Traveling through Maryland question.

P

pesta2

New member
Next weekend I need to travel through Maryland to get from West Virginia to West Virginia. Sounds strange but because of the odd shape of our state certain places you can not get to unless you go through another state.

I will be taking along with me my CCW and will be staying over the night in Shepherdstown and a visit to Harpers Ferry (Hopefully I will get to see some firearms).

While transitioning from WV to WV through MD, what do I need to do with my handgun? Do I looked it away in the trunk unloaded and then wait till I get to the WV boarder and get it out? Can I put it in the glove box unloaded?
 
Although this info will be too late for your trip, the best guide I have found on traveling with firearms is "Traveler's Guide to the Firearms Laws of the Fifty States". It is updated every year and costs $13 something (I get one every couple of years just to stay current). You can get it on-line at www.gunlawguide.com or from Traveler's Guide, P.O. Box 2156, Covington, KY 41012.

The Guide covers the fifty states, Canada and Mexico and how to deal with LEO's, CCW, open carry, hand/long guns, RV and motorcycle carry and a lot of other useful info. When I travel I take the pamphlet along (if worse comes to worst I can show the judge my intent to abide by the law). If you travel it would be a good investment.
 
Fortunately, such onerous State transport laws as Maryland's are (or should be) rendered irrelevant by legal preemption. FOPA (the Firearms Owners Protection Act of 1986) provides a "Safe Passage" provision that is designed to protect good persons such as yourself from this kind of foolishness. As long as you are just passing through the Old Line State, maybe stopping for gas or a bite to eat, you should be fine. It looks like there's plenty of Harpers Ferry to see in WV an VA.

You might want to post this question in, or ask a Moderator to move it to, the Legal and Political forum for more conclusive info.

Added:
While in MD, you would want to have it unloaded and in the trunk.
 
Last edited:
+1 for what Dave85 said. Before entering MD, you must unload the gun, store both gun and ammo locked in the trunk. To be legal, both the gun and the ammo must be seperated from the occupants of the vehicle by a lock, in an exterior compartment if the vehicle has one. The gun and the ammo can remain together as long as the gun is unloaded and both the gun and ammo are seperated from the vehicle occupants.
 
Based off the http://www.mcsm.org/mdlaw.html site itself...

No violation is committed by any person who can demonstrate that the handgun is being carried, worn or transported:

1. Too or from a place of legal purchase or sale or repair shop.
2. Between such person's bona fide residences or between his residence and place of business if the business is operated and substantially owned by that person.
3. While engaged in or traveling to and from a "target shoot, formal or informal target practice, sport shooting event, hunting, trapping or dog obedience training class or show."
4. By a bona fide gun collector who is "moving any part or all of his gun collection from place to place for public or private exhibition," and while such handguns are actually on exhibition.

During transportation to and from the above places, the handguns must be unloaded and carried in an enclosed case or enclosed holster. [4]
Click to expand...

I think your trip could fall within catagory 3 or 4. Just find a range where you are going and you'd be legal. Either that or show your gun to whoever you are travelling with and it could be considered private exhibition.

Just be sure that they are unloaded and locked in the trunk. Putting them in the glove box is not such a great idea incase you do get stopped and have to reach for your registration and insurance. I would not mention any guns in the car if I were stopped unless they specifically asked. Even then I would be sure to have them unloaded and mention that they are being transported for either reason 3 or 4 (posted above).
 
US code 926A. Interstate transportation of firearms

TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 44 > § 926A

§ 926A. Interstate transportation of firearms

Notwithstanding any other provision of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or any political subdivision thereof, any person who is not otherwise prohibited by this chapter from transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, 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.
Click to expand...

1) Print this out and keep it in the glovebox
2) Keep the gun unloaded in a locked container (the trunk is good enough, the glovebox is NOT) while passing through MD. If you don't have a trunk like a hatchback vehicle or a jeep, you MUST buy a locking container for the firearm(s) (or a container that can be locked with a padlock or similar).

EDIT: one important side note, if you ever have to pass through DC or NJ for some reason it is important to know that DC and NJ IGNORE THIS LAW (along with NYC and Broome County, NY). Federal law or not those locations will bust your ass if they catch you.
 
stephen426, Why try to skirt the law and dance through hoops? Why not just carry the gun in accordance with the Federal Law granting protection to persons travelling through communist governed states and in the very, very rare event that the police would have reason to view the contents of the trunk of the vehicle, simply state "I am a West Virginia resident traveling through Maryland on my way back to West Virginia and my firearms transportation is in accordance with the federal Firearms Owners Protection Act"?
 
Thanks for the info. I guess locking it up in the trunk is the way to go. So when as I see our “West Virginia, open for Business” sign (I know I know stupid sign but they are going to change it). I will pull over and put my firearms back on me, where it belongs.
 
stephen426, Why try to skirt the law and dance through hoops? Why not just carry the gun in accordance with the Federal Law granting protection to persons travelling through communist governed states and in the very, very rare event that the police would have reason to view the contents of the trunk of the vehicle, simply state "I am a West Virginia resident traveling through Maryland on my way back to West Virginia and my firearms transportation is in accordance with the federal Firearms Owners Protection Act"?
Click to expand...

Sorry... I didn't click on that link. Besides, I did mention you should unload and lock the gun in the trunk. Regardless, the OP would not be "skirting" the law since his actions would be considered legal according to Maryland Law.
 
One caveat, Harper's Ferry is a National Historical Park. No firearms AT ALL when you visit. They have park rangers that have a chat with people to find out whether they have fishing licenses or not. Ask me how I know...:rolleyes:

MD is...sketchy. Hate to say it but they require any firearms to be locked in a case, separated from the ammo. Not sure on this but I even think loaded magazines are considered a firearm as well.

"I am a West Virginia resident traveling through Maryland on my way back to West Virginia and my firearms transportation is in accordance with the federal Firearms Owners Protection Act"?
Click to expand...

Do you really want him to test that theory? Get him booked/fingerprinted and have a chat with the detectives? He needs to lock it up in the trunk.
 
If you are passing through Maryland, you should be fine. If you are a resident of Maryland, you are not allowed to carry a gun on you or outside of your residence- except on the way to hunt or a shooting range.

The Maryland CC permit is only allowed for people that carry alot of money(bankers and drug dealers) and people that get paid for carrying a gun(police and thieves/assassins). Shotguns don't fall under this law.

I have a mossberg in my car at all times. I currently live in Maryland, but am moving to Virginia in 2 weeks mainly due to their socialist tendencies, resulting in dumbass/illegal laws like the above. My right to life in non-negotiable. Virginia understands this. Maryland does not. D.C. is a foreign country that just realized their laws have no merit if they don't adhere to the US Constitution- so the gun ban is about to be overturned.

Most of the policemen in Maryland are of our understanding, but they can't say anything about it. So the law stands, and the cops get to collect the bodies after helpless people get dead. Must be a fun and rewarding monkey-like job.

In any case, you will be fine. The person most likely to ding you are the state police, and they are the least stupid of the civil servants. So odds are he'll actually know what right to travel and right to keep and bear arms means- without thinking you're a homicidal jihadist bent on killing Michael Bloomberg.
 
Most of the cops in Maryland are arrogant thugs who would like nothing better than to lock you up up for having a gun.

You may or may not get a judge to agree with your viewpoint but you are going to jail first if the cops find you and a gun in a vehicle loaded or unloaded.

My experience is up close and personal from a life time around the nation's capitol and drinking at the FOP with cops from Prince Georges and Montgomery counties.

It may be different out in Barney Fifevill. Avoid driving through maryland and if you do so, do not stop and spend money.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top