Obey the speed limits in Illinois.
Do not, under any circumstances whatsoever, drive through Chicago or neighboring cities no matter what anyone else on this thread tells you.
To answer your question, I think it’s legal to do what you want to do, if the guns are locked and inaccessible during the drive, and they are legal at both the origin and the destination. (That is, irrespective of laws of the intervening places. But see above.)
Unloaded, in trunk. Look up various state rules.
Basically if you drive point to point, short rest stops for food/fuel, you shouldn’t have to worry about getting arrested. Personally I’d have a handgun loaded for defense and the guns being transported unloaded and if able in a locked case or storage container, just so nobody else can easily get them.
You’re safe in Indiana.
Heck...we’ll even buy you a coffee.
http://www.nraila.org/gunlaws/federal/read.aspx?id=60
Notwithstanding any state or local law, a person shall be entitled to transport a firearm from any place where he may lawfully possess and transport such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and transport such firearm if the firearm is unloaded and in the trunk. In vehicles without a trunk, the unloaded firearm shall be in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.
do your own verification. This was from a quick check i did on a link i had.
If you are legal to own from your starting point and at your destination, you should be good to go. Just don’t detour to Jersey, Mass., New York City, California, Hawaii, Chicago, you get the point. And make sure they are unloaded and secured out of reach. NRA has a paperback about traveling with guns. Good luck.
Send them to yourself fed ex
Make sure they are unloaded
Better than dealing with officer Obey
I think you’re ok if you a) keep ‘em unloaded and locked in the trunk — don’t even carry any ammo, and b) don’t speed, drink, do bong hits on the interstate, etc. Scrape the Romney sticker off your car too.
Except that when you pass through Chicago — and you should plan to pass through Chicago, if at all possible — I’d have your significant other drive around downtown, while you hang out of the sun roof with the twelve-gauge shotgun in plain view, screaming “Hey Rahm! Want some of THIS???”
Quite the opposite,one of the most important questions ever asked on this forum.
I would take along proof of ownership (eg, copies of sales receipts) just in case you need them. Particularly if it is more than just a couple of guns.
How did your guns come to be at your dad’s place in Ohio? Under federal law, you generally cannot buy guns in a state where you don’t reside, unless they are transfered thru a dealer where you live.
I’m in CA, dad’s next door in NV. He can’t sell or give me guns unless he/me consumate the deal thru a dealer setup.
If you lived in OH, legally bought guns, then later moved to ID, you could go back and get your guns and drive them home.
Swing to the South to avoid the communist states, go west from there, then go north someplace in the West.
Research FOPA. Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986. Print the text of the law off and carry it with you. Abide by the text of the law to the letter.
If you are stopped and a cop tries to arrest you or take your guns, make sure you say loud and clear that he is in violation of FOPA 1986 and you are complying with that law. He can be charged for false arrest and violating FOPA. Make sure that his dash cam gets the comment too...
I would however, avoid Illinois all together.
I think I'd take I-80 straight across, and avoid Chicago as much as possible. Use the cruise control; watch the speed limit. Once you clear Illinois -- heck, once you get west of Joliet -- I think you'll be okay. Try to stay awake crossing Nebraska, and whatever you do, don't eat at a Runza.
In Wyoming I think you can be arrested for not having a gun in the car, so once you get that far, you should be okay the rest of the way home.
Send them to me by Fed Ex. I’ll make sure they get to you.
It’s a pain, but I’d recommend staying clear of Illinois, not just Chicago. Even though the people are much, much, better in the south of the state, they still have the laws that Chicago essentially sets. All of the other states are very friendly, so why risk it - just add a day to the trip?
Just to add a bit more, assuming that your car has Idaho plate, you’re practically announcing to the world that “MY CAR HAS AN ARMORY IN IT”, at least to any liberal. You’ll really stick out in Illinois and could get pulled over for having a license plate bulb out, or doing (a fictitious) illegal lane change. Once they see you’re nervous, they’ll drop something in the vehicle, or claim to see something, and that’ll get the dogs, that will smell the powder residue.