I am considering purchasing a shotgun for a variety of roles, but one of the most important is a ‘traveling’ gun in my RV. I’ll be honest; if I’m going to select a long gun for defensive use it’s going to be one of my ARs. But there are states I may travel to that prohibit me from taking my AR or even my pistols. But I think a shotgun might be pretty innocuous and allow me to take a serious weapon most anywhere.
My question is what are some of the state restrictions on shotguns? My guess is that a 5 round pump would be legal just about everywhere, but what places would I have to avoid if I got an autoloader with a 6 round tube instead, or a tricked out Saiga?
So if the M4Carbine community could oblige, I’d like a quick rundown like this:
WA
Pumps: No magazine restrictions; pistol grips OK
Autos: Same as pumps
-Spas 12 or Streetsweeper or Striker 12 or otherwise useless shotguns
Or any shotgun that falls into these categories:
(6) A semiautomatic shotgun that has both of the following:
(A) A folding or telescoping stock.
(B) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon, thumbhole stock, or
vertical handgrip.
(7) A semiautomatic shotgun that has the ability to accept a detachable magazine.
(8) Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder.
So any regular pump that is Federally legal is fine in CA. Any semi-auto that is Federally legal is OK in CA without a folding stock AND pistol grip. There does not seem to be any magazine restrictions outside of detachable magazines.
In general the places the AR is forbidden, a de-castrated 12ga Saiga will be aswell.
Definetely stick to guns with tubes.
ETA: pretty much anything’ll go in TX (no surprise there) and most any shotgun you can imagine would be legal in and of itself in the vast majority of IL (Cook County and Chicago proper, however, is a whole different story), where you could run into trouble is whether or not an RV is considered a “Home” or a “Vehicle” per IL law. As I’ve never once considered owning an RV, nor known anyone who has, I’m not sure where IL stands on this but I can tell you that, if classified as a vehicle, transporting a loaded firearm of any sort isn’t permitted.
If you don’t have a VA concealed carry permit, do not carry a long gun, i.e. shotgun or rifle, loaded in your vehicle.
It’s a hunting law that was aimed at poachers, but starting in the 1980’s, it was also used against gangbangers as well.
If you have a VA CCW, then it doesn’t apply to you.
No restrictions on ammunition capacity or stocks, but VA expressly bans Streetsweepers and Striker shotguns, which haven’t been available in 20 years anyway.
In Alabama, NFA short barreled shot guns used to be banned by state law. This was recently overturned (yay). There are no restrictions on capacity or other such silliness.
We’re also one of those states where you need a “pistol permit” in order to transport firearms in a car. Permitless open carry is legal on foot, but the moment you hop into a vehicle you had better have a permit.
Permits are issued by local county sheriffs and the restrictions and price can vary from one county to the other. Usually they’re good for 1 year and cost 10 to 20 bucks. States outside of Alabama which observe permit reciprocity don’t care which county your permit is from.
Finally, if you’re an AL resident and hold something like a Utah or Florida permit, it does not count inside Alabama. Local residents have to have an Alabama permit, and if the Sheriff yanks your permit you cannot fall back on your Utah permit within the borders of Alabama (though you’re still good to go most other places).
I think concealed carry permit classes are occasionally offered that upon successful completion allow you to carry in 30+ states. It may be worth your time to look into that if for no other reason than getting an ‘official’ word on transporting firearms.
General:
No SBS allowed unless C&R FFL and it’s a C&R firearm. No exemption for law enforcement or SOT taxpayers. AOWs are legal for everyone.
Manual repeaters: No further restrictions.
Automatic repeaters: No further restrictions.
Special circumstances:
A shotgun that is at least 26 inches in length, but less than 30 inches in length, is considered a pistol by definition of pistol and must be registered as a pistol. This also allows the weapon to be carried in the same manner of a pistol meaning your Concealed Pistol License will allow the carrying of said weapon in a concealed manner anywhere the carrying of concealed pistols is allowed in the state. Furthermore, you may open carry said “pistol registered shotgun” (my term) in places that are not allowed with a firearm if you have a CPL. This means you may have a loaded/unloaded “pistol registered shotgun” in your vehicle with a CPL and you may openly carry your “pistol registered shotgun” in a pistol free zone if you have your CPL.
AFAIK, Maryland has very few restrictions on shotguns.
Saigas are Regulated, and subject to additional MDSP paperwork and a waiting period, and I believe (feel free to correct me, fellow Marylanders) that pistol gripped shotguns are subject to this as well.
Any standard hunting shotgun is 4473/NICS/pay cashier and out the door.
Ohio has very few to no restrictions on shotguns outside of hunting situations. We have no AWB, not shotgun capacity restriction, and local gun control ordinances are null and void.
You cannot carry a loaded long gun in a vehicle in Ohio, not even with a concealed handgun license.
For Ca. I would also add that the SG doesn’t need to be in a locked case or any case, except it must be in a locked case, unloaded within a 1000 ft of a K-12 school. It must be unloaded (no rounds in the chamber, or the magazine). The ammo can be next to it, or in a side saddle.
To the best of my knowledge in AZ you are good to go. Long guns off all types are perfectly legal. Loaded long guns in your vehicle are also good to go.
I have heard conflicting things about the pistol grip only shotguns here, either way it doesn’t affect your stay in our state, only the purchasing of one here.
A semi-automatic shotgun with either a magazine capacity exceeding six rounds, a folding stock or a pistol grip
18" BBL and OAL of 26" MIN.
But then again you need to have a Fire Arms Purchase ID card to own any long gun and be able to take it out of your home… so might as well just avoid NJ like the plague…
