As we all know, ninjas can leap out of trees and attack at any moment. They can do so while you’re raking leaves in the yard or commuting to work. If you commute in an automobile, then you have a chance for survival because it’s legal to carry weapons (including swords and firearms) as long as they’re in plain view, at least around here it is. But what if your usual means of transportation is a motorcycle? All the really cool samurai ride motorcycles, like in Road Rash. Is it legal to strap a katana to your Katana? What about a firearm? It’s not as honorable, but sometimes you can’t be picky. In these days of ascending fear from ninja attacks, what can a biker samurai do to protect himself?
PS: I’m in Texas, but comments for any state are welcome.
In Arkansas the cop told me it was legal to carry unloaded rifles in a case strapped onto the bike. We were taking .22s to Grandfather’s farm to shoot snakes.
unloaded only in car, and no it’s not good enough to have a full clip or speedloader sitting next to the unloaded weapon, therefore, weapon in trunk, box of ammo in car or vice versa, weapon in 1 saddle bag, box of ammo in the other.
In Washington state you could carry in the car or a motorcycle if you had a CWP. Without it you had to unload the gun and keep bullets in a different container (gun in one bag, bullets in another)
Legal in Arizona. Surprised the heck out of me when I drove to AZ to visit a friend and saw a guy on a motorcycle with a plainly visible holstered .45 auto. I’m for both legal open carry and concealed carry (with background check and permit) but since I lived in California at the time, it was kind of startling.
(i) For purposes of Subsection (b)(3), a person is presumed to be traveling if the person is:
(1) in a private motor vehicle;
(2) not otherwise engaged in criminal activity, other than a Class C misdemeanor that is a violation of a law or ordinance regulating traffic;
(3) not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing a firearm;
(4) not a member of a criminal street gang, as defined by Section 71.01; and
(5) not carrying a handgun in plain view.
I bought an M-1 Carbine from a store in San Bernardino. I was riding a motorcycle, and lived in L.A. So I cut two slots in the box. I passed the sling through the slots in the box. The box was securely taped shut. I slung it across my back and rode home.
(CHP may or may not have seen me. No way of knowing. I had no ammo.)
Well that’s fucked up. I’ve seen plenty of people that had rifles in their rear windshield. In fact, I was once stopped with a 22 rifle on my rear accessories deck (just under the rear windshield) of my Thunderbird. The cop ran the serial number, gave it back to me, and said nothing else about the gun. I got a ticket for expired registration though… Apparently it’s a law that isn’t really enforced around here.
The question wasn’t really about handguns. I know you can get a permit and carry a pistol no matter what kind of vehicle you have. I was mainly thinking about swords actually, but when I said firearms, I meant rifles and shotguns, like if you’re going to target practice or even if you just bought one. How the hell are you supposed to buy a rifle or shotgun and take it home if you don’t have a conceiled weapon permit and can’t carry it openly? That seems a bit ridiculous to me.
Texas penal code is here; weapons are covered under chapter 46. Swords are listed as one of the weapons that may not be carried unless participating in or in transit to/from an event that specifically requires it. Long guns (shotguns and rifles) may be carried openly unless in a manner calculated to cause alarm, or may be concealed without a permit.
In terms of handguns, the recent bill concerning handguns in vehicles is still controversial. For example, the Houston DA says he will still prosecute people without a CHL who carry a handgun in their vehicle. In Texas, though, it is easy to get your concealed handgun permit–if you can legally own a handgun and are able to use it semi-proficiently, there is no reason you cannot get your CHL.
Having a rifle in your car somewhere - especially on a rack - is not “open carry”. Open carry is walking around in public displaying a holstered firearm on your hip for the whole world to see.
Just in case you’re ever looking for ninjas in Florida, you may openly carry your sword, but not your firearm. You will need to conceal it, and get a permit. However, when you’re in a car, that sword you’re wearing is probably not as “open” or visible as it was when you were out of your car, so it may now be a concealed weapon. But there are no restrictions in Florida on having long guns in your vehicle. So you can keep a shotgun on the dashboard, front seat, or window rack if you want - loaded or otherwise…
