How to transport a pistol to the range on motorcycle?

[fred333]

Does anyone have experience transporting a pistol to the range via motorcycle?

I'll soon be acquiring a WWII vintage 1911 and would prefer to drive to the range by bike since it's easier and cheaper (and greener). Is carrying the pistol in a backpack without ammo the way to go, legally speaking?

 

[Rack&Roll]

I've done motorcycle carry. The issue is within the wingspan of your reach, which means a backpack is better than a saddlebag. You can't reach into a backpack without taking it off first. Carrying ammo is not an issue, no regs against it.

If stopped…tell the cop upfront what you are doing and leave the backpack on until he instructs you what to do.

 

[Name Taken]

I've done motorcycle carry. The issue is within the wingspan of your reach, which means a backpack is better than a saddlebag. You can't reach into a backpack without taking it off first. Carrying ammo is not an issue, no regs against it.

If stopped…tell the cop upfront what you are doing and leave the backpack on until he instructs you what to do.

Where is wing span wrote into the law?

The firearm needs to be unloaded and the firearm needs to be in a container and a holster counts as a container.

MD law does not say anything about being out of reach of the driver/passenger, the magazines must be unloaded, or the firearm needs to be stored separately from the firearm...just unloaded and it has to meet one of the transportation exceptions which to and from the range would.

Not a lawyer...do your own research or call one for legal advice.

 

[Rack&Roll]

Where is wing span wrote into the law?

The firearm needs to be unloaded and the firearm needs to be in a container and a holster counts as a container.

MD law does not say anything about being out of reach of the driver/passenger, the magazines must be unloaded, or the firearm needs to be stored separately from the firearm...just unloaded and it has to meet one of the transportation exceptions which to and from the range would.

Not a lawyer...do your own research or call one for legal advice.

You're welcome to follow your own advice, but the mags do not have to be unloaded and they can be in the same "container" as the firearm.

The bolded part above?

The "wingspan" idea is not in the regs, but you will never go wrong observing it. Same for separating loaded mags from cased firearm--I do it but I don't HAVE to.

 

[Name Taken]

You're welcome to follow your own advice, but the mags do not have to be unloaded and they can be in the same "container" as the firearm.

The bolded part above?

The "wingspan" idea is not in the regs, but you will never go wrong observing it. Same for separating loaded mags from cased firearm--I do it but I don't HAVE to.

Yeah read the ENTIRE sentence not just the part in bold.

It says nothing about.....OR....OR....the nothing carries through the entire statement.

I have no issue with recommending SAFER alternatives but when people state things that are outside the law as the law it causes headache such as a certain MD range that makes their rules laws and tell people they are criminals for bringing in a firearm legally when in fact they aren't.

My personal advice to avoid headache is to keep the magazines unloaded, the gun in a case, and the ammo in a separate case from. But I wouldn't provide that answer to someone asking what their legal obligation was.

 

[kenpo333]

I put the handgun in a fanny pack and put the ammo in the saddlebag or backpack depending on which bike I went on. Don't have the bagger anymore though.

 

[Rack&Roll]

all right…I read it again and it says "the firearm needs to be stored separately from the firearm"

I agree that some ranges have a rule about arriving with loaded mags, but many times I have traveled to VA on my motorcycle with loaded mags. Once over the line, I holster up.

 

[Name Taken]

all right…I read it again and it says "the firearm needs to be stored separately from the firearm"

I can't help your inability to comprehend the word nothing followed by a statement followed by a comma followed by another statement followed by a comma and then the word OR followed by the last statement.

READ the entire paragraph. When I said the law does not say anything about blah blah, blah blah, OR blah blah...the does not say carries over and applies to all three statements.

 

[campns]

Yeah read the ENTIRE sentence not just the part in bold.

It says nothing about.....OR....OR....the nothing carries through the entire statement.

I have no issue with recommending SAFER alternatives but when people state things that are outside the law as the law it causes headache such as a certain MD range that makes their rules laws and tell people they are criminals for bringing in a firearm legally when in fact they aren't.

My personal advice to avoid headache is to keep the magazines unloaded, the gun in a case, and the ammo in a separate case from. But I wouldn't provide that answer to someone asking what their legal obligation was.

Wow someone really does need a snickers...

I put the handgun in a fanny pack and put the ammo in the saddlebag or backpack depending on which bike I went on. Don't have the bagger anymore though.

When I use my bike I actually have the ammo on my back in my backpack, and my pistols in my saddlebags, Same idea but atleast when/if stopped you can take your Helmet off, Dismount, take the pack off set it on the ground and say "Officer i'm on my way to the range and I have my registered pistols in the saddle bags and ammo in my backpack... no i do not have any other items on my person..." I have had that happen to me and nothing happened other than him asking to see in my pack and saddle bags then he complimented me on my bike and hardware and let me go on my way...

 

[iH8DemLibz]

Wouldn't that be considered a search of sorts?

And if a person simply had a backpack and no saddle bags, couldn't the handgun go in a soft zippered case and the ammo go in the same backpack?

I would end up putting ammo in my fork bag I guess.

 

[Alphabrew]

Guys with this problem have too many toys

 

[iH8DemLibz]

Guys with this problem have too many toys

With my luck, my 25 year old toy would break down going to or from the range. Then I'd be stuck carrying a sack-o-guns. An open backpack carry.

 

[rdc]

I usually keep the gun in a backpack and strap the ammo to my backseat (in a bag). I don't have saddlebags or I would probably put ammo in one, gun in the other.

 

[fred333]

The range I habit requires you to purchase all the ammo from there and use it at their range. So ammo's not part of the equation.

From all of the above, it sounds like common practice to carry the pistol in a backpack. Although it may not be legally required, it's probably also a good idea to remove the magazine from the frame and pack it separately within the backpack. Does that sound reasonable?

 

[Reloader]

I just put my range bag with guns and ammo in my saddle bag...do the same in my truck

 

[Straightshooter]

all right…I read it again and it says "the firearm needs to be stored separately from the firearm"

I agree that some ranges have a rule about arriving with loaded mags, but many times I have traveled to VA on my motorcycle with loaded mags. Once over the line, I holster up.

Range rules have no bearing in this discussion. What matters is the Maryland law on transporting firearms and for carrying concealed on or about your person. If you put a handgun in a backpack YOU ARE CARRYING ON OR ABOUT YOUR PERSON. Do that without a permit and you're committing a felony. Get convicted and loose all your rights to own a firearm. Put your gun I'm a holster or box and ammo in a saddlebag and you're good to go.

 

[fred333]

My understanding is that, at least re transportation of firearms, federal law trumps state law. This is to reduce the confusion that multiple state laws would cause while driving across state lines.

 

[Chasbo00]

Here is the actual MD law:

§ 4-203. Wearing, carrying, or transporting handgun

(a) Prohibited. --

(1) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a person may not:

(i) wear, carry, or transport a handgun, whether concealed or open, on or about the person;

(ii) wear, carry, or knowingly transport a handgun, whether concealed or open, in a vehicle traveling on a road or parking lot generally used by the public, highway, waterway, or airway of the State;

(b) Exceptions. -- This section does not prohibit:

(4) the wearing, carrying, or transporting by a person of a handgun used in connection with an organized military activity, a target shoot, formal or informal target practice, sport shooting event, hunting, a Department of Natural Resources-sponsored firearms and hunter safety class, trapping, or a dog obedience training class or show, while the person is engaged in, on the way to, or returning from that activity if each handgun is unloaded and carried in an enclosed case or an enclosed holster;

There are other exceptions. I've only cited above (4) the one pertaining to going to the range for some target shooting. Bolding above is my emphasis.

 

[rbird7282]

Range rules have no bearing in this discussion. What matters is the Maryland law on transporting firearms and for carrying concealed on or about your person. If you put a handgun in a backpack YOU ARE CARRYING ON OR ABOUT YOUR PERSON. Do that without a permit and you're committing a felony. Get convicted and loose all your rights to own a firearm. Put your gun I'm a holster or box and ammo in a saddlebag and you're good to go.

Really? Then why do we have people who have been pulled over, admitted they had a handgun in a backpack while riding, not been arrested and charged with a felony?
If they are transporting with firearm and ammo in separate compartments of a backpack while on a motorcycle then they are within the law as it is written.

 

[Name Taken]

Range rules have no bearing in this discussion. What matters is the Maryland law on transporting firearms and for carrying concealed on or about your person. If you put a handgun in a backpack YOU ARE CARRYING ON OR ABOUT YOUR PERSON. Do that without a permit and you're committing a felony. Get convicted and loose all your rights to own a firearm. Put your gun I'm a holster or box and ammo in a saddlebag and you're good to go.

There's a lot of fail here.

The law is a misd. and you didn't cite it correctly.