Question about Transprting handgun To/From the Range

[Jim12]

This is the kind of intentional legal ambiguity that discourages and deters the exercise of 2-A rights, without any justifiable reason, and that the MD legislature loves to create. No sweat off their back. Ambiguous criminal laws should be unenforceable on due process as well as substantive 2A grounds and need to be challenged in court.

Should every Tom, Dick, and Mary be required to consult a constitutional law specialist every time s/he wants to go to a gun range? Ridiculous. We are the tolerant ones. Perhaps too tolerant, and it's strangling us.

 

[sgt23preston]

I can tell you this much...

I went to work many days & took my guns to go to the gun range after work...

Magazines were empty...

Guns & ammo were in the same range bag...

The guns were locked in my trunk...

I parked my car on the company parking lot (a no guns allowed company)...

AND MOST IMPORTANT: I never told anybody that I had my guns in the car or that I was going shooting...

 

[iH8DemLibz]

RE: #21

Maryland gun laws are like drunken parents.

You never know when you're going to take a beating.

Or why.

So you tiptoe around. Waiting for something and praying for nothing to happen.

 

[siggirl1911]

I personally make it a point to go to the range and right back. Stopping for gas is one thing but I'd be more afraid of someone breaking into my car. When I leave tthe range I make it a point to go right home normally taking a different routejust to be sure I'm not being followed but maybe I'm overly cautious.

 

[swinokur]

sometimes the ambiguity can help you. If it doesn't say directly, maybe a stop isn't going to get you arrested.

Having your guns locked up out of sight also can be prudent.

I agree the lack of clarity is intentional.

 

[Mark75H]

But COMAR is not ambiguous "on the way to or returning from" There is NO exception clause

 

[swinokur]

well what defines on the way to or coming back from?

if i stop for gas or food on the same roads I would travel to or from the range, am I not still o the way to or returning from...

 

[Mark75H]

well what defines on the way to or coming back from?

Do you actually have a driver's license? Do you know where you are going or not? Are you going to the bank or the grocery store? Are you sure??

COMAR does not say "and other places along the way"

 

[Uncle Duke]

I personally make it a point to go to the range and right back. Stopping for gas is one thing but I'd be more afraid of someone breaking into my car. When I leave tthe range I make it a point to go right home normally taking a different routejust to be sure I'm not being followed but maybe I'm overly cautious.

You're not overly cautious. You're smart.

 

[swinokur]

your opinion. you can still say it's on the way. The ambiguity is the issue. And a LEO doesn't charge you with a violation of COMAR. Only the statute.

I've had a DL since 1966 btw.

 

[Mark75H]

your opinion. you can still say it's on the way. The ambiguity is the issue. And a LEO doesn't charge you with a violation of COMAR. Only the statute.

I've had a DL since 1966 btw.

So, if I borrow your car to go to the mall, its alright if I stop at the liquor store and massage parlor on the way to the mall and the hospital on the way home ... 'cause I'm "just going to the mall and back"

Wish I was your kid ...

 

[swinokur]

sure, if t's on the same road to and from, no issue. but what does that have to do with this thread.? My rules on my kid's travel isn't a statute.

 

[BigSteve57]

I personally make it a point to go to the range and right back. Stopping for gas is one thing but I'd be more afraid of someone breaking into my car. When I leave tthe range I make it a point to go right home normally taking a different routejust to be sure I'm not being followed but maybe I'm overly cautious.

Same here. Regarding the statute: I am not going to be the one who gets to be the test case to decide just what to-from with a handgun in the car means.

 

[dist1646]

Read; Title 18, Section 926a of the United States Code.

 

[Biggfoot44]

As an indirect guideline for making hopefully wise decisions ? Maybe.

But Federal law (FOPA) doesn't apply for journeys that begin and end in Md.

 

[MrBoh]

You're not overly cautious. You're smart.

I agree.

Stopping to get gasoline while en-route to/from the home/gun-shop/range is one thing, but given the ambiguity within COMAR, why would someone want to take an unnecessary risk and test the limits of COMAR/Statutue, only to risk being potentially charged with a firearms violation that will necessitate the hiring of legal counsel to defend your position?

 

[swinokur]

Here is the AG opinion on travel He states that Federal FOPA 926A has no bearing on trips that start and stop in MD.

As Bigfoot points out. excerpted below:
.

 

[Pinecone]

Gas OK and 7-11 OK.

If that's OK. What else is OK?

Going gun shopping at your LGS. Stopping and getting a bite to eat at Wendy's?

Are we talking about locations? Time spent at those locations?

Yes, as the gun shop is an approved destination.

Yes, as long as it is substantially on your route. So you go from home in HarCo to Freestate to shoot. And stop on the way home to eat in Edgewood, Fine. You go to Laurel to eat, not so good.

Time - normal time would be fine. Spend 8 hours at Wendy's, not so good.

 

[swinokur]

examining legislative intent can be instructional as well. stopping for food or gas seems more reasonable than a 3 hour trip to the mall.

use common sense and good judgement is always prudent.

 

[Worst nightmare]

Really, why are there so many rules about transporting to the range?