Driving cross country with air guns
- Thread starter MrP
- Start date
Air rifle / pistols are not classified as firearms, that’s why moderators are ok on air guns. Even in the Peoples Republic of California
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so if YOU do not tell any one who will know you have them packed deep in your trailer ? have best quality locks and trailer hitch pin lock 
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From the standpoint of federal law, air guns are not firearms. State laws can be different. Might be good to use standard firearm practice. Gun goes in trunk or locked container. Ammo stored separately. Guns unloaded, of course. I would assume this means projectiles, not air.
I would be more worried about blue states than red ones. Illinois in addition to the northeast. I do not know NY laws/regulations but as a general observation, the entire state west of NYC is much different than NYC. But the laws are the same for the state. Illinois is similar with Chicago. It's a shame one city can change the complexion of an entire state.
I would be more worried about blue states than red ones. Illinois in addition to the northeast. I do not know NY laws/regulations but as a general observation, the entire state west of NYC is much different than NYC. But the laws are the same for the state. Illinois is similar with Chicago. It's a shame one city can change the complexion of an entire state.
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NJ isn't California and believe it or not CA isn't the only state with strict gun laws. Illinois is another example of states that treat them as firearms. Anything larger than .177 with a muzzle velocity greater than 700fps is concidered a firearm and requires a special license. If an airgun is concidered a firearm by the state then a moderator would also be concidered an NFA item by the state. Whether or not Illinois enforces that on airguns I have no clue though. NJ does.
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Look into the southwest portion of NH as well. It's a reasonably short trip across the southern part of VT to get to NY to get to your dad's place and NH has much lower taxes than MA, VT, or NY (except for property taxes... depends on the valuation/size of your property...). NH is also constitutional carry if that interests you. Zero issues with airguns or those cylinder thingy's that go on the end of your air guns..
I live in MA and the gun laws here are bad, not NY or CA level of horrible, but up there. No air gun issues at all in MA, not considered firearms, moderators for air guns "appear" to be fine here (they are sold in local airgun/paintball stores). Hope your dad does well and your move goes smoothly. Regards
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I’m not sure if you need to take anything other than your animals out of the car. I’ve done a lot of traveling to a lot places with a lot of equipment (guns, tanks, compressor). Always covered them up with a moving blanket and parked in a well-lit part of the parking lot with the alarm set.
I would think it would be more of a problem, as well as added expense, for checking the animals. Just got back from a trip and the hotel we were staying in charges a $50 non refundable pet fee, which would have been half as expensive as the room itself.
I’d also suggest to consider a hotel where the clientele would be less “sketchy”.
But that’s just my two cents…
I would think it would be more of a problem, as well as added expense, for checking the animals. Just got back from a trip and the hotel we were staying in charges a $50 non refundable pet fee, which would have been half as expensive as the room itself.
I’d also suggest to consider a hotel where the clientele would be less “sketchy”.
But that’s just my two cents…
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Thanks for the suggestion. I have a roof pod that locks and a cargo platform hooked to my trailer hitch, and just got one of those hitch pin locks in fact.
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Yeah the pets are the fly in the ointment but I love the little critters and they are counting on me. Just a price I have to pay but I guess they are worth it.
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I agree with davecole’s idea. Back when I was scuba diving we generally utilized motels where we parked right outside the room we stayed in. We generally had approximately $10,000 of equipment we kept in the car. The only time I took gear into the room was when I was skydiving, in that case it was very easy to take my rig into the room, small package but an expensive one.
I never, and still don’t have any stickers on my car that might suggest to the wrong person/s what the car might have in it. Like,GLOCK, FX, SMITH & WESSON, a dive flag etc.
When I was canoeing and kayaking I had a very discreet alarm system I devised that if someone tampered with the boats my horn and siren would go off. Not a big fan of SUV’s as the don’t have a trunk as such. I have a Civic and fortunately FX cases fit in the trunk completely discreet and out of sight. As much as possible I like to have the car interior empty so as to discourage a break in to steal items. I avoid taking items from the car interior and transfer to trunk in the motel/hotel parking lot. Do that at a gas station or shopping center in case there’s prying eyes nearby.
Randy
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I see there are small motorcycle alarms or bicycle alarms that you can attach to something and control remotely. I might get one of these and install it on the inside of the roof pod put low value items in that and then not worry about unloading it.
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If you leave your hotel room, make sure and strap ‘Em down-
If “they’re” gonna steal precious cargo, at least make them earn it. My room would’ve been flooded if they yanked on the Gun cases, by snapping the water line to toilet.
As a bonus to them, you can leave the toilet un flushed, to make working conditions unbearable
If “they’re” gonna steal precious cargo, at least make them earn it. My room would’ve been flooded if they yanked on the Gun cases, by snapping the water line to toilet.
As a bonus to them, you can leave the toilet un flushed, to make working conditions unbearable
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I traveled shooting smallbore and carried my 1907 into hotels. I was doing a job out of town that lasted a week and I took it with me to dryfire(I have the short firing pin) own your weirdness. Flaunt it!
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This is all true, however as long as you don’t stop (other than possibly for gas) in NJ you will be fine. The NJ Attorney General has actually put out a letter to the State Troopers advising them to basically not bother people LEGALLY transporting firearms across the state, and in my experience, they don’t (anymore). New York has no such guidance. They state that you may use the Federal law as an affirmative defense, but that only happens after you have been arrested. On the other hand, air rifles are NOT Firearms in New York STATE. I would second what’s been said above regarding the 5 boroughs of New York City however. I would suggest avoiding the city at all costs for anything which even looks like a firearm.
You should have no problems whatsoever in the rest of New England with an airgun. Just don’t wave it about!
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Ok - more interesting advice here, thanks again. Those toilet-locked guns ain’t going anywhere that’s for sure.
Now the next question: how do you find a good place to hop out and shoot a few tin cans along the way while taking a lunch/stretch/bathroom break? How far do I have to drive down a forest service road to be ok to do some plinking? or maybe i should just wait until I get to NY…
Now the next question: how do you find a good place to hop out and shoot a few tin cans along the way while taking a lunch/stretch/bathroom break? How far do I have to drive down a forest service road to be ok to do some plinking? or maybe i should just wait until I get to NY…
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That’s interesting. I didn’t know that, even though I live in CT and go to and through Rhode Island frequently. Its also bizarre, given that RI has more firearm friendly laws than CT in some respects, like no “Assault Weapons” ban or magazine limitations!
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CT is another possibility - some areas are close enough to where my father and daughter will be.
Ordered a couple of those silicone impregnated gun socks someone mentioned… that was a good idea and I hadn’t heard of those. I may just put each gun in a sock and wrap them all up in a moving blanket.
Ordered a couple of those silicone impregnated gun socks someone mentioned… that was a good idea and I hadn’t heard of those. I may just put each gun in a sock and wrap them all up in a moving blanket.
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Just for general information - IF you get pulled over by the police for any reason.
Do not answer any question!!!!!! Police are not your friend, they are there to Give you a ticket, make money, or arrest you.
You are only required to provide your Drivers Lisc, Registration and Insurance. Best to leave the window rolled up with a slit to pass documents through.
If they ask you to step out of the Car you must, even the passenger. SC already ruled on it.
When you do, roll up all the windows, and lock the doors. You do not have to allow them to have access to anything inside under the 4th amendment.
If they want to know what's inside, they need to get a warrant. If they claim the "Smell" something, they can request a dog come sniff the car, but the detainment cannot last an unreasonably long time.
Best to get Front and Rear view camera's installed for your trip.
Not a Cop Hater, I just like LAWS better (Read the Constitution)!
Smitty
Do not answer any question!!!!!! Police are not your friend, they are there to Give you a ticket, make money, or arrest you.
You are only required to provide your Drivers Lisc, Registration and Insurance. Best to leave the window rolled up with a slit to pass documents through.
If they ask you to step out of the Car you must, even the passenger. SC already ruled on it.
When you do, roll up all the windows, and lock the doors. You do not have to allow them to have access to anything inside under the 4th amendment.
If they want to know what's inside, they need to get a warrant. If they claim the "Smell" something, they can request a dog come sniff the car, but the detainment cannot last an unreasonably long time.
Best to get Front and Rear view camera's installed for your trip.
Not a Cop Hater, I just like LAWS better (Read the Constitution)!
Smitty
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you could build something like this to put in your trailer and pack your stuff around it ? different size or shape 
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