Moving guns to Maine

kurtb

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A friend asked me a question. His father passed away about a year ago and left behind some guns that will pass to his mother who now lives in Maine. He has a MA LTC but is curious if he can legally just load the guns in his car (in the safe) and drive them to his mother in Maine - passing only through NH. I think I know the answer but wanted to check with the NES brain trust. Thanks.
 
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The only possible caveat is long gun can’t be loaded in a vehicle, but you probably knew that. I duno about mass, but once in NH and ME, no reason for the guns to be locked up. They can even ride shotgun next to you if you do choose!
 
The only possible caveat is long gun can’t be loaded in a vehicle, but you probably knew that. I duno about mass, but once in NH and ME, no reason for the guns to be locked up. They can even ride shotgun next to you if you do choose!
It’s also great that the silly “under your control” at all times is pure bullshit. Want to toss it in the glovie, console or toss it under the seat with all the dirt go right ahead. No more worries where you may end up in a days travel.
Of course they ask that you don’t leave them unattended overnight on the curb but...
Guns in drawers or behind doors are no longer a worry. We dont have kids so that is not a problem unless my neighbor swings thru but the living room table drawers are not easily seen by my design to the furniture maker.
Sure I keep most of my stuff in safes but that’s my peace of mind due to values, not some .gov telling me I must.
 
How do you put the safe in the car? Jack.
Its not to hard, my friend inherited his uncles guns and all belongings in the safe and “gun closet”
No combo for the gun safe.
It was a older browning 24 gun safe. Weighed anout 500lbs.
My buddy knew there was nothing of great value in that safe.
Him and his dad made short business with a moving harness and pulled it from the basement.
Mean while I was unbolting the rear hatch on the ford escort. Slammed it in and drove it to a local lock smith . Smith took a look at the Will, his Id and had it open in about 8min
My buddy was right, bunch of well worn department store branded guns. My buddy wanted the safe.
 
Jumping on this topic-
Are there any moving companies that will do this? I have a large collection of firearms, ammo, accessories that I need to move 800 miles south. My current option is to rent a box truck and drive it myself. Are there companies licensed to do this for me?
 
Jumping on this topic-
Are there any moving companies that will do this? I have a large collection of firearms, ammo, accessories that I need to move 800 miles south. My current option is to rent a box truck and drive it myself. Are there companies licensed to do this for me?
I have no idea. I was thinking about it this weekend because I am always looking to leave MA.

My thoughts were:

1. Put them in locked gun cases in a car. This option is not great because sleeping will s*ck. Can't go to a hotel, cant go to a motel (could, but with so many boxes it might s*ck) ... NES said the best is to sleep at a rest stop in your car.
Have to deal with driving around NJ, it is a total pain.

2. If the collection is not that big, get gun boxes and ship them. At least the rifles. Handguns can be easily concealed in a locked guitar case. I have one, I can put roughly 15 handguns in it, 30 if I double stack them using 2 layers of foam.
Still have to deal with driving around NJ, but can at least stop at a hotel, no one will suspect of 2 or 3 guitar cases.

3. Locked cases to an every day moving company - in my opinion the worse option.

4. Depending on how many rifles you have, locked cases inside cardboard boxes. You can stop at a motel and unload 4 or 5 cardboard boxes into the room. I am sure no one will notice.

5. A specialized company. Not sure who, need to research.

I would be interested in whatever you find.
 
AKA FOPA


Notwithstanding any other provision of any law or any rule or regulation of a Stateor 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.
(Added Pub. L. 99–360, § 1(a), July 8, 1986, 100 Stat. 766.)
 
I have no idea. I was thinking about it this weekend because I am always looking to leave MA.

My thoughts were:

1. Put them in locked gun cases in a car. This option is not great because sleeping will s*ck. Can't go to a hotel, cant go to a motel (could, but with so many boxes it might s*ck) ... NES said the best is to sleep at a rest stop in your car.
Have to deal with driving around NJ, it is a total pain.

2. If the collection is not that big, get gun boxes and ship them. At least the rifles. Handguns can be easily concealed in a locked guitar case. I have one, I can put roughly 15 handguns in it, 30 if I double stack them using 2 layers of foam.
Still have to deal with driving around NJ, but can at least stop at a hotel, no one will suspect of 2 or 3 guitar cases.

3. Locked cases to an every day moving company - in my opinion the worse option.

4. Depending on how many rifles you have, locked cases inside cardboard boxes. You can stop at a motel and unload 4 or 5 cardboard boxes into the room. I am sure no one will notice.

5. A specialized company. Not sure who, need to research.

I would be interested in whatever you find.
6. Fill a POD with cases, then surround them with normal stuff, and conveniently overlook the line about not shipping firearms in the contract.

There are probably companies that are willing to accept the liability. They probably cost extra. I would probably go the rental van/box truck route, personally.
 
6. Fill a POD with cases, then surround them with normal stuff, and conveniently overlook the line about not shipping firearms in the contract.

There are probably companies that are willing to accept the liability. They probably cost extra. I would probably go the rental van/box truck route, personally.
I dont know if I would trust it. It could be done, you can throw a safe in there, oil those guns nicely and move on.

There is a company that sells boxes that fit over gun cases.

I would get a bunch of those and get a motel in a decent area, request a downstairs room (if one of those that have multiple floors), park near the room and unload a bunch of cardboard boxes for the night.

Or ... option 7 ... reach out to the NES network and see if you can sleep in someone's couch. Leave the car in the driveway for the night.
 
I dont know if I would trust it. It could be done, you can throw a safe in there, oil those guns nicely and move on.

There is a company that sells boxes that fit over gun cases.

I would get a bunch of those and get a motel in a decent area, request a downstairs room (if one of those that have multiple floors), park near the room and unload a bunch of cardboard boxes for the night.

Or ... option 7 ... reach out to the NES network and see if you can sleep in someone's couch. Leave the car in the driveway for the night.
Eventually, I think there are two questions: how many is 'many', and how does your budget compare to the value of the collection? (Even with 50 of them, a collection of Hi-Points isn't worth the energy we've already spent.)

I may know someone who buried a single rifle in a POD, years ago, with no problem. It's not like they inspect the thing.
I may have buried a pair 10-gun RSCs full of firearms/ammo against the front wall of a 20' moving truck last summer, and stored it (locked) overnight in a friend's driveway in Cambridge.

You're right, though. A long distance move demands carefully selecting your stops. Parking in a trusted driveway, where you can back the roll door up to a wall, is preferable to a random Motel off 95.
 
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