Carrying a legal handgun with permit from Pa to Va for vacation.

Question

Me and my family are going on vacation to Virginia. We are from Pennsylvania and I have permit to carry a concealed weapon in the state of Pa. Can I take it with me to Va and Carry it there.

Answer 1

i wouldn't see a problem with carrying it. As long as you carry the ammunition separate from the gun itself and it's not easily accessible in your vehicle. I have read through previous case studies where an individual from Florida transported a handgun to Michigan while he was searching for a new house in Michigan.(the dude hand a CCW permit for Florida)  The Michigan supreme court ruled in the favor of the man... There final statements said that since the man wasn't a legal resident of Michigan, he could legally possess that weapon. However, if he were to become a resident of the state of Michigan he would have to renew his license, and get a new CCW permit valid in the state.

Don't take my word for it... i would ask a professional  

Answer 2

I live in MD and the previous answer is correct. It must be locked seperate from ammunition in your vehicle. You cannot "carry" in MD without a MD permit which is almost impossible to obtain even for residents. VA laws varry from county to county and can be difficult to figure out if your from out of town. When I lived in VA several years ago you could carry but NOT concealed and several public places are off limits. In my opinion the police and courts in VA are strict. Try calling the counties you are going to be in and ask.

Answer 3

If you are driving through MD to get there, yeah--keep it unloaded, in the trunk, with ammo stored separately.  Maryland gun laws suck.

Once you get to Virginia, bad news.  Your Pennsylvania concealed weapons permit is NOT recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The good news, however, is that OPEN CARRY IS LEGAL in Virginia, so you may go armed almost anywhere in the state, as long as your weapon is holstered and visible, and the places you go allow weapons on their premises.  

Answer 4

I can not answer your question directly, but I can give some advice here, since I have lived in PA, MD and VA over the years (and also had a firearms carry permit in PA ages ago).  If you plan to travel to VA, you will most likely have to cross through MD.  MD has some very strict gun control laws.  When going through MD with a handgun, it had better be locked in your trunk, with the ammunition in a seperate bag/box.  VA gun laws are a bit more reasonable.  But, here's the bottom line from someone that really enjoys the shooting sports.  Just leave your handgun at home.  If you want some sort of protection for you and your family (on the highway), just keep a shotgun in your trunk (unloaded of course).  I dunno about you, but back when I had a permit to carry a concealed handgun, I hated it.  I always had to find a secure place to keep the gun when I was not carrying it with me.  Always had to be carefuly about loading and unloading it.  Was sometimes concerned that if there would be a shooting crime in the vicinity of where I was, that I might be considered a suspect or something.  And, it's one thing to carry a gun in the vicinity of where you live and work.  It's quite another to carry one in another state where you are merely vacationing.  Do you really want the hassle if some bade-heavy cop decides to confiscate your handgun?  Are you going to hire a lawyer, take off work, and travel to Virginia to go to multiple hearings to get your gun back?  My advice again is, unloaded shotgun in the trunk in case you breakdown and get hassled by thugs.  Pepperspray with you the other times.  Just leave the handgun in PA.

Answer 5

Doubt it.  Best to check with VA state police and not rely on answers here.  You definitely do not want to make that kind of mistake.  Or just leave it at home.  What are you so afraid of?

Answer 6

Looks like you can, ... but not in the States you'll pass through. See links below.