Carrying firearms in a truck

The problem is that you cross state lines in a truck. Your permit is only good for the state that you reside in. Caught outside your home state and you are in BIG trouble.

 

It is legal under federal law but it is not legal under the laws of some states, there is a federal law that allows you to transport your firearm through any state as long as you unload the firearm and store it separately from the ammunition in a case in a location separate from the driver (under the bunk in your sleeper is legal), unfortunately several states have been known to ignore this law (NY, NJ etc.) and will arrest you anyway! Also in New Jersey hollow point ammunition is illegal! The other problem is that many companies have policies against having a firearm in the truck but all that they can do is fire you and report to DAC that they fired you for a violation of company policy. A good place to check the laws is the website handgunlaw.us they list all of the laws in the U.S. There is also a bill in Congress to make handgun permits work like a drivers license, if you have a permit it will be good in any state that allows concealed carry (currently every state but Illinois) so call your Congressman and tell them to support this bill!

 

Difference in a CDL and a DL. Also difference in driving your car and a Commercial Vehicle. The laws are like comparing apples and oranges. Dad lost his permit because of it. He was lucky didnt do the 2 years. Thanks TN.

 

If everyone carried the world would be a safer place.

 

may i suggest 3 fully automatic rifles? just to be safe, that is.

 

There is absolutely no different set of laws about carrying a firearm in a commercial vehicle, as opposed to in a car or pickup.

I was stopped in Emlenton, PA. back in 2001. It was a D.O.T. truck enforcement officer stopping me. He asked me if I had any weapons in my truck. I told him that I was legally allowed to have anything that was in my truck. As we were speaking, I actually had a .45 caliber Colt on my hip, under my shirt. He told me I was legally required to let him know if I had a weapon in my truck. Wise-### as I am, I told him the gun I carry was not in my truck right at this moment. That's when he looked down at my shirt, and went nuts. He ran back to his minivan, and radioed for help.

A few minutes later, a highway cruiser came on the scene. This oak tree with a smokey hat climbs out, and **VERY POLITELY** asked me if I had any firearms on my person. I **VERY CALMLY** told him I in fact had a firearm, which I had a permit to carry.

With a real cop on the scene, the D.O.T. clown come running back up, being much less polite to me. With Captain Kangaroo having a tizzy-fit behind him, the real cop, a PA. State Trooper, asked to see my permit. I slid 2 fingers into my front pocket, and pulled out my wallet. While looking at my permit, the Trooper asked me what exact firearm I had on me, and if it was the only one. He told me to stay in front of his cruiser, and told Captain Kangaroo to come with him. He got on his radio, and verified my permit was legal. Then the Trooper and Captain Kangaroo seemed to be discussing my right to be armed, in great detail. I didn't hear every word of the exchange, but I did hear the Trooper say "....but there is no law forbidding that, regardless how you feel.....". It was so nice watching the cop school the boyscout on my rights to carry a firearm.

The Trooper returned, and gave me back my permit. He then told me that my permit was no good in Ohio, and I was going that way. I told him I was very well educated on the gun laws in Ohio, and I would be in full compliance before crossing the state line.

I have a carry permit for Pennsylvania. Before I go into any other state, I make sure the gun and ammo are secured according to that state's laws, before entering. Some states require the gun to be unloaded, with the gun and ammo to be in separate containers. Some states require both containers to be locked, with key locks. Some states require that the locked containers must be in different areas of the vehicle, like one in the drivers area, and the other in the trunk. In my case, the tool box under the bunk fulfills that requirement.

Laws vary widely from State to State, and it is easy to have problems. There is no specific law forbidding the carrying of a firearm in a commercial, or Federally Registered vehicle. Anyone who tells you there is such a law is wrong, but will probably argue till they are blue in the face, and have some FBI agent in his family, who has told him he is right. Know your rights, and any restrictions on those rights, before you get into trouble.

Also, it is good to be an NRA member. If you are ever arrested by someone who does not know the laws they enforce, it's good to have legal help from The NRA.

 

Not all states recognize carry permits from other states. For instance, New York doesn't recognize a prmit from any other state. If you are found to have a gun in the state you could be arrested and charged with a felony. It seems that each state has different laws when it comes to carrying or transporting firearms. If you plan on keeping a gun in your truck you should familiarize yourself with the laws of states in which you plan on running. And keep your mouth shut about having a weapon in your truck or on your person. People can go nuts when you mention having a gun. It isn't like it used to be in this country.

 

funny thing is my wife is legal to carry in all 50 states as an off duty leo ....but the company i am leased to swears it is still not legal in a cmv ....prob more afraid of the liability than the legality i would imagine

 

Ask them to provide the regulation then.