USA – -(Ammoland.com)- Yet another citizen is facing criminal charges for not realizing that gun laws vary from state to state. Hayley Leach, a Colorado woman, was arrested when she attempted to check her gun in at Albany Airport for her return flight home, News 10 ABC reported.
Leach has since been free released on bail but must return to New York in February. That means in addition to facing charges, she’ll need to endure the expenses of retaining a lawyer, traveling back from Colorado, and paying fines and court costs. That she lawfully owned her gun in Colorado and that she tried to obey the federal law by declaring her firearm with TSA does not matter to those intent on making her pay. It’s reminiscent of earlier similar cases, including that of Donna Marie Gracey, the Florida woman with a concealed carry permit who was arrested last month for having it in New Jersey, or the ordeals of Shaneen Allen and others. None of them had criminal intent.
It points to the need for national reciprocity and recognition of licenses between states, as driver and marriage licenses are honored. Better yet would be so-called “Constitutional carry” as many states now enjoy, with more considering such legislation. But don’t hold your breath for that to go nationwide any time soon.
As an aside, it’s telling that the News 10 report stated:
“Customers are coming from places like Vermont or Massachusetts where they legally own their guns and have concealed carry permits.”
Vermont requires no permits and was the model for other states to follow. Before the practice became more widespread, it was generally called “Vermont carry.” One would think professional journalists would learn their subject matter before presenting their voices as authoritative, but media ignorance on guns is something we’re not likely to see rectified any time soon. Still, it does help understand the roots of the fear and hostility we see on display in so much of the mainstream press.
“Unfortunately for her it is her own fault for not checking the gun laws in the state she is traveling to,” one reader commented. He’s taken some flack for that from other readers, no doubt because the way he stated his point blamed the victim rather than the tyrannical edicts. Still, there’s truth to what he says.
“Except for NH & Vermont, the North East states are profoundly anti-gun & everyone traveling should know that,” he continued. “There are books available that list the gun laws in every state & it is the gun owner’s responsibility to know what those laws are everywhere they intend to travel. I doubt she will get jail time, but I bet it will be a hefty fine. She better be happy she wasn’t in NYC or it would have been far more costly.”
It’s tough to argue with that. And I say that as someone sympathetic to “I will not comply” and “Defy existing gun laws” sentiments. But you need to do that with eyes open.
If you own a gun you owe it to yourself to know what the laws are so that you don’t inadvertently find yourself and those who depend on you in a world of hurt. And chances are if you’re oblivious to those laws, you haven’t been sufficiently motivated to assist in defending the right to keep and bear arms against such infringements. That means chances are you’re reaping the benefits of pro-gun efforts in the legislatures and courts while letting other gun owners carry the load.
If there’s a silver lining, it’s that on occasion the victims of such edicts turn into effective voices of reason, with an ability to expand appeal beyond the “old white man” stereotype. Ms. Allen has grown and risen to the challenge of leadership. Perhaps Ms. Gracey and/or Ms. Leach will, through their stories, help offset some of the Opposite Day “progressive feminist” rhetoric telling women their safest course is to be defenseless against abusive and predatory assailants.
About David Codrea:
David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating / defending the RKBA and a long-time gun owner rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament.
In addition to being a field editor/columnist at GUNS Magazine and associate editor for Oath Keepers, he blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.
It’s her duty as a gun owner to know the law. I have a Va conceal carry. It’s good in about 38 states. Not NY.
There is much more to this than is being told: How did she get the weapon to NY? Where did she get the handgun in NY if she didn’t bring it with her? Did she buy it there without understanding she could not get it home? Did someone give it to her? Many questions not answered.
On a different note, National Reciprocity would give the #DCvers in Washington control over CCW (research Real ID and see the disaster that is) instead of the states where it belongs (until we change the states into Constitutional Carry).
https://tenthamendmentcenter.com/2017/08/14/national-concealed-carry-reciprocity-bill-is-a-trojan-horse/
as far as “needing to do that” I wonder about someone who is paying no attention to the laws in these commie states as opposed to specifically not complying; do they vote? How do they vote? How do gun owners (assuming alleged majorities of the population) allow this bullshit to stand. What are (you) they doing to advance constitutional rights? How much are they contributing that I should care beyond the basic desire for torches and pitchforks? I carry. Period. If I get busted carrying, I expect to pay the consequences. I get it. I defy and I contribute…….heavily toward… Read more »
I thought it was legal to travel THROUGH states with your firearms.
Please disabuse me of my error
You stated that the north eastern states are anti-gun – more correctly the state governments of most of theses states are anti gun and are usually controlled by the big urban areas. Most people who live in and around big cities have lost touch with the land and do not own firearms and see no need/use for them. While most people living in rural area are usually brought up around firearms and taught to proper handle them, to safely and use them regularly for hunting and predator control, the same cannot be said for most of our urban brothers, who… Read more »
You can get 3 years in jail in New Jersey for possession or transfer of a Slingshot !!! Yes Demorat Law is on the books . Many people leaving the State due to Gun Laws . New Dem Governor Murphy intent making NJ a Sanctuary State .