Travel advice

**deputyfestus** · 07-09-16, 10:41 AM

I'm planning an interstate trip from Texas to Indiana and I will be carrying a handgun . Can anyone tell me what's the general law or requirements to do so?

**Phyrelight** · 07-09-16, 11:36 AM

You need to plan your route and look up the laws for each state. Some states it has to be in a locked case in the trunk, some states the ammo and the gun can be in the location. There is no blanket statement of what you should do without knowing which states you are going to travel through.

**Phyrelight** · 07-09-16, 11:38 AM

Arkansas you must have a permit to carry https://www.nraila.org/gun-laws/stat...laws/arkansas/

That website should give you a good overview of the laws in each of the possible states along the way.

Illinois has stricter laws about carry in vehicle, 2 of the 3 paths google maps offers for travel from Dallas Texas to Indianapolis Indiana go through Illinois.

Non-residents
A non-resident is permitted to possess a firearm without a FOID if it is unloaded and enclosed in a case, or if the nonresident is:
• Hunting and has a non-resident hunting license, while in an area where hunting is permitted.
• On a target range recognized by the Department of State Police.
• At a gun show recognized by the Department of State Police.
• Currently licensed or registered to possess a firearm in his state of residence.
430 ILCS 65/2

**deputyfestus** · 07-09-16, 11:59 AM

I will avoid Illinois at all cost, normally I wouldn't worry with a weapon but in today's current social climate a couple of old white people from TX. and my granddaughter will be with us that's my biggest concern. I did plan on carrying it in it's case with registration in trunk but fuck the lock ,the only time I feel vulnerable is during brief stops gas and such.

**AetheLove** · 07-09-16, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by deputyfestus

I will avoid Illinois at all cost, normally I wouldn't worry with a weapon but in today's current social climate a couple of old white people from TX. and my granddaughter will be with us that's my biggest concern. I did plan on carrying it in it's case with registration in trunk but fuck the lock ,the only time I feel vulnerable is during brief stops gas and such.

From what Phyre posted, it looks like you're good in Illinois:

Originally Posted by Phyrelight

A non-resident is permitted to possess a firearm without a FOID if it is unloaded and enclosed in a case, or if the nonresident is:

• Currently licensed or registered to possess a firearm in his state of residence.

The way I read that, if you're licensed in Texas, you're good in Illinois. There may be other issues (like type of firearm), and as Phyre said you should check per-state.

I've traveled across a good portion of our fair land, and one thing I've had good luck with is access to state police depts. There are exceptions, but their web sites often have great info (even if the layout isn't pretty), and more than a few times I've found a non-emergency number, called it, and spoken directly to a state police officer.

The state cops I've talked to have mostly been helpful, clear, and very careful about making sure that you understand the law. [though there have been, like I said, exceptions]

If you don't mind, I'd like to ask - do you really feel vulnerable pulling off the interstate for gas? Or for food or a pee-break? That is just so far outside my own personal experience that it makes me wonder.

Æ

**deputyfestus** · 07-09-16, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by AetheLove

From what Phyre posted, it looks like you're good in Illinois:

The way I read that, if you're licensed in Texas, you're good in Illinois. There may be other issues (like type of firearm), and as Phyre said you should check per-state.

I've traveled across a good portion of our fair land, and one thing I've had good luck with is access to state police depts. There are exceptions, but their web sites often have great info (even if the layout isn't pretty), and more than a few times I've found a non-emergency number, called it, and spoken directly to a state police officer.

The state cops I've talked to have mostly been helpful, clear, and very careful about making sure that you understand the law. [though there have been, like I said, exceptions]

If you don't mind, I'd like to ask - do you really feel vulnerable pulling off the interstate for gas? Or for food or a pee-break? That is just so far outside my own personal experience that it makes me wonder.

Æ

In the past no . In the present social climate yes.

**millwalljames** · 07-09-16, 01:14 PM

I thought that in America you had the right to carry arms....Not being funny. I live here and own several. Not occurred to me to worry about different states.

**dex71** · 07-09-16, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by millwalljames

I thought that in America you had the right to carry arms....Not being funny. I live here and own several. Not occurred to me to worry about different states.

We have the right to keep and bear arms. Carrying them on your person and/or transporting them in your vehicle open up a whole new set of rules in each state. Some states don't require a special license or permit to carry a gun around (be it open or concealed), but many others do. Some states allow you to carry firearms loaded and openly in your vehicle, while other require you to lock them down, unloaded, in your trunk. The one thing all of the states have in common is how seriously they enforce their rules.

**deputyfestus** · 07-09-16, 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by millwalljames

I thought that in America you had the right to carry arms....Not being funny. I live here and own several. Not occurred to me to worry about different states.

Yeah I know ,back in the day we thought nothing of carrying a weapon openly in a vehicle but now there seems to be an automatic assumption of some nefarious intention.

**dex71** · 07-09-16, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by deputyfestus

Yeah I know ,back in the day we thought nothing of carrying a weapon openly in a vehicle but now there seems to be an automatic assumption of some nefarious intention.

That depends on where you are. Just the opposite is true up here in God's Country.

It used to be, here, that you would have to get special permission from your local police chief in order to get a carry license. In my town, you would need to show a solid reason to want one (in charge of bank deposites for your company, as an example). Your normal Joe Lunchpail didn't have a need, and therefor didn't have much of a chance of being permitted to carry. Until about ten years ago.

We changed our laws. Now, as long as you don't have a criminal record (felonys, violent or drug crimes), and you go through a training course (which includes an accuracy test with your weapon), you can easily get a permit here. Folks weren't able to for so long, there has been a decade-long flood of folks getting theirs. It has become common to see people with pistols, and I know even more folks who keep them legally concealed. People don't usually give two thoughts about it anymore.