Expert: Dean Speir - 10/3/2007

Question
I'm traveling from FL. thru GA. to TN. ,is it legal to travel with a gun in  case unloaded without a ccw license,I applied for one but did not receive it yet , Thanks Mike

Answer
Hello, Mike...

Under the provisions of FOPA'86 (née McClure-Volkmer), essentially a firearm owner may travel (with "safe passage) from one point to another as long as possession of that firearm is legal in the jurisdiction of departure and the jurisdiction of destination, as long as the trip is a continuous one and the firearm is unloaded and inaccessible to the driver during the journey.

That's it in a .38 Special shell case, and more on the law and its various provisions may be found at: http://www.gunlawnews.org/FOPA-86.html

Be advised that in some political subdivisions (my own state of New York most prominently) FOPA'86 is routinely ignored and handgun owners are often arrested and their firearms confiscated because they do not possess a valid NYS Pistol License, and NYS does not recognize any other jurisdictions' authority… which is why there will never be reciprocity involving NYS.

If you follow the guidelines fought for by Senator McClure and Representative Volkmer, you should have no difficulties in your journey from Florida to Tennessee through Georgia. Have a safe trip.

The foregoing should not be relied upon as legal advice.