__CCW Reciprocity in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania, like most states mandates that anyone carrying
a concealed firearm must have a permit.
The permit may be in the form of a “License to Carry Firearms” (LTCF)
issued by the state of Pennsylvania, or it may be a permit from another state
that is honored by a CCW reciprocity agreement.
CCW reciprocity is when one jurisdiction honors the right of a citizen of another jurisdiction to carry their concealed weapon while they are visiting. This may be through statute or by a specific agreement, but for the gun owner, the effect is basically the same. As long as they follow the rules and regulations of the state they are visiting, they are legally allowed to carry their concealed weapon based on the perrmit from their home state.
Have Gun will Travel: Visiting Pennsylvania
At the present time Pennsylvania honors permits from 24 states across the union -- 17 by a CCW reciprocity agreement. Indiana is an example of a state with statutory reciprocity with Pennsylvania. In either case, Pennsylvania will honor your permit when you come for a visit.
Be advised that CCW reciprocity can, and does, change quickly. It is always in your best interest to check the status of reciprocity just before traveling outside of your home state or licensing jurisdiction. That way you will know if your license will still be honored and/or if there are any special conditions that you should be aware of. Carry a copy of your concealed carry permit with you any time you are carrying your weapon. It’s a good idea to carry a copy of the regulations for the state you are traveling in, too.
In Vermont, there is no law that prohibits carrying firearms; therefore, there is no necessity for a concealed carry permit. Unfortunately, that means Vermonters wishing to visit the Keystone state will not be able to carry their weapons with them.
Have Gun will Travel: Leaving Pennsylvania
The LTCF is honored by 25 states, including Vermont. The biggest challenge for Pennsylvanians wanting to carry their weapons while they travel is that the only contiguous state that honors the LTCF is West Virginia.
So, if you are traveling to a state that honors your permit, the chances are high that you will be traveling through one or more that do not. There is no federal permit for transporting firearms across state lines; however, states (and sometimes local governments) have regulations covering the transport in their jurisdiction.
According to the Firearms Owners’ Protection Act (FOPA) if you are legally allowed to carry a firearm, then you are legally allowed to transport it to another part of the country where you are also legally allowed to carry that weapon.
The safest way to keep from running afoul of the law is to carry any weapon unloaded, locked in a case, and stored in the trunk of your vehicle. Ammunition should be kept in a separate locked case. If you are traveling by pickup, which obviously do not have trunks, then lock the weapon in a toolbox that is attached to the truck. The glove compartment or console of a vehicle is not an acceptable place to store your firearm.
Regrettably, the protections provided by FOPA do not guarantee that you will not get into trouble for transporting your gun. Some jurisdictions respect the protections only as an “affirmative defense,” which means they can still arrest you for having a concealed weapon, even if it is locked in your trunk.
CCW reciprocity is when one jurisdiction honors the right of a citizen of another jurisdiction to carry their concealed weapon while they are visiting. This may be through statute or by a specific agreement, but for the gun owner, the effect is basically the same. As long as they follow the rules and regulations of the state they are visiting, they are legally allowed to carry their concealed weapon based on the perrmit from their home state.
Have Gun will Travel: Visiting Pennsylvania
At the present time Pennsylvania honors permits from 24 states across the union -- 17 by a CCW reciprocity agreement. Indiana is an example of a state with statutory reciprocity with Pennsylvania. In either case, Pennsylvania will honor your permit when you come for a visit.
Be advised that CCW reciprocity can, and does, change quickly. It is always in your best interest to check the status of reciprocity just before traveling outside of your home state or licensing jurisdiction. That way you will know if your license will still be honored and/or if there are any special conditions that you should be aware of. Carry a copy of your concealed carry permit with you any time you are carrying your weapon. It’s a good idea to carry a copy of the regulations for the state you are traveling in, too.
In Vermont, there is no law that prohibits carrying firearms; therefore, there is no necessity for a concealed carry permit. Unfortunately, that means Vermonters wishing to visit the Keystone state will not be able to carry their weapons with them.
Have Gun will Travel: Leaving Pennsylvania
The LTCF is honored by 25 states, including Vermont. The biggest challenge for Pennsylvanians wanting to carry their weapons while they travel is that the only contiguous state that honors the LTCF is West Virginia.
So, if you are traveling to a state that honors your permit, the chances are high that you will be traveling through one or more that do not. There is no federal permit for transporting firearms across state lines; however, states (and sometimes local governments) have regulations covering the transport in their jurisdiction.
According to the Firearms Owners’ Protection Act (FOPA) if you are legally allowed to carry a firearm, then you are legally allowed to transport it to another part of the country where you are also legally allowed to carry that weapon.
The safest way to keep from running afoul of the law is to carry any weapon unloaded, locked in a case, and stored in the trunk of your vehicle. Ammunition should be kept in a separate locked case. If you are traveling by pickup, which obviously do not have trunks, then lock the weapon in a toolbox that is attached to the truck. The glove compartment or console of a vehicle is not an acceptable place to store your firearm.
Regrettably, the protections provided by FOPA do not guarantee that you will not get into trouble for transporting your gun. Some jurisdictions respect the protections only as an “affirmative defense,” which means they can still arrest you for having a concealed weapon, even if it is locked in your trunk.