chance I get pulled over should I by all the ammo in PA? I wanted to take the bulk ammo I already bought, but in the off chance I get pulled over I don't want to have issues by carrying 500 rounds in the vehicle.

Any other travel thought's would be appriciated

gmckinl · Post by **gmckinl** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 9:01 am

VA is no problem for TX CHL. IIRC, it's WV that is.

Try handgunlaw.us for details.

Liberty · Post by **Liberty** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 9:07 am

Looks like you have to drive either through W Virginia, or Maryland neither have reciprocity with Texas. I think you will be all right if you pack the guns in the trunk unloaded [/url]

stevie_d_64 · Post by **stevie_d_64** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 9:39 am

I tried to cut and paste the data from Maryland, Ohio, and West Virginny...My cut and paster is acting stoopid...

http://www.handgunlaw.us/

Go here and see what floats your boat...

From what I saw it looks like Maryland might be a better route, if not shorter and the law not being this overbearing chop-busting chore to comply with...

Just my opinion...

West Virginia didn't look to have much in the way of any car/gun traveling issues...But that doesn't mean they don't have them...I am just not familiar with them either...

I would probably avoid Ohio...Thats just me...They had a whole slew of conditions and other stuff that looked to me to not be worth driving or doing anything there but look at it on the map and say "whew, glad we ain't going through there!"...

Good luck and have fun on the trip!

flb_78 · Post by **flb_78** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 4:44 pm

I think the question is more towards the ammo to be carried. As long as it's locked in a compartment away from anyone, there should be no problems. I would not buy the ammo in PA. Just take what you have.

frankie_the_yankee · Post by **frankie_the_yankee** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 5:40 pm

I find the handgunlaw.us site very clumsy to navigate through. No where near as good as packing.org used to be. Instead of explanations in plain English, all it does is link to the state laws, which in most cases are long and mind-numbing.

That said, I would avoid MD like the plague. WV is much more gun-friendly than MD. If your guns and ammo are unloaded and stored in the trunk, you should be OK in WV.

MD has some stupid AW laws and hi-cap magazine bans.

When I moved from RI to TX in 2001 I travelled the whole length of PA so as to avoid MD entirely. When I was west of MD I crossed into WV.

IANAL, and don't blame me if you take my advice and end up with a problem, but as far as I know WV is better than either OH or MD.

seamusTX · Post by **seamusTX** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 5:46 pm

I did not reply to this thread when the question was originally posted because I don't know the answer. I still don't.

In Texas, we are fortunate to have no regulation of ammunition. Some states do. Supercat needs to check the laws of each state that he has to travel through.

- Jim

anygunanywhere · Post by **anygunanywhere** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 7:09 pm

In West Virginia, you can carry a loaded handgun in your vehicle in the glove box or console without a license.

Should I say this........you can open carry in West Virginia.

Anygun waits for the dreaded open carry flaming.

I have open carried there a bunch. If you stop for gas or eats, just like Jerry Jeff Walker sang - "Don't matter how you do it, just do it like you know it."

Anygun

frankie_the_yankee · Post by **frankie_the_yankee** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 7:47 pm

From the WV State Police FAQ page.

West Virginia State Police Legal Section

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is it lawful to carry weapons (e.g. rifles, shotguns, and pistols) in my vehicle when I travel in West Virginia?

A. Individuals who possess a valid concealed carry permit may carry a concealed handgun in a motor vehicle for purpose of self defense only. West Virginia permits anyone who can lawfully possess a handgun to carry an unconcealed handgun. If you choose to carry an unconcealed handgun in your vehicle and are stopped by a law-enforcement officer, you must understand that that the weapon will immediately attract the attention of the police officer. The presence of the weapon may lead to action by the officer to ensure his or her safety such as the drawing of his or her weapon, ordering you from the vehicle, and/or performing a pat-down search. Weapons intended for hunting must be unloaded and in a case when transported in a vehicle. It is strongly recommended that, if you do not have a valid concealed carry permit, while traveling in a vehicle, that all firearms be unloaded and cased in a location in the vehicle that is not readily accessible to any of the occupants. Any ammunition should be stored in a separate location from the firearm.

OC if you choose. If you get stopped, the cop might draw his gun and order you to do this or that. If you are comfortable with those situations, knock yourself out.

But if you're not, take my advice (which is the same as the state police) and lock the guns up in the trunk while passing through WV.

tomc · Post by **tomc** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 7:56 pm

anygunanywhere wrote:In West Virginia, you can carry a loaded handgun in your vehicle in the glove box or console without a license.

I would be wary of carrying concealed in WV without a concealed license reciprocal to WV. Reading through the WV law that frankie posted, I do not see any way for a Texas CHL holder to carry concealed in WV. Open carry by anyone is allowed but risky as pointed out in the WV law.

anygunanywhere · Post by **anygunanywhere** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 11:42 am

tomc wrote:
anygunanywhere wrote:In West Virginia, you can carry a loaded handgun in your vehicle in the glove box or console without a license.
I would be wary of carrying concealed in WV without a concealed license reciprocal to WV. Reading through the WV law that frankie posted, I do not see any way for a Texas CHL holder to carry concealed in WV. Open carry by anyone is allowed but risky as pointed out in the WV law.

I do not know when that was added to the WVSP website. My apologies if I misled you on the carry in car.

I guess when I asked two City of Charleston police officers, one a seargent, about the specifics of vehicle carry yhey lied to me. Since I was open carrying at the time outside my vehicle at the Gen. Chuck Yeager airport rental car lot adjacent to the terminal they obviously were not as viruntly anti-gun as the WVSP and told me to OC as I wished.

They did say that in the larger cities, Charleston, and Huntington, LEO might question OC, but it is not against the law.

We are hassled in Texas by certain LEO for carrying. Fact of life. If you want to be ready to defend yourself in WV, you can legally do so.

You have two opinions. You will have to decide. I did, have done it many times, I do not hide my weapons even at the airport, and i have not been hassled. The interstate speed limits are 70 mph except in the city limits. Do not attract attention and you will be fine.

Thanks Frankie, for the assist.

Anygun

stevie_d_64 · Post by **stevie_d_64** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 11:46 am

anygunanywhere wrote:Should I say this........you can open carry in West Virginia.

Oh dear...