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Can you open carry on a motorcycle in Pennsylvania, specifically Pittsburgh?

Grapeshot

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Vehicle carry regardless of CC or OC requires a LTCF. It is my understand that vehicle includes a motorcycle.

18 Pa.C.S. § 6108: Carrying firearms on public streets or public property in Philadelphia


  • No person shall carry a firearm, rifle or shotgun at any time upon the public streets or upon any public property in a city of the first class unless:
    • (1) such person is licensed to carry a firearm; or
    • (2) such person is exempt from licensing under section 6106(b) of this title (relating to firearms not to be carried without a license).
Open carry is legal in Pennsylvania without a License To Carry Firearms except in "cities of the first class" (Philadelphia) and vehicles where a License To Carry Firearms is required to do so.

 
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defcon4

Regular Member
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Apr 17, 2011
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38
Location
Alabama
re: motorcycle cary

Can I have an unloaded pistol in one saddlebag and the ammo in the other?

18 Pa.C.S. § 6106: Firearms not to be carried without a license
(a) Offense defined.--
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), any person who carries a firearm in any vehicle or any person who carries a firearm concealed on or about his person, except in his place of abode or fixed place of business, without a valid and lawfully issued license under this chapter commits a felony of the third degree.
(2) A person who is otherwise eligible to possess a [FN1] valid license under this chapter but carries a firearm in any vehicle or any person who carries a firearm concealed on or about his person, except in his place of abode or fixed place of business, without a valid and lawfully issued license and has not committed any other criminal violation commits a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(b) Exceptions.--The provisions of subsection (a) shall not apply to:
(1) Constables, sheriffs, prison or jail wardens, or their deputies, policemen of this Commonwealth or its political subdivisions, or other law-enforcement officers.
(2) Members of the army, navy, marine corps, air force or coast guard of the United States or of the National Guard or organized reserves when on duty.
(3) The regularly enrolled members of any organization duly organized to purchase or receive such firearms from the United States or from this Commonwealth.
(4) Any persons engaged in target shooting with a firearm, if such persons are at or are going to or from their places of assembly or target practice and if, while going to or from their places of assembly or target practice, the firearm is not loaded.
(5) Officers or employees of the United States duly authorized to carry a concealed firearm.
(6) Agents, messengers and other employees of common carriers, banks, or business firms, whose duties require them to protect moneys, valuables and other property in the discharge of such duties.
(7) Any person engaged in the business of manufacturing, repairing, or dealing in firearms, or the agent or representative of any such person, having in his possession, using or carrying a firearm in the usual or ordinary course of such business.
(8) Any person while carrying a firearm which is not loaded and is in a secure wrapper from the place of purchase to his home or place of business, or to a place of repair, sale or appraisal or back to his home or place of business, or in moving from one place of abode or business to another or from his home to a vacation or recreational home or dwelling or back, or to recover stolen property under section 6111.1(b)(4) (relating to Pennsylvania State Police), or to a place of instruction intended to teach the safe handling, use or maintenance of firearms or back or to a location to which the person has been directed to relinquish firearms under 23 Pa.C.S. § 6108 (relating to relief) or back upon return of the relinquished firearm or to a licensed dealer's place of business for relinquishment pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S § 6108.2 (relating to relinquishment for consignment sale, lawful transfer or safekeeping) or back upon return of the relinquished firearm or to a location for safekeeping pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 6108.3 (relating to relinquishment to third party for safekeeping) or back upon return of the relinquished firearm.
(9) Persons licensed to hunt, take furbearers or fish in this Commonwealth, if such persons are actually hunting, taking furbearers or fishing as permitted by such license, or are going to the places where they desire to hunt, take furbearers or fish or returning from such places.
(10) Persons training dogs, if such persons are actually training dogs during the regular training season.
(11) Any person while carrying a firearm in any vehicle, which person possesses a valid and lawfully issued license for that firearm which has been issued under the laws of the United States or any other state.
(12) A person who has a lawfully issued license to carry a firearm pursuant to section 6109 (relating to licenses) and that said license expired within six months prior to the date of arrest and that the individual is otherwise eligible for renewal of the license.
(13) Any person who is otherwise eligible to possess a firearm under this chapter and who is operating a motor vehicle which is registered in the person's name or the name of a spouse or parent and which contains a firearm for which a valid license has been issued pursuant to section 6109 to the spouse or parent owning the firearm.
(14) A person lawfully engaged in the interstate transportation of a firearm as defined under 18 U.S.C § 921(a)(3) (relating to definitions) in compliance with 18 U.S.C. § 926A (relating to interstate transportation of firearms).
(15) Any person who possesses a valid and lawfully issued license or permit to carry a firearm which has been issued under the laws of another state, regardless of whether a reciprocity agreement exists between the Commonwealth and the state under section 6109(k), provided:
(i) The state provides a reciprocal privilege for individuals licensed to carry firearms under section 6109.
(ii) The Attorney General has determined that the firearm laws of the state are similar to the firearm laws of this Commonwealth.
(16) Any person holding a license in accordance with section 6109(f)(3).


The short answer is NO. You still need a LTCF unless you meet any of the exceptions above.
 
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skidmark

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Jan 15, 2007
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Valhalla
I was talking about Pittsburgh, not Philly

Philly requires a permission slip to carry OC. The rest of the state, in spite of some local efforts to not comply with state preemption, only requires a permission slip to carry concealed.

The law being cited is statewide and is concerned with carry in a vehicle (which apparently a MC is). That law does not care if you are OCing, CCing, or balancing it on te end of your nose.

stay safe.
 

bc.cruiser

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 2, 2011
Messages
786
Location
Fayetteville NC
I was talking about Pittsburgh, not Philly


We both knew that. If you read the last line of the post: "Open carry is legal in Pennsylvania without a License To Carry Firearms except in "cities of the first class" (Philadelphia) and vehicles where a License To Carry Firearms is required to do so.", the application is not exclusive to Philly, but rather to the state, including Pittsburgh.
 

Statkowski

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2006
Messages
1,141
Location
Cherry Tree (Indiana County), Pennsylvania, USA
Question: Can you open carry on a motorcycle in Pennsylvania, specifically Pittsburgh?

Answer: Any vehicle carry (motorcycle, bicycle, unicycle, skateboard, horse, tractor, car, truck, riding lawnmower, etc.) requires the carrier to possess an LTCF, anywhere in Pennsylvania, including both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. How the firearm is carried (OC, CC, taped to one's forehead, etc.) is immaterial.

If you want to OC a firearm on a motorcycle (or any vehicle), anywhere in Pennsylvania, including both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, you need an LTCF.

If you want to CC a firearm on a motorcycle (or any vehicle), anywhere in Pennsylvania, including both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, you need an LTCF.

If you want to carry it, assembled or disassembled, with or without ammunition within 5 miles of it, in your saddlebags, on your saddlebags, near your saddlebags, and you're not going to/from firearms dealer, shooting range, or any of the other exempted locations, you need an LTCF.

Again, the issue is not how you do or do not carry the firearm. The issue is - if it's done in relationship with a vehicle, you need an LTCF (unless exempted by law). Anything else brought up as a subject matter is diversionary, and immaterial.
 
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MSG Laigaie

Campaign Veteran
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Jan 10, 2011
Messages
3,241
Location
Philipsburg, Montana
So........legality has been established, shall we move to method?

I ride almost every day, as does my Sweet Baboo. I OC in a Fobus paddle and have never had a problem. Herself carries what looks like a small purse attached to her belt loops with a glock in it.
 

Grapeshot

Legendary Warrior
Joined
May 21, 2006
Messages
35,317
Location
Valhalla
So........legality has been established, shall we move to method?

I ride almost every day, as does my Sweet Baboo. I OC in a Fobus paddle and have never had a problem. Herself carries what looks like a small purse attached to her belt loops with a glock in it.
Better than a NY reload = having good backup.
 
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