If I get pulled over in another state, do I still give cop my DL and CHL?

[Hooligan]

New Jersey is reported to be very strict in interpreting the Federal Firearms Transportation Statute. If stopped, they view that Statute as an "affirmative defense". You could be subject to arrest for possession of a firearm and have a judge decide at trial if you met the requirements of the Federal statute.

I recommend that you inform a LEO on initial contact that "I have a concealed carry license and I am carrying"". (avoid "GUN")

Not the time to get cute. The officers are not always working in a safe environment, no need to make his job more difficult.

[phil57]

Originally Posted by scottandanna

BTW--Thanks for all the feedback!

Apparently, I am not the only person wondering about the legality of carrying guns across borders.

Sadly, I am a multi-gun owner, and I am going full-time, so the guns have to go with me. And I have to figure out how to travel without getting into trouble.

Scott we full time as well and I own several hand guns and rifles. I am a Michigan resident and am required to notify at first contact that I am a CPL holder and if I am armed at that time. I there for do the same where ever I am. I haven't had any issues so far. When traveling in less friendly states like NY I have cased everything and locked all ammunition in the safe. THAT WILL NOT keep me from going to jail if they search my Moho. I knew that before I went and took a chance. Smart or not I had no place to leave my collection.
I also use and have high confidence I the app Legal Heat. It's free and updates automatically.

[Motor7]

Originally Posted by PJStough

There is that pesky 10th Amendment.

Very true, but all 50 recognize each others drivers license....ccw license should get the same treatment. It's sad that some states seem to use 10A against 2A....which makes no sense to me at all.

[dix39]

Originally Posted by scottandanna

Our trip is primarily to relocate to OR, so we will be getting to OR, then driving in huge circles throughout the state, trying to cover all the climates, towns, and regions. So Oregon is where we are most concerned about. Not so much the other states.

I'm thinking if you just do what is reasonable you will be OK in OR. We're WV transplants and have lived here since '74. During the few times I've been stopped I wasn't asked about firearms and I didn't volunteer the information. I was polite and if asked I would have told them whatever they wanted to know. I don't have a CC but my older son does. I usually carry at least one firearm while going to and coming from hunting areas and when traveling very far from home. I was surprised a few days ago when I saw a young fellow walking through a fairly large retail store with a firearm strapped to his waist. Some of the more "liberal" cities may have a different view, but I don't think you will find OR in general to be much different than TX.

I sure hated those chiggers down there.

I'm thinking you'll like OR. You will find a lot of variety here. Pretty much something for everyone, but as someone mentioned it's changing, and from my point of view not for the best. That part may may have you longing for TX again.

Steve

[Mr_D]

If I was in a state with reciprocity with my three concealed permits I would certainly let the officer know if I was carrying. Better they know than be surprised IMHO.
If in a state with no reciprocity I wouldn't be carrying so no need to mention it.

[scottandanna]

Originally Posted by dix39

I'm thinking if you just do what is reasonable you will be OK in OR. We're WV transplants and have lived here since '74. During the few times I've been stopped I wasn't asked about firearms and I didn't volunteer the information. I was polite and if asked I would have told them whatever they wanted to know. I don't have a CC but my older son does. I usually carry at least one firearm while going to and coming from hunting areas and when traveling very far from home. I was surprised a few days ago when I saw a young fellow walking through a fairly large retail store with a firearm strapped to his waist. Some of the more "liberal" cities may have a different view, but I don't think you will find OR in general to be much different than TX.

I sure hated those chiggers down there.

I'm thinking you'll like OR. You will find a lot of variety here. Pretty much something for everyone, but as someone mentioned it's changing, and from my point of view not for the best. That part may may have you longing for TX again.

Steve

I am leaving Texas primarily because of the weather. My family owns about 700 acres out here, and we are currently living in a free home owned by the family. We are both making good money.

But I cannot stand sitting in the house for 5 or 6 months out of the year. It is too humid to do anything here without changing clothes every hour after sweating through them.

I will not come back to this side of the mountains. If OR politics or whatever goes south, and we don't like it, we will NOT return to Texas. We will head to Washington, Idaho, Canada, if they would accept us. But never coming back to this humidity.

And chiggers. And lately we are being bombarded by asian beetles, biting flies and gnats, and in a couple weeks, our cars will be covered with love bugs.

I have been here since 78, with a year break when my family moved to Kent, WA (just outside of Seattle). And I vowed to get back to the Pacific Northwest as soon as I had the chance. We NOW have that chance!

[koda59]

69Stang,
A man was reaching into his truck to get his wallet to get his drivers license and while doing this his shirt rose up and the officer saw the gun. He was put on the ground handcuffed and charged. It didn't matter that he was not doing any thing aggressive. Concealed means concealed in Florida. That is why if stopped I will keep my hands on the steering wheel and before moving them I will let the office know I have a concealed license and am armed. As one county officer said if you shoot someone be sure they are dead, This way he only has to listen to one side. If shot by an officer and you have a gun who will the court listen to?

[04fxsts]

Just did a little more research on a couple firearm unfriendly states; NJ and RI. NJ restricts the possession of hollow point ammunition to one's own property or gun clubs/firing ranges. RI considers a loaded magazine a loaded firearm even if the magazine is separate from the firearm. These two states and some of the others in that part of the US are why I will not travel to that part of the US. Jim.

[Ray,IN]

This is the most up-to-date and comprehensive website I've ever found: Gun Laws By State
and even it recommends contacting each state for the latest information.

[Engineer Guy]

.
I've simply asked various LEOs in different States what they like to see. My Roadside contact is with them; not a Courtroom setting.

A California Stater 'didn't want to see a Firefight'. He went on to explain that an unloaded Weapon in a Case in the Trunk with the Ammo in a different location in the Vehicle would be OK because I could not reach both the Weapon and Ammo from the same location, and become a threat. California is not reciprocal to Colorado. So, I've adopted that 'Standard' in a non-reciprocal State. Some States require that a Gun Case is used, and that it be locked during Transport.

According to 2 Colorado LEOs, the Databases in all 50 States are now linked. So, my CCW Status can be seen on their Vehicle Computers; regardless of State.

My CCW Status is not known when they pull me over [so I was told]. On their return trip to their Vehicle, running my DL THEN tells them of my CCW status. One School-of-Thought is that to hand over my CCW Permit with my DL; Registration; and Proof-of-Insurance preemptively positions me as being one of 'The Good Guys' who bothered to get a CCW Permit.

One reason I got my CCW Permit some Years ago was because covering a Weapon with a Jacket on the Seat; putting it in the Glove Box or Console; or even having it in a Case are considered 'Concealed'. To avoid all that, and to not have to think about it, I got my CCW.

I use Speed Loaders, and keep them in very different parts of the Vehicle from my Weapon in non-reciprocal States. This 'inconvenience' beats Roadside Drama.
.

[PJStough]

Originally Posted by Motor7

Very true, but all 50 recognize each others drivers license....ccw license should get the same treatment. It's sad that some states seem to use 10A against 2A....which makes no sense to me at all.

I believe that the reason for accepting driver's licenses from other states falls under the "commerce clause" in the Constitution, evidently that does not apply to guns being transported inter state.

[69Stang]

Originally Posted by koda59

69Stang,
A man was reaching into his truck to get his wallet to get his drivers license and while doing this his shirt rose up and the officer saw the gun. He was put on the ground handcuffed and charged. It didn't matter that he was not doing any thing aggressive. Concealed means concealed in Florida. That is why if stopped I will keep my hands on the steering wheel and before moving them I will let the office know I have a concealed license and am armed. As one county officer said if you shoot someone be sure they are dead, This way he only has to listen to one side. If shot by an officer and you have a gun who will the court listen to?

I've heard about that and it's ridiculous that the cop still has his job. So in that case it wouldn't matter if you informed him or not, he still would have arrested you for open carry. Is it ok for a cop to write you a ticket for crossing the white line after he pulls you over, when the reason you crossed the white line was because he pulled you over?


You can do what you want. I won't notify the cop of my weapon just like I won't tell him I had pizza for supper last night, both of which are legal.


Most questions they ask are fishing and I will not play that game.

If you run into a bad cop, it doesn't matter what you do, he can make it a long night for you.

[stepside454]

Originally Posted by Engineer Guy

.
I've simply asked various LEOs in different States what they like to see. My Roadside contact is with them; not a Courtroom setting.

A California Stater 'didn't want to see a Firefight'. He went on to explain that an unloaded Weapon in a Case in the Trunk with the Ammo in a different location in the Vehicle would be OK because I could not reach both the Weapon and Ammo from the same location, and become a threat. California is not reciprocal to Colorado. So, I've adopted that 'Standard' in a non-reciprocal State. Some States require that a Gun Case is used, and that it be locked during Transport.

According to 2 Colorado LEOs, the Databases in all 50 States are now linked. So, my CCW Status can be seen on their Vehicle Computers; regardless of State.

My CCW Status is not known when they pull me over [so I was told]. On their return trip to their Vehicle, running my DL THEN tells them of my CCW status. One School-of-Thought is that to hand over my CCW Permit with my DL; Registration; and Proof-of-Insurance preemptively positions me as being one of 'The Good Guys' who bothered to get a CCW Permit.

One reason I got my CCW Permit some Years ago was because covering a Weapon with a Jacket on the Seat; putting it in the Glove Box or Console; or even having it in a Case are considered 'Concealed'. To avoid all that, and to not have to think about it, I got my CCW.

I use Speed Loaders, and keep them in very different parts of the Vehicle from my Weapon in non-reciprocal States. This 'inconvenience' beats Roadside Drama.
.

Often times the LEOs don't know the ever changing laws .

[rkresge]

IIRC I've seen video of the guy in Florida, and he made a HUGE mistake by getting out of his pickup in the first place. I'm pretty sure he was not asked or ordered to get out. Asking for trouble. Obviously one key point is to avoid asking for trouble, which several people here have made abundantly clear.

Roger