Road Trip!

I'm tired of being couped up during this made up pandemic bullstuff. Since I lost my job, I basically have just worked around home and only gone out a couple of times and when I have, the stupid people end up pissing me off. No, I'm not a people person.

My oldest son is also out of work so we decided to make a road trip this week. My younger son got a job and moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, back in January and we are going out to visit.

We will leave NC, go through Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska. I just found out that we will be in IL for about 2 hours. We both have NC CHP's and will definitely be traveling armed. Would it be best to unload, remove magazine and unload chamber, and lock it in the trunk while in IL? I found that in IL you do not have to inform LE of having a firearm and also found this:



We plan to do the drive in 2 days, ~18 hours total, so we are not on the road after dark. We plan to start out Tuesday morning and take our time, stopping to see anything that sparks our interest on the way out and back and plan to be gone for 8 or 9 days.

Any recommendations on anything worth stopping at/seeing, or areas to avoid? If we avoid IL, it adds about 2 hours to the trip.

Which ever you do try to find a Braums and try their ice cream.

You’ll be fine crossing IL as long as you lock them up, keep your mouth shut, and don’t go through the far north or south ends of the state.

I have never had need for a firearm while driving through any of the states you mention. When stopped is a different matter.

Paducah KY, AKA Atomic City is a really chill town to visit and the sunsets on the river there are amazing. They have stadium seating along the river on the water side of a mural covered flood wall that's a great place to take a long break...

The old Market in Omaha Nebraska is really cool too. Breweries and restaurants abound...

Be safe and ENJOY!

18 U.S. Code§ 926A.Interstate transportation of firearms

Notwithstanding any other provision of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or any political subdivision thereof, any person who is not otherwise prohibited by this chapter from transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle: Provided, That in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver’s compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.

Just don't stop in IL and you're fine and legal, no need to do anything extra.
If you get stopped cooperate, unless they request to search then the answer should always be NO.
I drive like I'm 97% retarded, have seen many cops in and never been pulled over in IL, or contacted for any reason there. I spend a few days there most years.
But then again outside of AK I haven't been stopped much.

Just bring a safe for your time in IL. They've actually got good clear laws on the books. If you stop, lock it up...

The 125ish miles on I-64 in Illinois is the only problem area BUT southern IL is not the crazy gun grabbing Greater Chicago Area type so it just a slight one. Every where else has reciprocity with NC so your NC CHP is good. Just before the Wabash River unload all firearms and store the ammo and mags separate from the firearms themselves in the rear of the vehicle out of reach. Drive normally thru the 125ish miles carefully and after you cross the Mississippi River and see that big Gateway Arch you can rearm but be sure to pick a good safe spot because you are now in St Louis.

I would suggest make sure you print out the States Concealed Carry Laws, especially Nebraska, and note any difference from NC especially where you can and can’t carry.

I think your risks of having problems by engaging in a Chinese fire drill (unloading and stowing in the trunk) at the border is greater than having an issue if you just drive through and don’t act stupid. It helps that their statutes are clear on the subject.

Let me get this right, your BOTH out of work and you're going to spend money and time to visit Nebraska?? Maybe spend that time finding another JOB?? Unless your suddenly independently wealthy??

If I were out of work and NOT wealthy I'd devote my time and resources toward finding gainful employment and save the vacations for better times... but that's just me...

If you are stopped in IL just say “no habla ingles, extranjero ilegal” and you will breeze through