Is it illegal to carry a gun in a commercial vehicle?

On the subject of Illinois, the law was changed in 2013. Non residents no longer need an FOID card and may keep a loaded handgun in their vehicle as long as they have a concealed carry license from their home state. You may NOT carry outside of your vehicle.

430 ILCS 66/40 (e) Nothing in this Act shall prohibit a non-resident from transporting a concealed firearm within his or her vehicle in Illinois, if the concealed firearm remains within his or her vehicle and the non-resident:

(1) is not prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm under federal law;

(2) is eligible to carry a firearm in public under the laws of his or her state or territory of residence, as evidenced by the possession of a concealed carry license or permit issued by his or her state of residence, if applicable; and

(3) is not in possession of a license under this Act. If the non-resident leaves his or her vehicle unattended, he or she shall store the firearm within a locked vehicle or locked container within the vehicle in accordance with subsection (b) of Section 65 of this Act. (Source: P.A. 98-63, eff. 7-9-13.)

 

That's what we're trying to get here in TX, as for now I just have an LTC.

 

Even in states that recognize your home state carry permit there are numerous places you are illegal to carry. That's why the only 2 ways to be legal everywhere is never carry or have an active or retired badge.

Yes, I'd rather lose my job than lose my life. But The option may be lose your job or have a normal day. Your next dispatch could send you somewhere that does a search. Without a gun you have a normal day. With a gun you could be unemployed on the spot. It's impossible to know if you will be robbed or will be searched. You could be robbed after you are searched or searched after you or robbed. Or work for 30 years & never have either. I've worked since 1994 & never been searched or robbed.

 

That is not a bad thought.

Would that also apply to people in general? I had a oppertunity to become a gun owner at 22 when I picked out my first gun and passed the then 7 day background check. Only to learn that Maryland does not allow you to take it anywhere, car carry verboten and you cannot have it on your person. What's left? Home defense? There is no point, already had guns growing up. I was not prepared to be a new gun owner in such a State. I knew someday I will live in a free state and all of the above questions/problems will be resolved at some point.

Sorta like the Military training a 18 year old to drive a 30 million dollar vehicle on the air, land or sea (Or some combination) and then saying at 21 too young to haul gasoline due to insurance rules in the trucking side when they get out.

 

9-11 changed that for me. Ive gone into Depots and Bases prior to 9-11 literally at a moment's notice without a care in the world. Get the load and come out of there.

9-11 came along and all of a sudden the easy going Federals and Military went off the deep end going to the other extreme with searches etc. I knew at that point there is no point in trying to be armed around Federal Buildings or Military Bases. We had a air show post 9-11 that year in Jaxville Ar and they had by then emplaced 4 to 6 seperate heavy machine gun positions covering everyone coming in to the show area on the access road. They were in a war condition as far as the Gate was concerned. It was a good show, but I have not gone to any since. I doubt they will go through all that trouble to protect a show like that after all these years at war overseas.

 

I think this falls under the topics of "don't ask, don't tell" and "out of sight, out of mind". I have been trucking 24 years. With the exception of crossing the Canada border and back, I've never been asked if I had one, at all, by someone who had the authority to prove me wrong about it. I believe the 2nd Amendment is pretty clear when it states "shall not be infringed". I see a lot of infringing going on. If I carried one, I just wouldn't mention it to anyone but proper law enforcement. And maybe not them, if I seen it as highly unlikely they'd try to search my truck to verify it. And the bottom line is "its better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6".

 

Missouri recently passed constitutional carry as well.