Shotgun in Vehicle?

[N2914J]

I don't know if this is the correct forum for this thread, so feel free to move it Shaun, or Chris. I'm wondering about the legality of carrying a shotgun at all times in my vehicle, say behind the seat, or in a rack. Can it be loaded? If not, can I have a loaded Knoxx detachable drum or something similiar that can quickly be attatched? I'm trying to find away to protect myself on trips and whatnot, but don't want to wait until I am old enough to get my carry permit. I realize that I'd have to be old enough to own a shotgun, but I want to have some sort of protection until I turn 21. Any information you guys could provide would be greatly appreciated,

Thanks,

Jeff

[BattleRifleG3]

That would depend on state laws. In PA you cannot have such an arrangement, the shotgun and ammo (ie the mag) would have to be in separate containers. At age 21 you can get a permit to carry a concealed handgun (nothing else) fully loaded.

[Pumpkinheaver]

I think itis thesame in Mo I can pack my handguns in my vehicle butnot a shotie or rifle.

[jellydonut]

Get a jury trial- that's what I plan to do if I ever need to "pack". ::lucky::

Though, I'd probably carry a long gun if I needed to pack-- cuz courts are probably more likely to frown on someone "unlawfully" carrying (protecting themself, that is) a handgun than long guns in their car, not that it's any of their business.

[Beer Forever]

Out here in the wild west you can walk into downtown with a fully loaded M16, shotgun, flame thrower, rocket launcher, etc.. and it is totaly legal. We need something to keep all the border patrol of my butt!

[mdw442]

Originally Posted by sks forever

Out here in the wild west you can walk into downtown with a fully loaded M16, shotgun, flame thrower, rocket launcher, etc.. and it is totaly legal. We need something to keep all the border patrol of my butt!

Yes, as long as it is carried out in the open. If you look at most state laws, that is actually legal in many states under the "open carry" statutes.
Vermont is the only state I am aware of that still allows the carry of concealed or open loaded weapons in a vehicle.
As far as carrying a weapon in a vehicle, remember the following:
1. It is illegal to bring any type of firearm, loaded or unloaded, on any federal property, whether you are licensed for CCW or not.
2. It is illegal to bring any type of firearm, loaded or unloaded, on any state owned property, whether you are licensed for CCW or not.
3. It is illegal to bring any type of firearm, loaded or unloaded, on any airport, bus station or marine dock facility, whether you are licensed for CCW or not.
4. In most states, it is illegal to posess a loaded firearm in a boat.
5. In addition to laws, you can get into trouble on commercial property because many corporations, factories and even retail store chains, prohibit posession of any type of firearm either on your person or in your vehicle while on their property. Companies can have you removed from their property or even arrested for trespassing since you are violating their "terms and conditions of property usage".
Note the recent termination of employees of a factory in Oklahoma for having deer rifles in their trucks because they were going hunting after work. The state supreme court ruled in the company's favor.
In many states (NY, MA, IL, etc) if you bring a firearm, loaded or unloaded, onto a commercial property with a no-firearms property (whether you are aware of the restriction or not), it is a FELONY with mandatory jail time!
:uzi:
Remember that in most states, right to carry is at best a Catch-22 situation. Unless that state also has a "Castle" doctrine, if you ever excercise your right to carry, you will be subject to arrest and prosecution even if you have a valid CCW permit. This is why the NRA has been pushing "Castle" legislation in every state. Unfortunately, though it passed the house and senate, it was veto'd here in NH by our liberal democrat governor.

[jellydonut]

That's bogus. And don't forget, flame throwers and rocket launchers, etc can get you arrested as having "dangerous ordnance". I've seen it happen more than once.. what's a castle doctrine, MDW? I don't like all these laws. I don't think those are all as hard and fast as you say though, MDW. I know that you can ship guns at airports, as long as they're in a locked case, and there are deer hunts in Ohio on public property/wildlife reserves. At least in Ohio now, since the CCW law passed recently, typically (except for certain places like schools, govt buildings, etc) corporations have to have a sign in a CONSPICUOUS location at all entrances before they can say you can't have concealed weapon on their property.

[heilung]

Out in the wild west where there is much BLM and National Forest land , they dont seem to care too much what you shoot or carry in your car as long as what you do is not close to or bothering anyone else, and not near civilization. Especially not near those with some sort of a use permit; ranchers, drillers etc. State laws seem to take precedence, and no state I know of allows loaded shotguns or rifles in cars. Anyway its dangerous. Heilung

[drinks]

I have not checked it lately, but I know there are still plenty of places in Texas where you routinely see rifles and shotguns in back window racks in pickups and side window racks in SUV's, so far as I know, perfectly legal.

[mdw442]

[quote=jellydonut]That's bogus. And don't forget, flame throwers and rocket launchers, etc can get you arrested as having "dangerous ordnance". I've seen it happen more than once.. what's a castle doctrine, MDW? QUOTE]

Castle Doctrines are NRA sponsored bills that basically say you have the right to protect yourself, your home and your property. In other words, if someone mugs you, you have the right to defend yourself. If your home is invaded, you have the right to defend your home, etc. For information on Castle Doctrine legislation, go to www.nraila.com or just nra.com

In most states, the law says that even if you have the means to defend yourself, you must use every means available to flee before using force to defend your home, your property, or even yourself. If you have forgotten even one remote possibile route of escape and you shoot the bad guy, you go to jail.

There is a famous case from NY where a woman could theoretically have climbed out a little window by her furnace to escape but didn't consider it, so she was found guilty of negligent homicide because she killed a home invader. To make it worse, the bad guy's family then sued her in civil court and she lost. This type of stuff happens all the time, especially in states like Mass, NY, MN, IL, etc. It's not always the police you have to worry about, its also the lawyers the bad guys families hire to sue you for "wrongful death" of a loved one.

If you read the laws of your state and talk to the DA office, you will most likely find that even though you may legally have a CCW permit, if you ever use your weapon, you will go to jail.

In my job, I interface with a lot of law enforcement officers, local, state and federal from coast to coast. Through the 80s and up to the mid 90s, most of them encouraged citizens getting CCW permits and openly defended the right to protect yourself. Then things started to change.

When I talk to them now, almost universally, they advocate buying a pistol or revolver or even shotgun through private, non traceable transaction to use for self defense. They call them "toss" or "drop" guns and most admit to having them. Even the cops are afraid to use a weapon for self defense while off duty.

Their suggestions vary, but most say to load your drop gun with the most potent rounds you can buy, clean everything and wipe everything down with a light oil to prevent fingerprints (including the cartridges). Then if you ever have to use it, you give it a quick wipe, drop it at the scene and run like !!!!.

To be honest, this scares the !!!! out of me. When the law enforcement people I know supported CCW rights, I felt good about our society - that things were getting better. To hear these same people now advocating toss guns makes me wonder what is really going on in our government right now.

Originally Posted by drinks

I have not checked it lately, but I know there are still plenty of places in Texas where you routinely see rifles and shotguns in back window racks in pickups and side window racks in SUV's, so far as I know, perfectly legal.

Just like with the BLM situation, if no one is there to see, it doesn't really matter, does it? If you live in a small town and have a good reputation with the local law enforcement people, I wouldn't worry about it, but if you live anywhere near suburbia or a city, you are just lucky you haven't run into trouble yet.

When I was a kid, I would ride around town with a .22 rifle slung over my shoulder. We'd blow up tin cans and soda bottles at the sand pits or hunt rabbits and squirrels. .22 ammo was cheap and we always found ways to have fun. I used to keep the .22 in my locker at school during the day. It was no big deal.

If my kids ever tried that today, they'd be surrounded by SWAT and taken to jail. They'd be expelled from school and I'd be arrested as a negligent parent.

The big difference I see is in the past, people were afraid of bad people and accepted guns as tools. Today, people are afraid of guns and do not have the mental capacity to differentiate between good people and bad people, so guns must be the problem.

I've always lived by the philosophy that blaming guns for crime is like blaming the spoon for someone being fat.

[RealEstateMan]

Lived in Texas awhile ago. You can have a loaded rifle or shotgun in a vehicle there. Go to packing.org for details.

[Zephri]

Originally Posted by mdw442

In most states, the law says that even if you have the means to defend yourself, you must use every means available to flee before using force to defend your home, your property, or even yourself. If you have forgotten even one remote possibile route of escape and you shoot the bad guy, you go to jail.

last time i read this article it was on newspaper.
apparently, in my state you don't have to try to run away before using deadly force.
personally i'd rather not try to run away and be shot or stabbed in the back, i'd rather die fighting! wouldn't everyone?
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...WS01/603220444

[pball942]

In the State of Kansas as long as it's unloaded and in an enclosed container you can transport a shotgun or hunting rifle.