What is the legality of having a pistol, rifle, or shotgun aboard your motorhome? I would think that you would have all of the legal rights you would have in your stix and bricks home.

It varies from state to state...check out www.packing.org

Brainfart!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SideRoads,

Mark, that URL would be www.packin.org
Dave P.S. just went to that site and it appears to be just an advertisement site and doesn't appear to contain anything worthwhile . Darn, I was interested in that info too.

The best source of info we have found is the:
Traveler's Guide to the Firearm Laws of the Fifty States", by J. Scott Kappas. Google "gunlawguide", it will give you the web site address.

Regards
Gemstone

Not sure what is up but packing.org has been having problems for a couple of months. Here are some other resources:

NRA Gun Laws by State
GunLaws.com Laws by State
Handgunlaws.us

Sicnarf: (I posted this same answer to the SD Domicile question you posted, too.)

In answer to your comment, carrying a weapon in anywhere your motorhome MIGHT be considered a concealed carry in some states. In other states, if it's in a glovebox or within easy reach of either the driver or passenger, it could be considered "concealed" carry and you could very easily run afoul of the law. In other states, you can have it laying on your dashboard and be perfectly legal.

Consider this - there are over 21,000 "gun" laws on the books in the United States. And most of them are unique to their states or municipalities. So having a CCW and looking for recriproicity laws would be the smart thing to do.

And, in some states, "probable cause" is easier to get than others and then you get into the grey area of whether your MH is your "house" or just a vehicle.

I'm not a lawyer, but I would recommend looking on line for some web sites that deal with carrying weapons,for example www.gunlaws.com. One book I would recommend is printed by Privateer Publications entitled "The Concealed Carry Handgun Manual." There is also a small booklet that you can purchase that details the gun laws of all 50 states.

You would need special permission to carry a weapon in your MH while traveling in Canada (and "personal protection" isn't considered a legal or lawful reason) and don't even THINK about carrying a weapon into Mexico. Or even loose ammunition. You will spend many days in the "Casa of many doors" and Mexican prison isn't my personal idea of a nice, relaxing vacation.

Bottom line: Do the homework. It could save you a lot of trouble.

quote:

Originally posted by Exnavydiver:
Mark, that URL would be www.packin.org
Dave P.S. just went to that site and it appears to be just an advertisement site and doesn't appear to contain anything worthwhile . Darn, I was interested in that info too.

No, its packing.org
Seems to be having some kind of problem though...

I have had protection on board for many years , never advertising the fact and keeping as low a profile as possible .
I keep a semi-auto pistol with the slide removed , and magazine loaded , in a leather zipper pouch . I can assemble and load quicker than an aggressor could gain entry or do harm , and the firearm in a disassembled and unloaded condition prevents any LEO or Judge from second guessing my intent . I also keep an unloaded 12 gauge shotgun on board . My biggest advantage is out thinking the criminal - if the situation does not look or feel right , I move on .
If you travel to Canada , make arrangements with a US gun dealer to store your weapons , ammunition , and any cleaning or accessories associated with firearms . I have considered purchasing a large can of commercial grade pepper spray or mace type substance , but I need to do more research on the subject .

hi, wife and i snowbird. we spend about 5 months in the lower 48 and the rest of the time at home in north pole alaska. i usually take a rifle and a shotgun south you can get a premit to go through canada for long guns but no handguns. when you pull up to the boarder tell customs what you have and they have the premits for you to fill out and pay the money for permit. i think it is 25 dollers canadian. last year coming north they told me i could get the premit on line. be aware if you have had a dui they will take a very dim view and can refuse entry to canada. hope this helps.

Mcgillagorilla:

Thanks for the info and correction. I really appreciate the correct information. I thought you could bring long guns through Canada, but I wasn't sure. So, if you own pistols, what do you do with them when crossing? You can't ship them to yourself in Alaska - can you?

Thanks.

To those with ideas and questions about entering Canada with pepper spray, mace, and firearms - thisU.S. State Department website has current information. The Travel Canada website addressing these issues is down.UPDATE: Thanks to Derek, here is another Canadian website: http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca/factsheets/visitin_e.asp.

JimandCarolyn; Some RV park owners provide a safe for weapons storage for guests enroute to Canada. The KOA at ST. Mary's, MT is one.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ray,IN,

www.packing.org has been extinct for the past few months. No one seems to know if it will ever be revived. It was pretty pathetic the last year or so and not at all up to date due to other interests of the owner.

Ron

I do not own weapons but in "HIGHWAYS" magazine there was an ad for "Travlers Guide to Firearm Laws of the Fifty States" for $12.95. The ad states that there is 36 changes in 2007. Their website is: www.gunlawguide.com Again I don't know anything about the magazine but you can check it out, seems cheap enough.

Thanks to all that posted links . Mace and other sprays are not legal in Canada , so I will need to re-think this .