I'm traveling via car from GA to MD.  It appears as if my trip will take me through, NC, VA and MD.  I want to take a pistol in the car for the journey. With my weapons license will I be legal traveling with the pistol in the car through these states?

MD will not recognize your permit, and you cannot carry in your car or on your person there.

You'll need to check state law RE mag limits, etc.  MD is a hostile state.

You are good in VA and NC.  Read up here: https://www.nraila.org/gun-laws/

https://www.usacarry.com/concealed_carry_permit_reciprocity_maps.html

Out of state resident in MD with a handgun is breaking the law. Period.

As is true with most states to the north and east of MD.

Yikes, that doesn't sound good.

Handgunlaw.us is a great site to answer this kind of question.

Maryland? Verboten.

http://handgunlaw.us

True

OP: people will probably scream “FOPA!” and argue MD can’t do that under federal law.

MD doesn’t care.  They will happily make you a test case and lock you up, even if it does violate FOPA.

You really do not want to take a handgun into MD as a non-resident, OP.

I addition to the fact that MD has in the past used FOPA to get list of CCW holders from other states and actively target those vehicles and license plates.

MD is well behind enemy lines.

And you would have to get the case into a Federal Court.

Federal Court legal representation is VERY expensive.
Way more then the value of almost any handgun.

This.  Also since MD is the destination FOPA wouldn't even apply since OP isn't legal to stay in MD with it.  If he were driving through to PA he would have a case but as was pointed out, federal cases are expensive.

MD also counts a loaded magazine as a loaded gun even if the gun and mag are locked up in separate containers.

Maryland politics has been a special kind of stupid for a very long time.

Look at Baltimore.

Even with all their restrictive gun laws is is a horribly dangerous place to walk around.

A few block form the 'tourist' areas near the inner harbor and it goes downhill very quickly.

"18 U.S. Code §?926A. Interstate transportation of firearms

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.

(Added Pub. L. 99–360, §?1(a), July 8, 1986, 100 Stat. 766.)"

If Maryland is the destination then dont take your gun since you need a MD permit and it would not be a legal destination (see bolded text above). There is also a lot of iffy rules around travelling through restricted states even under the safe passage/journey laws. If you stop to refill gas along the journey then you are protected, stopping for dinner is probably protected, overnighting at a motel along the highway gets iffy and if you stop for two days in a restricted state such as California to say go to Disneyland...you could definately find yourself in hot water.

I have a friend that drives from FL to PA all the time and he goes through DC & Baltimore. He CCWs up to NC and overnights there. He has two pistol safes in the trunk and transfers it all there in NC (Since VA laws change with the wind). One safe for the unloaded glock and unloaded 10rd mags, and the other for the ammo. He eats and gasses up in NC and then drives straight through to PA to avoid any headaches. YMMV

OP said they were traveling TO Maryland, so your entire argument is invalid.

And it's definitely, not definately.

Oh, and like others said, try traveling through MD with a handgun, drive really fast so you get stopped, advise the officer you have a handgun, and let me know how FOPA works out for you.

If MD is the final destination, and you're not just passing through, the FOPA doesn't apply.

Maryland and a number of the states north of it into New England view FOPA as a 'defense' to a charge.

That means you still take a ride on what can be a felony charge in that state.

You can take your chances on losing your 2nd Amendment rights.

They flat out thumb their noses at FOPA.

Even when it SHOULD apply.

Well according to MD State Police via handgunlaw.us, MD says you can:

http://handgunlaw.us/states/maryland.pdf

How can I legally transport firearms within / through Maryland?

Answer: They must be unloaded, in a carrying case, holster with a flap and the ammunition should be
separate. It would be best to keep the unloaded weapon in the trunk where you do not have access to it. There
are further regulations but essentially you can only transport a handgun between residence, to and from a
repair shop, a shooting sporting event, between a residence and place of business if substantially owned and
operated by the person. For more information please contact our Licensing Division.

From the Maryland State Police FAQs.
Q. Can I legally transport firearms interstate? (From the MD State Police)
A. Yes, under Title 18, Section 926A, of the United States Code, a person who is not prohibited from
possessing, 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 place where he
may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, neither
the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the
passenger compartment. In the case the vehicle does not have a compartment separate from the driver's
compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked compartment other than the glove
compartment or console.

So while OP cannot "carry" on or about his person, it seems it is legal to carry via FOPA, provided the gun is legal in MD, and he is traveling between one of the approved places.

To bad the locals do not listen to the State.