Know Before You Go: Traveling with Firearms

Traveling with firearms is one of the areas where well-meaning owners most often run into legal trouble, because rules differ from state to state and sometimes city to city. The first rule of traveling is to research every jurisdiction you will pass through, not just your destination.

Federal law includes a provision, enacted in the Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986, that is commonly called the safe-passage provision. In general terms, it addresses transporting a firearm through a jurisdiction for a lawful purpose between places where you may lawfully possess it, with the firearm unloaded and not readily accessible. How it applies, and how states and localities treat travelers, varies, and courts have read it in different ways.

Concealed carry permits are not automatically honored in other states. Reciprocity agreements change, and some states recognize no out-of-state permits at all. Check current reciprocity information from official state sources before you leave.

Air travel has its own requirements. Airlines and federal transportation security rules set out how firearms must be declared, unloaded and packed in checked baggage. Check the current rules with your airline and official federal sources well before your flight, and know the rules at your destination airport.

Safety on the road matters too: store firearms locked, unloaded and out of sight when you leave a vehicle, and never leave them in an unlocked car. Vehicle theft is a common way firearms are stolen.

Nothing in this article is legal advice. If you are unsure, consult a licensed attorney or the official resources of each state on your route before you travel.