It goes without saying that there is an inherent responsibility in regards to carrying a firearm in your RV. A recent survey done by RVtravel.com showed that about 40% of RVers carry a firearm with them some or all of the time. If this is you, then you’ll certainly want to continue reading. Obviously, it goes without saying, that any firearm should be stowed in a safe and concealed location when the law allows you to have it in your rig. Further, if there are children in you RV, additional safety precautions should always be in place such as keeping it unloaded, engaging the use of trigger locks and even stowing it in a small, portable gun safe. No child should have access to any weapon at anytime, especially one carried in your RV.
Now, that being said, this post actually isn’t meant to be a “finger wagging” lesson on gun safety, but rather a resource to help you understand your rights when transporting your legally owned firearm across state lines. The first thing that you MUST understand is that each state has their own rules and regulations in regards to having a firearm in your vehicle. That means that, even though it may be perfectly legal to have a handgun stored in an accessible, but concealed location in your RV as you drive through a state like Texas, that same law does not transfer to a state like California where it is ILLEGAL to have a handgun that is “in a vehicle under the person’s control or direction.”
If you are one of the 40%ers who do carry in your RV, not knowing your rights or lack there of, can and will land you in hot water. I’m sure part of your RV vacation plans didn’t include spending an evening in a jail cell. That’s how serious knowing the specific gun laws are as they pertain to you as you travel between states. Further, if you do happen to be in violation of a law and get caught claiming ignorance of law is not a viable defense.
Understanding that many RVers are hunters, sports shooters or have a gun for self-protection, my suggestion to you, before you go on any trip is to learn the gun laws of each state as it pertains to you. One of the best and easiest resources in gunlawsbystate.com. It is an easy site to navigate through and will give you the detailed information you will need to know in regards to guns, travel and the law. There are also numerous books on the subject that are on the market, so you really don’t have an excuse for not abiding by neighboring state laws.
Above all, Fun Town RV wants everyone to have a safe and enjoyable time RVing. Understanding and respecting the laws of the states you will be traveling through and to is of paramount importance. Please don’t neglect your responsibilities as an RVer regarding this topic.
If you have anything to add to this topic, please do. We’d like to hear about everyone’s experiences, and views on this subject. Is there anything that you can add to this topic? Let us know by sharing on Facebook.
