ChainReaction wrote: We have a number of customers that frequently travel to Quebec to go hunting and fishing. It is not illegal to cross the border with gun parts! So they disassemble and scatter their weapons prior to crossing and thus can't and don't get hassled.
That's a loophole that will soon be closed. Don't be surprised if the gun parts get confiscated by Canadian Customs.
You can take a long gun (no hand guns allowed) into Canada with a permit that costs $50 and allows you to take up to 6 guns at a time. The permit is good for one year and will allow you to transport your long guns for up to 60 days.
We used to do this when traveling from NY to MI in our boat on our way to FL for the winter.
I'm assuming Canada will still allow the above as it's been about 3 years since we've done this.
1990 6500 Chevy Kodiak, 8.3L Cummins 450 HP
6sp Allison 3060, 3.70 R/A Home Made Air Ride
2006 Newmar Cypress
Picture of '93 Mountain Aire Story of it's death by fire and explosion
As others have stated here, knowing when (or if you even can) use deadly force is a critical element. If you're buying a gun because "it just makes you feel safe", then you're better off not owning a gun. If you pull a gun on someone who is threatening you, you better be able to pull the trigger if you have to.
Don't be surprised when someone calls your bluff and tells you, "go ahead, shoot". Now is the time you better be sure you are justified in using deadly force or you will be the one in jail.
In New Mexico we have a thing called "transfered intent". It basically states that if you fire a weapon at a threat, be it a person or animal, and you miss and hit a innocent person, you can be tried in both criminal and civil court. This also applies to Police Officers in the lawful discharge of their duties. So when considering weather to own a gun or not, be aware of all these things.
It all boils down to one question. If you ABSOLUTELY had to shoot a person, could you? If your answer is, "I think I could", you'd be better off not owning a gun because it will probably be taken away from you and used on you. If you're not 100% positive that you could pull the trigger, don't buy a gun. Just something to think about.
CHV_FRK wrote: There is a federal law on transport where you are allowed to have it locked in a steel box with the ammo locked in a second box and out of reach. Don't think that this is the governing law though. There are some states, like IL, which have great gun laws, unfortunately they didn't adopt them where the counties and cities have to follow them. Most have adopted very strict laws so essentially it is a "no carry" state. In fact alot of IL cities have outlawed handguns entirely. But, you can own a long gun as long as it is broken completely down.
The federal law CHV_FRK is referring to is the McClure-Volkmer Act or more accurately called the Firearm Owner's Protection Act or FOPA. It basically says that if you are legal where your start location and you are legal where your journey ends then you can transport your firearm between those 2 places. There's no messing around between those 2 locations. So if you are driving you can't start out in FL with a destination in TX and stop by NY on the way. The only requirement is the firearm be unloaded, in a case, and as inaccessible as possible from the occupants of the vehicle. Nothing about a steel case, just a firearm case.
IL doesn't have CCW but it's not quite as restrictive as CHV_FRK makes it out to be. To transport a firearm thru/in IL all that is required is the firearm be unloaded and in a case. The ammo doesn't have to be in a case but it can be in the same case as the firearm and it's legal to have ammo loaded in magazines but the mags cannot be in the firearm.
CRV_FRK is correct about some municipalities in IL with home rule having more restrictive ordinances than state law. These are all in the Chicagoland area except for Carbondale which recently eliminated their statute. Any city that does implement a firearm ordinance is required by statute to report those ordinances to the IL State Police. Many of those municipalities duplicated state law into their municipal ordinances. Some did it to send a political message. Others did it because that gives them the option of how to charge a person, ie, they can charge state law with a resulting criminal conviction or if they want to cut someone a break they could be charged by municipal ordinance which is a lesser charge.
The municipalities with home rule ordinances can be found listed on the right side column: IL Municipal Ordinances
edited to correct Volkmer spelling. Volker was a guy who worked for me. Volkmer was the congressman.
* This post was
edited 06/13/08 07:22pm by Wadcutter *
Kodiak5er was nice enough to provide a copy of the McClure-Volkmer Act.
Looks like I can transport a gun from Florida -- where it's legal -- straight through to Maine, which has gun laws that are to the left of whoopee: meaning none. But it's about hauling it through New York on the way...jeesh.
There, if it sits, unloaded, on the trailer with the ammo tucked away where it is totally inaccesible, we Might, I say, might be OK -- if we don't get caught? One can only hope if we need my measly 22 it had better not be in New York state.
Now, I need to check the laws of every state between Florida and Maine we will travel through.
Frankly, not sure it's worth the aggravation of worrying about. But on the other hand...
Oh, and to answer another poster's question about being able to pull the trigger... If someone broke into our trailer in the middle of the night, through two barking dogs and a very large, very strong husband ... Oh, hell yeah.
Cheers,
* This post was
edited 06/13/08 08:23pm by magster *
Magster
2 retirees
2 dogs, 1 cat and a foul-mouthed parrot
2003 29RL Dutchmen Classic, "The Ark"
2001 Dodge 2500 diesel
First of all did you all see the ad on our thread?
Download a 'gun shot' ringtone to your cell phone.
Seems to me a lot of people have their heads in the sand.
Do you mean to tell me that none of you have read news stories of campers, hikers in 'remote' areas being mugged, raped, murdered, bodies found buried deep in the woods, etc.?
IMHO if you are boondocking, off the grid, where no one will hear your call for help = having a gun on board.
Parked in an RV resort side by side I don't think one is necesary.
rock
31 ft Four Winds
Chevy Tracker 4x4 Blue Ox We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
I used to carry an M-60 and a grenade launcher but after finding out I could get another mile or two per gallon with less weight ; I have found it easier to travel without them and stay in safer places......
Tallyo
2007 Winnebago Adventurer
W-24, 6 spd Allison
Saturn VUE w/ Brake Buddy Vantage
Drinks-6, Eats-4, Sleeps-2
Semper Fi
Back in the old days when back country camping was common, I always had a firearm with me. When you are 40 miles from the nearest town, and 60 miles (more or less) from the County Seat, in the middle of bear and moose country, you don't want to rely on the county Sheriff deputy getting to you if you have a problem, especially when there is no way in the world to call him anyway.
Yes, I have had someone pounding on the door of the rig at 4 AM. Scared the H out of me! I did the same for him when I opened the door with a .45 in my hand, my thumb on the hammer (it was a single action). There was also a time when I thought I might need it for a slightly rambunctious moose, but he decided he didn't want any part of me and left. That suited me just fine.
Now, however, many of those areas are closed except to hikers and horses, so I can't go there anymore. Do I still carry? Sorry, that is classified information, and you don't have a "need to know".
You can always put me to the test, and bang on the camper door in the middle of the night.
CM1, USN (RET)
'94 Dodge 3500 4X2 CTD, Std. cab, LB, 5 speed, 4.10 LS diff., Jacobs Rambrake, 273,000 Miles
'99 Monaco McKenzie 32' triple slide
'95 Tioga 29H Ford-based Class C
Daily driver: '06 Jeep Liberty CRD
Towed: '06 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited