getting ready for my first long RV road trip. Have a small revolver that I usually take with my when I travel (I have a CCW permit) - but there’s so many rules state to state and campground to campground . I don’t know if I want to deal with everything while on the road. What do you all do?
I always carry at least 1of my firearms. The only time you might have trouble is going in and out of Canada. 99.999%of the time you will never need to pull your weapon.
Buy one of the apps for your phone. I have “Legal Heat” and “CCW”. There are things I like and dislike about both. Read the reviews and pick one 
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Be very aware of the differing laws. California is very particular about how you can legally bring in a firearm.
Agree, the phone apps are worthwhile, especially when you are going through multiple states.
Just remember, New York, New Jersey, and California all have issues with even the transporting of a firearm, no matter what federal law says. You might as well have a million dollar slush fund for legal defense, because you’re going to need it if they stop you and find a firearm (even with a CCW from another state).
When we moved from Oregon (had CCW, no reciprocity) to Arizona (reciprocal with most states), we actually avoided driving in California at all. We took the “back way” via Eastern Oregon through Winnemucca, Nevada and through Nevada to Arizona because we were transporting our firearms. Last year, when we went to Oregon in our RV, we actually left our 17 round magazines in AZ because we were going through and staying in Colorado for 10 nights. While that’s probably “overly” cautious, we were going to be in the Denver area, where they had outlawed anything over a certain amount of rounds.
If you are worried about campgrounds, when you are researching places to stay, look at the rules and guidelines. A lot of RV parks will post their rules on their website, and if their rules bug you, don’t stay there. Much easier to find out when researching than when showing up with no other option.
This is something I researched heavily while I was truck driving.
- First is to know which states recognize your CCW or have constitutional carry. You’re go to go in those places.
- Second is to know your route and what the rules are in the states you’re going through and what the least restrictive method of compliance is.
For example: In California, you cannot transport a loaded firearm in a vehicle without a valid California CCW. BUT… Once you have finished traveling for the day and are parked, your rig ceases to be a vehicle and becomes your domicile, you have the same rights in regards to firearms as you would in a sticks and bricks. This is true in most states.
Some states allow open carry without a permit.
It’s true that some places like NY, NJ, and MD can be incredibly restrictive, to the point that if you are traveling through with firearms, only fuel stops are permitted. It is my opinion that a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach is best for these areas, as they are often the places where the need for self defense is most likely.
If you’re doing right, the only way you’ll be found with something you “shouldn’t” have, is if you have to use it. In which case, the potential legal ramifications are likely less catastrophic than the alternative.
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I hadnt found a good App for this…I’ll look into these
Colorado resident here - the mags over 15 rounds may not be sold but can be owned. You’re not required to provide proof of purchase before the ban date so the ban is mostly toothless.
I belong to US Lawshield. All I have to do is call and they put me in touch with an attorney who i ask about the different laws in the states I am going to.
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My opinion likely won’t be popular, but I just take my weapon anyhow. If it’s a state the doesn’t have concealed carry reciprocity to my own state, I just tuck it away somewhere in the car or camper. Law enforcement isn’t going to toss my whole camper because I have a taillight out. I won’t transport it out of the country as Border Patrol has some really nifty technology to detect such things.