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Recently, I have inherited several rifles, pistols and shotguns from my family in Florida. I plan to make the drive out east to pick them up this fall. Does anyone know the laws of interstate transportation of personal firearms? Should I consult an attorney before I make the trip? In this day and time, it might be difficult to explain to a Mississippi State Patrolman about my "cache of weapons" in route to Texas. Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks.

Most states have laws that make inheritance of firearms legal in spite of any state restrictions on transfer. I don't know about Florida, but they seem about the same as Texas on most firearms issue.

Once you have the weapons in your trunk or in cases and unloaded, you can drive back to Texas. Look here: http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/FederalGunLaws.aspx?ID=59

You're not likely to get your vehicle searched unless you have marijuana leaf bumper stickers or some such thing. Bon voyage.

- Jim

Be very careful if you pass through I-10 through Louisiana. Some LEO's in small towns around there are not up to the high standards of honesty that we would expect from ours here in Texas.


Having said that, you are completely within your rights to transport firearms legally thorough the area.

I'd recommend taking I-40 or possibly some other road if possible.

Don't speed, don't drive a vehicle with controversial bumper stickers, lock the guns in your trunk, cased and unloaded . . . and don't sweat it.

I've traveled interstate numerous times with firearms, and have never been stopped. (Of course, I was careful not to speed or commit some other infraction, either.)

Thanks for the advice. I will be driving an Expedition so I will have to build a large wooden box that locks and fits into the back of the vehicle. Thanks again.

For interstate transportation of firearms, look up the Firearm Owners Protection Act (FOPA) and become familiar with it. This is the federal law that protects citizens while legally transporting firearms from a jurisdiction where they can legally possess such firearms to a jurisdiction where they can legally possess same.

Looking up the FOPA as USMC-COL recommends is of course a great starting place. Some years back I drove across the US several times PCS'ing from one base to another. To the extent I was able to research the law then (some of these trips were pre-internet!) as long as I had the firearms secured in a locked container separate from the ammo, I was good in all the states I was traveling through.

As to the practical aspects: Locked up the longarms in a weatherproof steel case, chained and centered it in the middle of my pickup bed, covered it with lots of other stuff, and most importantly I think, did not drive like an idiot. Thus I avoided giving the constabulary a reason to bother me. Made sure all my lights were working, signaled properly, stayed out of dubious areas, etc. OK, I speeded a bit, but not any faster than the traffic around me.

I do recall that on all my trips, the section of I-40 between Memphis and Little Rock was crawling with troopers from both states, especially right at the state line on the Tennessee side. Good place to make sure your driving performance is squeaky clean.

Good luck.

elb