Handguns in the truck?

by NickV
(Live Oak, TX)

This may be a dumb question and I think I've read somewhere that it is illegal but can you carry a handgun in your truck? I'm not saying on the dash or on your person but as long as it is locked up and for protection use only at truck stops and whatnot.

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Feb 13, 2011
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Talked To NC Highway Patrol trained to work commercial vehicles about Guns in the Truck
by: Hervy

Nick, here is the word today Feb 13th from NC Highway Patrol about carrying a gun in the truck.

If you have a Concealed Carry Permit you can carry a gun in the truck within the state.

If you take a gun out of the state if is a federal crime. No guns across state lines in a Commercial vehicle is what he told me.

So there you have it. I should have asked him if someone from another state brings a gun into North Carolina would he/she be committing a federal crime, I didn't ask the specific question but my guess is he would have said yes. (Speculating of course)

Either way, it is obvious that a driver would be taking a considerable risk of potentially serious issues if caught with a gun across state lines and at the mercy of the officer who catches him.

So I say ask your DOT there in TX (for everyone else in your state) and see what they say about it and by all means come back here and let us know what was said from authorities in that state.

Thanks.

Jan 17, 2011
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guns in a commercial vehicle
by: Anonymous

Guns are not allowed in commercial vehicles at all it is a felony. Beware carry a stun gun or pepper spray just what where you park

Jan 16, 2011
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Can We Carrying Hand Guns in the truck
by: Hervy

It is not a dumb question Nick, it is a popular one. Part of the reason is the post you mentioned seeing here on the site when I say what was told to me in trucking school 15 years or so ago that carrying was illegal in commercial vehicles period.

That's not accurate.

I will show you what the law actually states in a minute.

You are not prohibited by federal law from carrying a gun but there are a lot of stipulations including following gun laws of each state and political subdivision (yeah, I know) you go into but.......

There are many problems with carrying a weapon...

Most trucking companies have policies that state carrying a firearm in their vehicles is grounds for termination.

Another problem is many if not most companies of shippers and receivers don't allow you to take firearms on the property. Some allow you to leave it at security gate.

Another problem is that though the fed don't prohibit carrying, the condition is, so long as you are within the law of the states in which you carry. Well, you need to know all of the states laws in order to comply.

Another problem is discrimination by a few officers for having a weapon (if revealed in some way) even if you are legal. Some of them think it is illegal too. Don't believe me look in the map and call a few offices and ask them.

Another problem would be some military installations and Canada.

Having said that, there are drivers who have carried their career and it not caused a problem.
A guy shot and killed a potential robber in TN last year and to my surprise as far as I know, he never got in trouble for having the gun. Don't know if he was licensed in Tn or not.

Here is the federal law as stated on the books
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Sec. 926A. Interstate transportation of firearms

Notwithstanding any other provision of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or any political subdivision thereof, any person who is not otherwise prohibited by this chapter from transporting,shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle:

Provided, That in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver's compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.
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To each his own. Too much hassle for me man.
Done things much more dangerous than driving a truck without a gun.

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