multi-state transport of pistol by non-owner

[TJ42]

Can anyone provide information and/or opinions to help me determine whether it is legal for a person to transport a revolver for another person, unloaded, locked in a box, separated from ammunition, across multiple states in the back of a car? The car starts in Vermont, goes throught New York (does not enter NYC at any time) and ends in Pennsylvania. The driver takes no side trips along the way, and drives straight through (maybe a lunch and/or gas stop). The person driving is eligible to own firearms but does not own the firearm in question and cannot access the gun easily because it is locked inside a box (and no key in driver's possession). The legal owner of the revolver will lock the gun in the box in VT and will meet up with the driver to receive the firearm in PA. They are traveling separately to the same destination in PA and the owner cannot take the gun with him on his journey. The owner does not want to UPS or Fedex the gun to his destination in PA if at all possible (hotel). The gun is legally owned. Thanks in advance!

 

[NavyLCDR]

As long as the ammunition is also separated from the occupants of the vehicle, you are good to go, according to 18 USC 926a. The ammo can be in the same locked container as the gun. The Federal statute mentions nothing about being the actual owner of the firearm.

18 USC 926a:

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/718/usc_sec_18_00000926---A000-.html

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.