You should INDEED check with the police authorities in your area. In Canada,
the recent firearms legislation imposes VERY stringent requirements for the
transport of firearms and a number of other jurisdictions are increasing
their requirements. Please remember that antique weapons (pre1897
manufacture, I believe) are NOT usually defined as firearms, UNLESS
ammunition for them is readily available, which is true in very few
instances. Reproductions of antique firearms defy definition in many
jurisdictions. My experience as a reenactor is that police do not consider
them as firearms, provided that common sense is used in their transport,
i.e., they are transported unloaded, separated from the ammunition and
locked out of sight as in the trunk of a car or approved transportation
container.

For reasons which should be obvious, firearms are not just another form of
artifact. They are all potentially dangerous weapons.

Harry Needham
Canadian War Museum

> ----------
> From:         Wayne and Mary[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Reply To:     Museum discussion list
> Sent:         Saturday, October 16, 1999 9:11 AM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Re: Firearms Transport Policy
>
> On 15 Oct 99,, the dancing digits of Michael Wright delivered:
>
> >      Why should firearms be treated diffrently than any other
> > museum artifact?   I think it would be much safer to transport
> > firearems in a staff vehicle (provided they are not too long to fit
> > in the trunk or rear seat).  I realize that Massachusetts has some
> > very draconian laws regarding firearems, but does this include
> > transportation of historic arms.  Muzzle loading weapons, even
> > modern ones are generally considered to be antiques and do not fall
> > under current Federal legislation to my knowlege.
>
> It's still important to check with the police department to ensure
> you meet transport laws.  One thing to watch for is do not transport
> ammunition with the firearms.  It's probably best to transport any
> ammunition in a separate vehicle.
>
> It is also a good idea to make doubly sure that any weapons
> transported are not loaded.  I'm sure none are, but I've also heard
> many stories of unloaded firearms that have "gone off."
>
> I'msure that there is probably a requirement that the firearms be
> cased or boxed.   It is likely that they would have to be transported
> in the trunk or, at least, out of reach of the driver or any other
> occupants of the vehicle.  Locked cases would be the best way to go.
> They are available at most sporting goods stores.
>
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