The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Conference Center > Law and Civil Rights

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old September 27, 2009, 05:41 AM   #1
cincy
Junior Member
 
Join Date: October 21, 2008
Posts: 1
carrying an empty gun in ohio

Is it legal to carry an unloaded gun in a backpack in Ohio? I sometimes have to park a block or two from home so going to the range involves walking down public sidewalks. Is this illegal? I know OH considers a gun in a car loaded if its mags/speedloaders are loaded so the mags in the bag are empty.

Advice appreciated.
cincy is offline  
Old September 27, 2009, 10:54 AM   #2
KLRANGL
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 9, 2008
Location: Fredericksburg, VA
Posts: 958
Well this is where you are going to need to do a little digging in Ohio law yourself, as people's ideas of what the law is can be widely varied and misinformed. So I recommend finding your state code online and reading it over yourself.
Hopefully someone more versed in Ohio law can reference you a relevant statute.

I do know that Virginia law allows you to carry a firearm that is "unloaded and securely wrapped" to and from a firing range. I believe an unloaded handgun in a backpack would fit this description.
Ohio might have some similar law.
__________________
And it's Killer Angel... as in the book
KLRANGL is offline  
Old September 27, 2009, 11:30 AM   #3
Edward429451
Junior member
 
Join Date: November 12, 2000
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Posts: 9,494
That's good advice. The only thing I can add is to interpret it yourself...but in a very critical way. The worst possible interpretation is likely what the cop/detective/judge will use so don't be optomistic, be realistic.
Edward429451 is offline  
Old September 27, 2009, 06:03 PM   #4
johnwilliamson062
Junior member
 
Join Date: May 16, 2008
Posts: 9,995
DOn't look at Ohio revised code. Ask your local PD about it. They are the ones you will have to deal with and they are making their own interpretation.
johnwilliamson062 is offline  
Old September 28, 2009, 04:46 PM   #5
zippyfusenet
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 19, 2005
Posts: 165
Your gun has to be locked or in a locked case. Your mags should not be loaded. Apart from that, I don't see that a locked gun with a box of ammo in a backpack is any different from the same in a range bag.
__________________
You'll shoot your eye out, kid!
zippyfusenet is offline  
Old September 28, 2009, 06:02 PM   #6
luvsasmith
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 20, 2008
Posts: 358
Just open carry the loaded gun and you are in the clear.
__________________
"You can't miss fast enough to win a gun fight."
luvsasmith is offline  
Old September 28, 2009, 11:48 PM   #7
3 gun
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 23, 1999
Location: N41 24.283 W81 43.370 N.E.Ohio
Posts: 561
The Ohio Revised Code is the law. You don't need to worry about local laws in Ohio as the state law preempts them when it comes to firearms.

Ohio is an open carry state. You could if you wanted, keep the gun loaded and holstered in plain view during your walk. Without a CCL you can not have a loaded handgun in your car or on your person. As you noted a loaded magazine or speed-loader equals a loaded gun in Ohio.

I would not suggest just dropping the pistol in the pack and using Velcro to keep it closed. If your backpack has zippers I'd suggest using a small padlock to lock the bag. A trigger or cable lock would not be a bad idea if you don't have a lockable case to transport the pistol.
__________________
Change you can believe in... Pre-65 US silver coins
NRA RSO & Certified Instructor in rifle, pistol, shotgun.
An unloaded pistol is a paperweight.
Opportunity knocks..Trouble kicks down the door.
3 gun is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:42 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.11319 seconds with 10 queries