Reader Question- Armed Roadtrip

Ryan here:  First and foremost I am not a lawyer and do not constitute anything I say as legal advice. Consult your trusted legal advisor, yadda, yadda, yadda.

Yes one should be aware of state laws concerning traveling with firearms. For my trip from LA to the PNW, which will likely move in a generally north and west fashion there are pretty much just pro gun states in the middle.

States to avoid? California, Mass, NY, NJ, MD and Conn.

Colorado’s AWB is to put it mildly problematic. To my knowledge magazines posessed before  July 1, 2013 date are fine but ones acquired after July 1, 2013 are verboden. Picking up the nearest standard evil high capacity magazine to me, which happens to be a 30 round ‘European’ surplus AK-47 magazine probably older than I am it does not have a date stamped on it. It also does not have a serial number or something. These mags are readily available for sale (though not in new unissued condition for $6.99 like they used) in most of the US. Of course new models of magazines (say Magpul makes a new generation of AR mags, etc) would be readily identifiable but how can we prove (or disprove) whether the specific AK mag on my side table was owned by me on 1 July 2013? Being a guy with a pretty decent memory I know I haven’t bought those specific mags in years but I couldn’t prove that beyond a reasonable doubt. How that will play out in the courts is an open question as far as I know. The hard on the ground truth is if you are sober, law abiding and probably white the 17 round mag in your Glock or the 30 round mag in your AK/AR is probably not going to get a second look from a cop. On the other hand if you are not sober, law abiding and white or the cop is having a bad day or is a jack boot thug you might get arrested, jailed, etc.

Most good states have a state level preemption on adding silly gun laws. This is why hippy dippy zones in states like AZ, WA, and OR can’t decide to do  something ridiculous that the rest of the state doesn’t want. It gets more complicated in states that do not have that preemption. That is why a gun which is legal on Daddy’s farm in Ill might not be legal in the Chicago area (where you really need it!).

I have done road trips where it would have been convenient to go through California. Instead I chose to go further east and avoid California. I did that primarily due to the gun issue. Somehow I always seem to have one of those evil semi automatic ‘assault rifles’ and a few 30 round magazines with me!

I would say if you have a gun (or magazines) that should not be in a specific place and can reasonably avoid that place it would be prudent to do so. Another hour or two on a multi day road trip to avoid a potential hassle is a good move to make. To add to that I believe in speaking with my wallet. Areas that are really anti gun usually do other things I do not agree with. I would rather spend money in areas that are more in line with my beliefs.

If I was going to a place with problematic gun laws I would comply with them. Revolvers and pump shotguns are legal pretty much everywhere and work just fine for self defense. Also I tend not to regularly go to anti gun places so it isn’t a huge issue.

Situations where you can not conveniently bypass anti gun areas located between A and B are problematic. Say for some reason you have a need (moving, etc) to have a verboden weapon with you? This is a very personal decision. Realistically you could probably just have that gun wherever you would normally keep it, roll the dice, drive through and nothing would happen. Say you are understandably hesitant to take that risk but are stuck and want to be safer. A weapon in a locked innocuous (think tuff box not gun case) not stored in the passenger compartment would be pretty safe. Unless they get a search warrant or your vehicle is impounded (and they have to do an ‘inventory’) not much could be done. Presuming you do not do stupid things in stupid places with stupid people the odds of that are low.  Place that locked container with a whole bunch of other stuff, ideally with that secured (think cargo trailer or moving van full of stuff) and the odds drop even more. If the cops have gone to the effort to dig through your Uhaul full of stuff, found and opened the one locked box in the middle that has a folding stock AK with a few mags you are probably screwed anyway. Like any other big boy rules type thing you make your choices and accept the consequences.

Anyway I hope that gives you some things to think about.