How to Transport Guns Safely and Smoothly
Summertime is a high-traffic season for household moving, which leads to the issue of How to Transport Guns Safely and Smoothly. For many individuals and families, this leads to buckets of stress. And for firearm owners, that stress is multiplied by every additional step you have to take before transporting your firearm.
So before you reach for the boxes and packing tape, take a look at our guide on how to safely and smoothly travel with firearms (and a gun safe). By the end of your read, the stress of transporting firearms will lift off your shoulders (making room for the stress of moving in general).
Step 1 – Location
Transporting firearms is not the same as moving other household items. Your guns, ammunition and gun safe are valuable property. These items can carry a hefty value and care should be given to ensure these valuables are not only physically safe and secure during your move, but also legally so.
Gun laws vary widely within the United States, depending on location.
If you’re making an interstate move, familiarize yourself with the gun laws in your new location. This way, you’re prepared for any changes in gun legislation before you relocate.
Websites like State Firearm Laws offer compiled national data for each state regarding the regulation of guns and other related subjects, including ammunition, background checks, concealed carry permits and gun trafficking.
Part of creating an untroubled move for yourself and your family, particularly with an interstate move, involves researching and gaining accurate, reliable information about state gun laws. If you ignore this step, you risk breaking a firearm law in your new location – and nobody wants that.
Step 2 – Research
One of the most important decisions when moving is whether to “do-it-yourself” or hire a professional moving company.
There are benefits and drawbacks to both approaches. However, no matter which type of move you decide to pursue, it’s essential to do proper research and gain important knowledge beforehand. This is especially significant if firearms are among your household items.
For those deciding to hire professional movers, know ahead of time the company policy for moving and transporting firearms and related material.
Firearms are obviously products you don’t want stolen or damaged, so hiring a professional for transport isn’t a bad idea. For most companies, the conventional policy says movers can transport firearms in a moving truck, but not ammunition.
However, moving companies reserve the right to set their own policies regarding the transportation of firearms, including refusal to do so at all. In this case, the option is transporting your firearms on your own or looking into a different professional moving service.
This is why researching is crucial before hiring movers. You don’t want to be caught off-guard by a company’s firearm policy inhibiting the flow of your move or stopping it altogether.
If you want to get an early start on researching, many websites offer helpful advice regarding do-it-yourself and/or professional moving.
Step 3 – Packing
Packing household items for a move is a daunting task. This is also true for firearms and the like.
Whether you hire professionals to wrap and box up your items or you decide to do it yourself, you need to use extreme caution when packing firearms and ammunition.Experts agree: guns should be unloaded and stowed with safety mechanisms on.
An added precaution is using trigger locks or, if possible, breaking your firearm(s) into separate pieces. If you have specific gun cases with hard shells, this is the safest method of storing your guns during a move. And if the cases lock, your security and peace of mind will only increase.
That said, if you don’t have specific cases for your firearms, wrap them in packaging material for protection and have a labeling system for the boxes they’re stored in. Remember: using as much care as possible when packing your guns and ammunition will help you avoid any potentially harmful or dangerous situations.
Step 4 – Documentation
In the chaos of moving, people sometimes overlook the necessity of documentation and paperwork. While personal papers like passports and birth certificates might be at the forefront of your mind during a move, there are other documents just as essential – but often forgotten.
This applies even more to gun owners. Attention to detail regarding gun permits and registrations can mean the difference between a successful, low-stress move and a legal nightmare.
First and foremost, when packing your firearms, document each one by writing down the make, model and serial number. You can also photograph your firearms to substantiate such information. Second, consider any permits and/or registrations you already have, plus any needed for interstate moves.
Documentation and paperwork should be hand-carried during your move. This way, it’s easy to access and doesn’t get lost or overlooked in the shuffle of packed household goods.
Step 5 – Gun Safe Safety
Some firearm owners think storing guns in a gun safe eases the hassle of transporting them during a move. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Gun safes are extremely heavy – even when they’re empty – and often problematic for do-it-yourself movers.
If you go along with the idea anyway, you’ll soon realize your valuable items are at a much greater risk of damage. And that damage can be pretty costly when it comes to repairs or even replacements. For this reason, gun safes need to be empty of firearms when transported.
Professional help is also recommended.
While gun safes are considered “heavy-duty” in the moving industry, movers will typically still have the proper equipment to move them. However, without the proper equipment to move a gun safe, you risk damage to the safe and injury to yourself.
Again, research and preparation are key when moving your gun safe successfully. And remember: consult with a professional moving company about your firearms and/or gun safe so they can accommodate you (or make other arrangements if they can’t).
One big thing to remember or something I do is I separate any guns from the safe and I take them personally. That way I alleviate any stress or possible issues from anyone else transporting my firearms. This also takes care of the stress from worrying they might go missing. Although most moving companies are safe and honest, there are exceptions and I would rather just handle it myself.
Conclusion
When a move is complete, it’s tempting to breathe a sigh of relief and assume all is well in your new location. However, you still need to be vigilant when it comes to gun safety. For example, hurried or hazardous unpacking can result in dangerous consequences. You would not want a gun going off accidentally when unpacking. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Set the safety stage by packing and transporting your firearms in order to prevent the worry or issues once transported.
Also, organization is just as important when unpacking your guns as it was when you were packing them. If you own a gun safe, stow your firearms quickly and carefully to prevent loss of materials or potential injury. If you don’t own a gun safe, take measures to secure your firearms as soon as possible.
And don’t forget to file your documentation and paperwork in an appropriate place, so you can procure it when necessary. After all of these steps are achieved, it’s finally time to rest easy.
For more information about gun laws, safety measures, collection and storage, consult The American Gun Association. The AGA website has a virtual library of resources to help you make the most of your gun ownership, operation and protection. These resources can also assist you in creating a safe and smooth move for your firearms.