Women’s Outdoor News and Avery Skipalis wrap up our series on traveling with firearms and ammunition. Our last article covered traveling by train or bus with firearms and ammunition. This post will explore travel by privately-owned vehicle (POV) with firearms and ammunition. For example, motor vehicles such as cars, trucks, RVs and motorcycles are considered POV.
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Before we deep dive into traveling in your vehicle with firearms, let’s get to know the basics. Let’s start with the good ol’ US Code (U.S.C.). Stay with me, and try not to fall asleep while reading this. The Firearm Owners Protection Act (FOPA) (codified at 18 U.S.C. § 926A) “guarantees the right of a law-abiding citizen to lawfully transport an unloaded firearm between a location where he or she may legally carry it and a destination where he or she may also legally carry it. Regardless of state or local laws along the route of travel that would otherwise apply. Under the current law, the gun must be cased or otherwise not readily accessible.”
In addition to understanding the FOPA and the rights provided by that code, there are a few things that I want to point out:
Consider purchasing a small portable safe that can be placed in your vehicle to store your firearm. When placing a safe in your car, always attach the safe to a tether anchor using a security cable. Anchoring the firearms safe to your vehicle ensures that your firearm is secured, even if your car gets burglarized. I like using small Vaultek safes for this application. They’re compact, affordable, multifunctional and TSA approved. Taking these steps can save you from wasting valuable time, money and the headache of dealing with a stolen firearm.
In closing, when you are traveling by privately owned vehicle (whether it be a car, truck, motorcycle or RV) and want to bring firearms and ammunition, it is not impossible, unlike traveling by Greyhound. Traveling by POV with firearms requires a little planning and research. Traveling helps create memories with your loved ones that will last a lifetime. It’s even better when you can travel without sacrificing your safety. Being proactive can prevent you and your loved ones from being defenseless in a dangerous situation.
Avery Skipalis is the owner of Skip’s Tactical Solutions, an organization that focuses on empowering women, men and children to make sure that no one else becomes a victim. She gained her firearms experience from the military where she’s been a military firearms instructor for 10.5 years. She’s also a certified NRA rifle and pistol instructor and Glock Advanced Armorer since 2015. She’s attended Sig Sauer Academy, FNH, Special Operations Command Armorers courses as well as multiple Advanced Shooting Schools across the United States. She resides in Florida with her husband and 2 kids. She’s currently serving in the United States Air Force and loves sharing her passion with others. She thinks it’s important that women also feel like they’re in control of their own safety. View all posts by Avery Skipalis
