Going to the range in MD

DavidMS · Jun 24, 2019

In Oct, I moved to VA. Got an acquaintance who wants to go to a range in MD. My understanding is that Maryland law on transporting requires one to go directly to the range and then home. Is that still correct?

Thanks,

David

danb · Jun 24, 2019

and also don't bring those evil assaulty thingies into Maryland, or something.

As far as "directly" to the range that is not really part of the statute. It simply says to and from the range. While some people are hyper paranoid, you definitely dont want to want to run out of gas on the side of the highway, for example. Use sound judgement and obey traffic laws. I would not stop for a picnic, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

KJackson · Jun 24, 2019

I never understood some of the "rules" with that. It makes it sound like if my buddy and I want to go shooting together, we each have to take our own cars since I would not be "allowed" to stop by his house and pick him up.

traveller · Jun 24, 2019

Only applies to handguns btw.

GrimReaper · Jun 24, 2019

keep your guns, gun cases, ammo and shooting supplies out of plain view. Dont admit to having any firearms or consent to any searches if you get pulled over. Even if they are legal and are being transported legally you are most likely going to have a bad day.

John from MD · Jun 24, 2019

GrimReaper said:
keep your guns, gun cases, ammo and shooting supplies out of plain view. Dont admit to having any firearms or consent to any searches if you get pulled over. Even if they are legal and are being transported legally you are most likely going to have a bad day.

I second this. Don't leave an American Rifleman mag on the back seat, don't have any old cartridge boxes. Never consent to a search. The justice system exists for criminals and is not your friend. :mad54:

Blacksmith101 · Jun 24, 2019

I put all arms and ammo in locked containers (a pistol rug with a cheap luggage lock counts) and cover them with a tarp or blankets so nothing is visible even if you open the trunk. It is not necessary but if you ever end up in court the testimony will sound better.

rbird7282 · Jun 24, 2019

They don’t need to be locked, that is NOT part of MD law with regard to transport

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Stoveman · Jun 24, 2019

rbird7282 said:
They don’t need to be locked, that is NOT part of MD law with regard to transport

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FOPA. The OP now lives in VA.

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Biggfoot44 · Jun 24, 2019

Multiple conversations :

What actual Statute says
What LE Agencies say/ suggest in official statements
What random LEO thinks/ informally states/ makes up
What a prudent gun owner would consider a wise approach .

KJackson · Jun 24, 2019

I felt kind of weird the other week. I was headed to my parents for a few days and was going to take my laptop with me. Unfortunately, during a cleaning frenzy a while back, apparently I threw out a bunch of laptop bags so when I went to pack up, I didn't have one. I ended up carrying the computer in the bag that I bought for my AR-15 pistol. Added to that was that I was carrying an empty hard rifle case with me to pick up a rifle that I was going to be bringing back with me.

rbird7282 · Jun 24, 2019

Stoveman said:
FOPA. The OP now lives in VA.

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Does that apply when only two states are involved? You are not really traveling through states, it is simply from your home state into an adjacent state. Neither one of which requires them to be locked. Perhaps a resident lawyer can chime in.

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Stoveman · Jun 24, 2019

rbird7282 said:
Does that apply when only two states are involved? You are not really traveling through states, it is simply from your home state into an adjacent state. Neither one of which requires them to be locked. Perhaps a resident lawyer can chime in.

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IANAL but it has been my understanding that interstate travel, even if just to the adjacent state, that one would need to comply with FOPA.

John from MD · Jun 24, 2019

Notwithstanding any other provision of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or any political subdivision thereof, any person who is not otherwise prohibited by this chapter from transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle: Provided, That in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver’s compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.

traveller · Jun 24, 2019

Stoveman said:
IANAL but it has been my understanding that interstate travel, even if just to the adjacent state, that one would need to comply with FOPA.

You don't 'have' to comply to FOPA. You have to comply with the law in either state. However, if you do something that would be illegal in one of those states but is covered by FOPA, you would have a safe haven if you complied with FOPA instead. e.g. you drive from Kanbraska to Iosota and both states allow you to drive a truck with a loaded shotgun in your shotgun rack, there is NO need for you to comply with FOPA just because you are crossing a stateline.

lazarus · Jun 24, 2019

traveller said:
You don't 'have' to comply to FOPA. You have to comply with the law in either state. However, if you do something that would be illegal in one of those states but is covered by FOPA, you would have a safe haven if you complied with FOPA instead. e.g. you drive from Kanbraska to Iosota and both states allow you to drive a truck with a loaded shotgun in your shotgun rack, there is NO need for you to comply with FOPA just because you are crossing a stateline.

You’ve got the spirit. For example if I wanted to take a handgun backpacking in WV that activity would absolutely not be covered under MD law. In fact I’d be breaking it. However I can do that in WV just fine. So long as I complied with FOPA by transporting it in the trunk of my car and not loaded, FOPA would cover me while I am driving in MD and Maryland’s laws on what activities it is lawful to transport/OC a handgun for wouldn’t apply (well, WV also, but there the activity would be legal anyway).

Which is part of the stupidity of the NYC handgun law. You can transport it to a range in the city and that is IT.

No other reason.

But FOPA protects you if you take the handgun out of state. So if you have a second home in NJ, you’d be covered bringing it back and forth so long as you transported it per FOPA requirements.

Second home in NY and the storm troopers will be raiding you.

Pinecone · Jun 25, 2019

Also remember, FOPA is a defense.

It does not override state laws.

See NJ.

PowPow · Jun 25, 2019

When I go to VA from MD (and back) with scary rifles, I avoid DC. I remember a situation several years ago where a serviceman was transporting his collection home through DC and got stopped there. Law enforcement seized his firearms, including scary rifles, and he ended up needing legal assistance to gain their rightful return. I think the legal work was done pro bono, but still, I think it took him 2 years to get them all back. My memory of this is vague, so feel free to do your own research. I'm sure others here will correct my memory too. Still, I do not roll the dice with DC in the mix.

dist1646 · Jun 25, 2019

Read Title 18 sec. 926a of the United States Code.

rseymorejr · Jun 25, 2019

KJackson said:
I felt kind of weird the other week. I was headed to my parents for a few days and was going to take my laptop with me. Unfortunately, during a cleaning frenzy a while back, apparently I threw out a bunch of laptop bags so when I went to pack up, I didn't have one. I ended up carrying the computer in the bag that I bought for my AR-15 pistol. Added to that was that I was carrying an empty hard rifle case with me to pick up a rifle that I was going to be bringing back with me.

You know the BGOS is bad when you get jumpy carrying empty gun cases~
LOL

Going to the range in MD

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