What federal laws are on the book requarding transporting firearms across state lines?

I use the don't ask don't tell policy when on vacation but whats the law say?

How about flying, can you transport them as long as you pack them in the belly of the plane?

With all the 9/11 stuff, I want to get my ducks in a row.

Thanks

Good questions.

1) Apart from the right to carry either openly by state law, or concealed through a reciprocity agreement, Federal law permits you to carry weapons that are unloaded and encased.  This is the Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986.  They need to be in the trunk, or otherwise encased and out of immediate access.  If I'm not mistaken the ammo and weapon have to be separated too, but I'm not 100% on that last point.  It's possible, of course, that a local cop won't know about or won't respect the law, but this law is supposed to be there to protect you.  Like everything in life, if the cops don't know or don't care about the law, you're pretty much screwed.

2) As for planes, nothing's seemed to chanage.  As long as you declare your weapon, and it's unloaded you can check in.  The FAA I think specifies that the container is hard and lockable.  I also think Ammo needs to be stored separately and must be limited to a certain small weight (i.e., no 500 round cases).  I've travelled with weapons since 9-11 and haven't had problems.  Just go to the desk or the curbside guy and say I've got luggage to check, including a firearm.  They'll know what to do.

Your best bet to begin looking for information about driving is probably at:

www.packing.org

They list information about concealed carry permits and reciprocity for each state.  You don't mention whether you have a CCW.

Most airlines allow the transportation of long arms in a locked container, bolt out, no ammo.  Check the website of the airline you're travelling for more info.

As far as Federal Law:



As far as state law goes, check with the NRA at [url]http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws.asp?FormMode=state[/url]

The way things are now, I wouldn't even try to carry a firearm on an airline (picture a "car search" for some reason at the airport and they find firearms, even though locked up in a case, and your looking at a BIG hassel)
If your not a member, join the NRA, they have some great info on all state laws and procedures for transportation of firearms.  For myself, I travel frequently across state lines with firearms (to shoot).  I keep rifles stored seperatly from ammunition (ammo should be locked up), and I keep my handguns locked up seperatly as well in a locked case (I use military ammo cans with 1/8 steel welds on the side, and have it drilled so I can slip a lock on it and you can't open it).  Keep in mind it can get tricky when you have a truck or suv (technicaly I believe the firearms have to be stored in an "locked" area such as a trunk)  Also keep in mind it also depends what state your driving through.  Stay out of Mass, N.Y, N.J, and Md on the east coast.  Had a friend whos cousin was stopped by D.C police as he was going hunting, they saw some rifles in back of his truck, and like 5 HOURS later he was finaly let go after they checked each gun out (talke about a bad start).  I guarentee if you call the local law enforcement for any state you travel through and ask them, you'll get a different answer each time you talk to sombody.

Most airlines do not require the gun to be disassembled. Simply unloaded. Ammunition cannot be in the same container as the Firearm. It is my understanding that Handguns are also OK.

I have flown probably a dozen times since 9/11 with firearms and it isn't usually a problem. Those were AR-15, Shotgun, etc...The AR-15 was the only one that I had a problem with. It kinda freaked out the check-in woman who trhought it was a Machine Gun.

I'm not sure about he case history of FOPA besides one case where the defendant was obviously well-connected. he argued FOPA protection even though it obviously didn't apply in his case and the judge threw out the conviction.

[url]http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs.cmu.edu/user/wbardwel/public/nfalist/bieder_v_us.txt[/url]