Many truck drivers choose to protect themselves from the dangers of the road by carrying a firearm. But when crossing over state lines, gun laws can get a bit fuzzy.
Know Where Your Gun Permit Is Valid
There have been several recent cases of truck drivers, whose permits allowed them to carry a gun in their home state, but crossed over into a state in which their permit was not valid, resulting in fines and jail time for the drivers.
If you are going to arm yourself, it’s important to know where your permit is valid, and where it isn’t.
USACarry.com has a great interactive chart, that makes it easy to find the validity of your permit by state. Head over to USA Carry’s Concealed Carry Permit Reciprocity Maps.
1.) Make sure “States that honor my permit(s)” is highlighted. (It is highlighted by default.)
2. Select the state in which your permit was issued. States that honor your permit will show up in blue, states that do not honor your permit will show up in red.
Understand Your Company’s Gun Policies
In addition to federal and state laws, a driver also has to adhere to company policy. Many large carriers do not allow a gun to be carried on board for any reason, while others have some restrictions. It is important to follow these rules, or you may put your job at risk.
One of the benefits of being an owner-operator, is not having to abide by any company rules, although state and federal rules still apply.
What To Do When Traveling Across State Lines
When traveling in or through states which do not honor your gun permits, you must have your firearm unloaded, and locked away either in a container or compartment, where it is not readily accessible.
Other laws may apply, and it is advised that you check with the individual state laws before carrying a firearm through or in the state(s) in question.
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The article was created for informational purposes and is not intended as, or to be considered, legal advice.