Expert: Dean Speir - 12/18/2010

Question
My work keeps me on the road for months at a time.  My question is; "What do I need to do to legally travel with a hand gun or shotgun for personal protection?"

Answer
While this is only tangentially related to the Second Amendment, Jim, it's very easily answered: What you LEGALLY need to travel with a handgun in and through different state jurisdictions, is a license issued by each state in which you anticipate carrying a handgun… there is no "Federal" license or permit allowing a citizen to carry or possess a handgun throughout the United States.

That said, with more and more individual states (I think it's up to 34 now, perhaps more) recognizing an individual's right to carry or possess a handgun, and various states recognizing licenses issued by other states (reciprocity), the situation is improving.

But there are some states which are unlikely to ever offer reciprocity… my own state of New York, for instance, in which both the individual AND the handgun must be licensed, is one such.

My best suggestion is for you to map out which states your work will require you to travel through, and through the wonder of the Internet, research those states firearms regulations.

Shotguns are a different matter. While regulatory legislation pertaining to long guns is generally much less restrictive, you'll need to check on this through visiting a state's Website.

One thing which should be pointed out: I've taken your "on the road" literally and couched my response in terms of vehicular travel. If any part of that work-related travel is by air, in today's TSA climate, forget it… traveling unarmed is tough enough, let alone traveling with firearms (in checked luggage, of course).