What would you do . . .

[BT8850]

Here's a hypothetical for you all to ponder,

You have a concealed carry permit in your home state and consider yourself a law abiding citizen and carry regularly. You are planning a vacation to the shore this summer and the state in which said shore is located does not reciprocate your home states' carry permit (we'll use Maryland in this example). You are traveling by car, your trip to Maryland will be a week or so, and you'll be staying in a hotel. Maryland has some strange laws regarding handguns and carrying them yet you don't want to be unprotected. What do you do?

1. Do you ignore the laws and carry as you normally would?

2. Do you choose to leave your gun at home?

3. Do you choose to take your gun along and leave it in the car or your hotel room when you go out say, to the beach, to supper, etc?

If you choose option three, do you leave it in your baggage with a trigger and/or chamber lock? Put it in the room safe if equiped? Do you bring your own "travel type" safe to store it when your out?

Again, this is all hypothetical and can apply to multiple states and vacationing situations. If you reply to this do not incriminate yourself, I'm just curious to see what you all would do in this situation or a similar one. I was talking with a coworker about this and it got me thinking. As always, research, research, research . . .

[4949shooter]

Does your coworker want some professional advice?

[BT8850]

Does your coworker want some professional advice?

Indeed! That's often the best kind of advice. This scenario is pretty iffy and everyone is going to do what they're going to do. I always say keep to the law and be a responsible gun owner.

[The_Shadow]

I don't go to gun unfriendly states, Period!   

[4949shooter]

Does your coworker want some professional advice?

Indeed! That's often the best kind of advice. This scenario is pretty iffy and everyone is going to do what they're going to do. I always say keep to the law and be a responsible gun owner.

I believe your friend should stick to the law. If it were, say the NJ shore he were going to, as an LEO from NJ I would tell him to absolutely NOT bring his weapon with him. With concealed carry there is no reciprocity in NJ. If Your friend were to be caught with the weapon he could be arrested. Or say he had to actually use his gun in self defense? The prosecutors would no doubt use the fact that he was carrying illegally in trial.

It is unfortunate that things are the way they are. I wish I could tell your friend it would be okay to carry out of state, but I can't.

[pacapcop]

Well here is my answer to the question. Screw NJ, Maryland and the Democrat Metro Wingnuts and I (I) hope they get car jacked. How's that. Across the river in Penna. Jersey USE to be ok. Not anymore. It's a Police State.. It denies it's citizens the right to bear arms.

[us_shooter]

Why would your friend want to spend his/her hard earned money in a communist state? It would make me sick to know that my money is supporting their system.
I'm certain that all the criminals in Maryland obey the law and don't possess firearms either.  That's why there violent crime rate is sooooooo low.

There are plenty of other free states with nicer beaches. Why don't come down south and hang out on one of our beaches. Hell, you can even wear your gun to the beach down here.

[cmemiss]

The key here is in your first sentence. . ."consider yourself a law abiding citizen. . ."  find out the laws where you are going and comply.  Otherwise you are not, a law abiding citizen.

[Mr. AR50]

I agree with Shadow. I limit my travel to gun-friendly states, especially those with reciprocity on CCW. It can be difficult to keep up with the laws from state to state, and even more so with the local laws of a given state. I live in Colorado, and while it is a shall issue state, and allows open carry, the city and county of Denver doesn't allow open carry, and has banned 'assault rifles' within its' borders. I would obey the laws of the state that you visit, and if that's not possible, then I would avoid that state altogether.

[tommac919]

Follow the laws or you may screw yrself in the long run...

But there are a few states like FL that do by mail, non-resident permits. 
Fl has/can add 30+ states or so to say a NY license where your allowed legal carry. To get thru the bad states like NJ, pack it in a travel lock box in the trunk. 

[harrygunner]

Like most here, I simply avoid being in the situation.  However, one Spring I wanted my young daughter to see our Capitol. Plus she wanted to see New York, NY.

Got a hotel in Virginia for the week we saw the sights in D.C and Virginia.  Then we drove through the states of Maryland, New Jersey and New York to the Marriott at Times Square.

Was worth it for her. I had seen it all many times before and didn't want my disgust of those places to cost her the experience. So, I kept the hotel in Virgina to keep the gun in a safe while we were in NYC.

Ground my teeth as we walked on Constitution Avenue in DC, stripped of my Constitutional rights

Today, she views the Northeast the same as I do. Too bad. NYC is an interesting place. But, their disregard of human rights out-weighs the good.

[BT8850]

I believe your friend should stick to the law. If it were, say the NJ shore he were going to, as an LEO from NJ I would tell him to absolutely NOT bring his weapon with him. With concealed carry there is no reciprocity in NJ. If Your friend were to be caught with the weapon he could be arrested. Or say he had to actually use his gun in self defense? The prosecutors would no doubt use the fact that he was carrying illegally in trial.

It is unfortunate that things are the way they are. I wish I could tell your friend it would be okay to carry out of state, but I can't.

The input from law enforcement is much appreciated. I'd agree, the though of having to use it to defend yourself in a place where you're not allowed to have your gun is a headache, I can imagine the succeeding legal end would be un-winnable.

The key here is in your first sentence. . ."consider yourself a law abiding citizen. . ."  find out the laws where you are going and comply.  Otherwise you are not, a law abiding citizen.

Very good point.

Follow the laws or you may screw yrself in the long run...

But there are a few states like FL that do by mail, non-resident permits. 
Fl has/can add 30+ states or so to say a NY license where your allowed legal carry. To get thru the bad states like NJ, pack it in a travel lock box in the trunk. 

I would agree, a lock box is good idea. I didn't realize that FL did mail order permits, that's good information to have.

Why would your friend want to spend his/her hard earned money in a communist state? It would make me sick to know that my money is supporting their system.
I'm certain that all the criminals in Maryland obey the law and don't possess firearms either.  That's why there violent crime rate is sooooooo low.

There are plenty of other free states with nicer beaches. Why don't come down south and hang out on one of our beaches. Hell, you can even wear your gun to the beach down here.

Well here is my answer to the question. Screw NJ, Maryland and the Democrat Metro Wingnuts and I (I) hope they get car jacked. How's that. Across the river in Penna. Jersey USE to be ok. Not anymore. It's a Police State.. It denies it's citizens the right to bear arms.

I don't go to gun unfriendly states, Period!   

Thanks for the input fellas. I agree with all of you, and I DO try to avoid places like MD and NJ, mostly for the reasons you all have mentioned and I don't want to get caught up in it. It's difficult to stay completely out of Maryland being within driving distance of it, but it's avoidable for the most part. The vacation scenario I started this thread with is not an actual plan, we were just talking and it had come up because it is popular in our area for people to vacation in MD, and DE for that matter. Neither of us plan on going it was just an "if you were going to go, what would you do?" type conversation. I was curious to see what input all of you had on the matter and I believe we all think alike. It's sad that we have to put so much thought into it and can't openly roam.

us_shooter, sounds like the south is the place to be. Here in PA we enjoy open carry as well, just no beaches to visit while doing so.

Like most here, I simply avoid being in the situation.  However, one Spring I wanted my young daughter to see our Capitol. Plus she wanted to see New York, NY.

Got a hotel in Virginia for the week we saw the sights in D.C and Virginia.  Then we drove through the states of Maryland, New Jersey and New York to the Marriott at Times Square.

Was worth it for her. I had seen it all many times before and didn't want my disgust of those places to cost her the experience. So, I kept the hotel in Virgina to keep the gun in a safe while we were in NYC.

Ground my teeth as we walked on Constitution Avenue in DC, stripped of my Constitutional rights

Today, she views the Northeast the same as I do. Too bad. NYC is an interesting place. But, their disregard of human rights out-weighs the good.

It was nice of you to take your daughter on the trip regardless, just so she could experience. It seems that she's figured it out after all with her current views on the northeast.

+1 on Virginia, it is not a bad place to visit. I've been several times and enjoy my ability to carry leagally as I would at home. Though 80% of my drive is through MD, it's still a good trip 

[yankee2500]

In NC we have reciprocity with 30+ states but I have family in NY and when I visit I leave my guns in NC even though I had a NY carry permit for 25+ years when I lived there. It sucks but not as bad as the inside of a NY jail cell.

[gobigorgohome]

If I had to travel to a anti-gun state I would...

1. Ignore the state laws and carry.

What good is a gun in a safe or at home when you are not there? Or a car which is thee worst idea as theft can happen and then you would be out a gun, some criminal would have it and you would have to report your gun was stolen in a anti-gun state.

I chose not to travel to anti-gun states. Mine and my family's safety is more important than possible criminal charges and jail for myself because of stupid and ignorant laws. The law is no reason for ignorance.
What you do is your business, everyone has the ability to make a choice and the consequences of that choice need to be acknowledge and accepted. It would never be an issue for me as I boycott not only anti-gun companies but anti-gun states. Out trips to visit relatives in LA and Big Bear Lake in CA ended many years ago.

[DenStinett]

I take mine AND carry it
It is concealed very well
If I DO need to use it, it would be a life and death issue anyway
My feeling has always been;
No State, County or City has the right to pass a Law that limits a Constitutional Right
Even the 9th and 10th Amendment doesn't allow for that
WE allow the States to do it to us