18USC, Chapter 44 Section 926 states that in the course of interstate transportation of firearms, the firearms must be unloaded and in a locked compartment not accessable to the passenger compartment.
Full text here
I can't find any exception to this law.
Does this mean one should pull over just before the state line, place their pistol in the trunk, pull forward 20 feet, get out and re-arm themselves?
Um, no. I read the link you provided and it says NO SUCH THING.
It says
"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"
It says a person (who is not a prohiited person - convicted felon, etc. would be examples thereof) SHALL BE ENTITLTED to transport a firearm in the manner described.
If it says you are "limited to " carrying in that manner or "MUST" carry in that manner, you would be correct.
It does not say he MUST carry in that manner, or something like that. It gives a manner that a person is entitled to carry that is consistent with the law.
It does not say this is the ONLY method he may carry. It does not say he MUST or SHALL carry in that manner. It says "shall be entitled" which simply means this method is allowed.
Sorry, but I think you had a reading comprehension fail
Note that MOST laws prohibit behaviors. They say don't do X and if you do X, this is the penalty.
This law is unusual in that (and there are other examples of such types of law) it does not PROHIBIT ANYTHING. It ENABLES you to do something (entitles you)... to carry in the above manner and not have to worry about running afoul of other laws. It leaves OPEN other methods of carry. Those would be legal or illegal depending on the state(s) you are in.
An analogy could be made to my state's laws about carrying a firearm. It says a person is prohibited from carrying a concealed firearm apart from at his home or business UNLESS he has a concealed weapons permit.
It describes a way to carry - concealed
and says you may carry that way if you have a CPL
So, can you carry openly (OC) w/o a permit? Sure. It doesn't mention OC at all, doesn't prohibit it, therefore it's allowed.
The federal law you cite similarly describes a way you are "entitled" to carry. Iow, you MAY carry that way, to avoid criminal prosecution. It does not say you MUST carry that way. So, you need to look at the whole body of law vis a vis interstate transport and specifically what transport methods are PROHIBITED to get the full picture.
The law you cite is the FOPA law
A provision of the federal law known as the Firearms Owners’ Protection Act, or FOPA, protects those who are transporting firearms for lawful purposes from local restrictions which would otherwise prohibit passage.
Iow, GIVEN state(s) that prohibit carry etc. you are protected from STATE prosecution IF you follow the above guideline about carry
You are NOT restricted to that method, ASSUMING you are using a manner of transport CONSISTENT with state law.
THe law you cite merely provides an OVERRIDING (Federal law overrides state law) law, a method you can use between ANY two states, that will be legal.
grok it?
but be aware (I found this unsettling)
Travelers should be aware that some state and local governments treat this federal provision as an “affirmative defense” that may only be raised after an arrest. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has also recently held that FOPA’s protections only apply while the firearm is not readily accessible to the traveler, and that a firearm is readily accessible during a hotel stay.
While this decision is only binding in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and the U.S. Virgin Islands, all travelers in areas with restrictive laws would be well advised to have copies of any applicable firearm licenses or permits, as well as copies or printouts from the relevant jurisdictions’ official publications or websites documenting pertinent provisions of law (including FOPA itself) or reciprocity information. In the event of an unexpected or extended delay, travelers should make every effort not to handle any luggage containing firearms unnecessarily and to secure it in a location where they do not have ready access to it.