Traveling from TX to Maryland

[TexAg]

We are driving from Texas to Maryland this summer for a wedding there and will be staying with a relative in a private residence. I have a TX CHL and see that Arkansas, Tenessee, and Virginia have reciprocity, but of course MD does not. So it appears, from my understanding, that I can travel just fine with my CHL and j-frame through the previous states, but before I get to MD I need to stop and unload, and lock the gun in a case with ammo seperate. Then I could take it into the residence and leave it there while I'm visiting. Does this sound correct?

 

[Sam1911]

Maryland law actually says this:

It is unlawful for any person without a permit to wear or carry a handgun, openly or concealed, upon or about his person, or to knowingly transport a handgun in any vehicle traveling on public roads, highways, waterways or airways or upon roads or parking lots generally used by the public. This does not apply to any person wearing, carrying or transporting a handgun within the confines of real estate owned or leased by him, or on which he resided, or within the confines of a business establishment owned or leased by him.

...

No violation is committed by any person who can demonstrate that the handgun is being carried, worn or transported:

1. Too or from a place of legal purchase or sale or repair shop.
2. Between such person's bona fide residences or between his residence and place of business if the business is operated and substantially owned by that person.
3. While engaged in or traveling to and from a "target shoot, formal or informal target practice, sport shooting event, hunting, trapping or dog obedience training class or show."
4. By a bona fide gun collector who is "moving any part or all of his gun collection from place to place for public or private exhibition," and while such handguns are actually on exhibition.

During transportation to and from the above places, the handguns must be unloaded and carried in an enclosed case or enclosed holster.

Note there is no explicit protection for you to transport that firearm to your relative's place, except such that it may be your "bona fide residence."

Now, this is pretty thin ground to charge anyone with anything on and I've never heard of such an abuse. Especially as you certainly may be attending an "informal target practice" session on your relative's property. Who's to argue?

So unload, separate from ammo, locked in a case, in the trunk, and you're fine.

 

[Rob G]

I'm orginally from PA and have made that very same drive many times. You are in fact correct in all respects as far as current law goes. I would check the reciprocity agreements again before you leave though, not that they're likely to change but it could happen.

If I read your post correctly you're talking about carrying a revolver. If you decide to change up and take any semi-auto firearms with you bear in mind that MD has a magazine limit in place. I don't know if that only applies to buying or if it's a general possession thing but it's there all the same.

 

[mgkdrgn]

And DO NOT drive through Washington DC!

 

[Bubbles]

If I read your post correctly you're talking about carrying a revolver. If you decide to change up and take any semi-auto firearms with you bear in mind that MD has a magazine limit in place. I don't know if that only applies to buying or if it's a general possession thing but it's there all the same.

IIRC from MD's laws, "loaded mag" = "loaded gun" even if the mag isn't in the gun. So if you have a semi-auto, unload your mags as well before crossing the border.

 

[Sam1911]

If you decide to change up and take any semi-auto firearms with you bear in mind that MD has a magazine limit in place. I don't know if that only applies to buying or if it's a general possession thing but it's there all the same.

Maryland's magazine limit prohibits the sale, loan, rental, giving, lending, etc. of magazines over 20 rounds.

It does NOT limit possession, ownership, or use. In fact, there is no law that says a Marylander cannot go to some other state and buy 21+ round mags if they want.

 

[Rob G]

If you decide to change up and take any semi-auto firearms with you bear in mind that MD has a magazine limit in place. I don't know if that only applies to buying or if it's a general possession thing but it's there all the same.

Maryland's magazine limit prohibits the sale, loan, rental, giving, lending, etc. of magazines over 20 rounds.

It does NOT limit possession, ownership, or use. In fact, there is no law that says a Marylander cannot go to some other state and buy 21+ round mags if they want.

Thanks for the clarification on that Sam. Maryland was always a place I was just passing through on my way home so I never really looked all that closely at the law in question. It's interesting to hear the limit is 20. I always thought it was 10. But then I might have been thinking of the Federal AWB.

 

[Sam1911]

Yeah, that's another of MD's strangely ineffectual sort-of gun bans/restrictions. Strange but true.

 

[TexAg]

Thanks fellas! I think I will bring it. I'm thinking the S&W 637 since my wife can shoot it too and I can still slip it in a pocket or IWB (NOT in MD!).

 

[swinokur]

IIRC from MD's laws, "loaded mag" = "loaded gun" even if the mag isn't in the gun. So if you have a semi-auto, unload your mags as well before crossing the border.

Not correct. Loaded mags are legal if not in the firearm.


see this thread

[http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=6845783&postcount=25