Transporting Firearms in PA?

[luvmy40]

I can't believe it has taken this long to become an issue...
I have put off getting my PA non-res. permit too long. (OH/PA do not have reciprocity)I will be traveling to Pittsburgh this weekend and need to know if there is any way to secure my weapon in the car, legally. All that I could find in the PA law says I must be licensed to carry a gun in the car.
Is this restricted to carry on your person?
Does this apply to an unloaded weapon? If so, does PA have the ludicrous statement of "ammunition readily available" like Ohio?
I guess the basic question is can I, legally, disarm and store my hand gun in my car while traveling in PA? I have a COM car safe in both of my vehicles.

Thanks in advance for any info.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Chase2b]

I'm almost positive that the law states that you can transport but the gun MUST be unloaded and ammo is to be in different place than gun. i.e. - Gun in trunk and ammo in glove box. What I am not sure of is this applies to PA residents only.

[P95Carry]

Check out the fairly new PA state site - over 100 hits come up for search on 'firearms'.

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/

[dgg9]

I can't believe it has taken this long to become an issue...
I have put off getting my PA non-res. permit too long.

Rather than do that, FLA non-res is a better option -- you get a lot more states, including PA.

[QKShooter]

Do make sure that your ammunition is truly separated from your properly secured firearm.

I sat in on one court case where a younger adult (a PA resident) was stopped in a vehicle and he had a properly registered handgun that was in it's factory box on the car seat and the loaded magazines were in the glove.
The kid had no criminal history.

The magazines were separate from the firearm but, the officer that stopped him (traffic violation) felt that the loaded mags were too easily and quickly/readily accessible...and thus posed a possible threat to the officer so he was charged.

The judge asked the kid why he just didn't go get his "Shall Issue" LTC (license to carry) and thus eliminate all possible legal problems with transporting his firearm in his vehicle.
The kid said that he wanted to practice with his firearm before he carried it and did not feel that he was ready for a LTC yet.

The bottom line was that the judge tossed the case out of court with absolutely no charges against the young man (and his firearm was returned to him that day) but, he still needed to hire a lawyer and show up for a court date regardless of the eventual proper and happy outcome of the case.

I'm not sure how applicable this story is but, I thought that I would post it anyway.

[AKsrule]

The firearm (handgun ) MUST be UNLOADED , and the AMMO
( or loaded mags ) MUST be in a Separate Container.

http://members.aol.com/StatutesP7/18PA6106.htm

§ 6106. Firearms not to be carried without a license.

(a) Offense defined.--Any person who carries a firearm in any vehicle or any person who carries a firearm concealed on or about his person, except in his place of abode or fixed place of business, without a valid and lawfully issued license under this chapter commits a felony of the third degree........................

(exception )

# Any persons engaged in target shooting with rifle, pistol, or revolver, if such persons are at or are going to or from their places of assembly or target practice and if, while going to or from their places of assembly or target practice, the cartridges or shells are carried in a separate container and the rifle, pistol or revolver is unloaded. l

[Ruger23]

6106. Firearms not to be carried without a license.
(a) Offense defined.--Any person who carries a firearm in any vehicle or any person who carries a firearm concealed on or about his person, except in his place of abode or fixed place of business, without a valid and lawfully issued license under this chapter commits a felony of the third degree.

(b) Exceptions.--The provisions of subsection (a) shall not apply to:

Constables, sheriffs, prison or jail wardens, or their deputies, policemen of this Commonwealth or its political subdivisions, or other law-enforcement officers.
Members of the army, navy or marine corps of the United States or of the National Guard or organized reserves when on duty.
The regularly enrolled members of any organization duly organized to purchase or receive such weapons from the United States or from this Commonwealth.
Any persons engaged in target shooting with rifle, pistol, or revolver, if such persons are at or are going to or from their places of assembly or target practice and if, while going to or from their places of assembly or target practice, the cartridges or shells are carried in a separate container and the rifle, pistol or revolver is unloaded.
Officers or employees of the United States duly authorized to carry a concealed firearm.
Agents, messengers and other employees of common carriers, banks, or business firms, whose duties require them to protect moneys, valuables and other property in the discharge of such duties.
Any person engaged in the business of manufacturing, repairing, or dealing in firearms, or the agent or representative of any such person, having in his possession, using or carrying a firearm in the usual or ordinary course of such business.
Any person while carrying a firearm unloaded and in a secure wrapper from the place of purchase to his home or place of business, or to a place of repair or back to his home or place of business, or in moving from one place of abode or business to another or from his home to a vacation or recreational home or dwelling or back, or to recover stolen property under section 6111.1(b)(4) (relating to Pennsylvania State Police) or to a location to which the person has been directed to surrender firearms under 23 Pa.C.S. § 6108 (relating to relief) or back upon return of the surrendered firearm.
Persons licensed to hunt, take furbearers or fish in this Commonwealth, if such persons are actually hunting, taking furbearers or fishing or are going to the places where they desire to hunt, take furbearers or fish or returning from such places.
Persons training dogs, if such persons are actually training dogs during the regular training season.
Any person while carrying a firearm in any vehicle, which person possesses a valid and lawfully issued license for that firearm which has been issued under the laws of the United States or any other state.

I added the bold above.

[luvmy40]

Thanks to all.
Looks like:
Weapon unloaded, locked in COM safe. Ammo locked in Glove Box.


Hopefully I won't have to put it to a test.
Knock on wood, I don't get pulled over for much of anything as I am hyper paranoid about inadvertantly commiting a catch all felony.