Crossing state lines with an airgun

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GoJohnnyGo
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Crossing state lines with an airgun

Post by GoJohnnyGo »

I'll be traveling around the country pretty soon and want to take an airgun for plinking b/c I'll find myself in quite a few places that would accommodate this. Does anyone know of any issues with transporting a .22 cal airgun across state lines? I normally wouldn't think twice about this but have run across some stuff that says it's a huge no-no in Michigan. Are there any other states or odd laws/rules that I need to know about?
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ronin111
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Re: Crossing state lines with an airgun

Post by ronin111 »

In Illinois anything with a projectile over .18 inch and a maximum muzzle velocity over 700 fps is considered a firearm.

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/il ... apterID=39
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doubloon
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Re: Crossing state lines with an airgun

Post by doubloon »

Yep, Lewis and Clark ruined it for everybody cavorting around all over the country with that big bore.

All my stuff is in .177 so I don't worry about it too much but even then some fascist states are trying to outlaw lead regardless of caliber but that laws are confusing. Plus I think they're just downright illegal in some places.

It's a search to ferret out all the atrocious legislation but Wiki makes an attempt to narrow down where to look.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_gun_laws
United States

Sale or possession of air guns are usually unregulated in most U.S. States. A few States and municipalities restrict or prohibit air gun sales or possession in some manner, including: San Francisco, New York, New York; Camden, New Jersey and Newark, New Jersey. Johnson City, Tennessee; Chicago, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the States of Illinois, and Michigan.[18] Additionally, ordinances in many cities prohibit the discharge of air guns outdoors outside of an approved range.
ETA:

This site has links to (possibly outdated) legislation in many states.

http://www.airguntrader.org/2010/05/uni ... gulations/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDtd2jNIwAU MUSAFAR!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CrOL-ydFMI This is Water DavidW
Complete Form 1s http://www.silencertalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=79895
jlwilliams
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Re: Crossing state lines with an airgun

Post by jlwilliams »

I just sold a 22 airgun to a guy in New Jersey. He had to have it transfered through an FFL. I don't know if that was because of caliber or if it applies to all airguns.

All in all, an airgun is a good choise for the traveling plinker. Once you figure out where you can and can't break it out you should be good to go.
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GoJohnnyGo
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Re: Crossing state lines with an airgun

Post by GoJohnnyGo »

Thanks for the help guys.
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rogerme
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Re: Crossing state lines with an airgun

Post by rogerme »

The fact that there are laws regarding adults taking a airgun from state to state just goes to show how far we have fallen. Just plain sad..
"If you carry a gun, people call you paranoid. That's ridiculous. If I have a gun, what in the hell do I have to be paranoid about?"

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Re: Crossing state lines with an airgun

Post by DoctorSolo »

rogerme wrote:The fact that there are laws regarding adults taking a airgun from state to state just goes to show how far we have fallen. Just plain sad..
I hear ya. When I read the title I thought it was a joke.

Nothing against the OP, just a general, wide-sweeping indictment of what a chicken-s--t country this has become.

I'd choose not to worry, otherwise the self-loathing might be too much to bear...
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GoJohnnyGo
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Re: Crossing state lines with an airgun

Post by GoJohnnyGo »

It is sad that this is a concern. I never would have thought it even possible but ran across some forum threads that concerned me.
DoctorSolo
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Re: Crossing state lines with an airgun

Post by DoctorSolo »

I think of it like carrying a switchblade.

How often do you have a confrontation with a police officer?

Now, how often do you have a confrontation with a police officer that ends with you emptying your pockets?

I can make a flow chart, but it would basically start with, "To what degree are you likely to draw that kind of negative attention to yourself?"

If your answer is that it is likely enough that you worry about it, you might make great friends with Leonard(kwicktobeadipshit-or whatever). Otherwise, I doubt you have anything to worry about, like the rest of us sane, unassuming, non-friggin-idiots.

I'm positive you take bigger legal risks every day, if you ever break the speed limit, that is.

Personally, I never carry switchblades, but you get the idea...
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