Firearms Iinstuctor
Regular Member
These two questions were taken from the DNR web site I see no secton of act 51 saying you can or can not load or unload a long gun in a stationary vehicle did I miss something or is there some other law that states that.
On Q14 I see nothing in act 51 stated that when a moving motor vehicle is stopped by a LEO that any long guns that are loaded at the time of the stop.(once the vehicle is stationary a loaded gun is legal.) That it well be considered prima facie evidence that they were loaded before the stop.
Is the DNR just making this stuff up or did I miss something important. Does any one have more info to clear this up
Q2: Do firearms still have to be unloaded before they can be placed in or on a motorized vehicle, including ATVs, UTVs, snowmobiles and farm implements?
A: No. However, if the firearm is a rifle or shotgun, it can only be in or on a vehicle which is stationary. Additionally, it is important to be aware that it remains illegal to actually load any long guns (rifles & shotguns) while the firearm or person loading it is still in or on the vehicle. All long guns must be outside and off a motorized vehicle before a person may load the firearm. Once loaded, the firearm can be set down in or on a stationary vehicle, but must be unloaded before the firearm is transported any distance in the vehicle.
Q14: If it is not legal to load a firearm while the firearm is in or on a motorized vehicle, but it is legal to place a loaded firearm in or on a stationary vehicle, how will an officer know if it was loaded before or after it was placed in the vehicle?
A: It may not always be possible to make this determination, however, if an officer observes a vehicle in motion and has cause to stop or contact the occupants before they exit the vehicle, any loaded firearm discovered in the vehicle will be prima facie evidence that the firearm was either illegally transported loaded or it was loaded illegally in the vehicle when it stopped.
On Q14 I see nothing in act 51 stated that when a moving motor vehicle is stopped by a LEO that any long guns that are loaded at the time of the stop.(once the vehicle is stationary a loaded gun is legal.) That it well be considered prima facie evidence that they were loaded before the stop.
Is the DNR just making this stuff up or did I miss something important. Does any one have more info to clear this up
Q2: Do firearms still have to be unloaded before they can be placed in or on a motorized vehicle, including ATVs, UTVs, snowmobiles and farm implements?
A: No. However, if the firearm is a rifle or shotgun, it can only be in or on a vehicle which is stationary. Additionally, it is important to be aware that it remains illegal to actually load any long guns (rifles & shotguns) while the firearm or person loading it is still in or on the vehicle. All long guns must be outside and off a motorized vehicle before a person may load the firearm. Once loaded, the firearm can be set down in or on a stationary vehicle, but must be unloaded before the firearm is transported any distance in the vehicle.
Q14: If it is not legal to load a firearm while the firearm is in or on a motorized vehicle, but it is legal to place a loaded firearm in or on a stationary vehicle, how will an officer know if it was loaded before or after it was placed in the vehicle?
A: It may not always be possible to make this determination, however, if an officer observes a vehicle in motion and has cause to stop or contact the occupants before they exit the vehicle, any loaded firearm discovered in the vehicle will be prima facie evidence that the firearm was either illegally transported loaded or it was loaded illegally in the vehicle when it stopped.
