2018 Traveler’s Guide to the Firearms Laws of the Fifty States

by
posted on March 23, 2018
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
firearm_book_lede.jpg

The standard in the realm of firearm law for the layman, the Traveler’s Guide to the Firearm Laws of the Fifty States, now in its 22nd year, is meticulously updated annually by J. Scott Kappas, Esq., an attorney in private practice who endeavors to keep his readers consistently abreast of the nation’s ever-changing laws governing gun use, transport, and carry.

A brief overview of the 68 page text leaves one in little doubt as to why over 1,000,000 copies have been sold since 1997. Despite having a price point of only $14.95, the book is a veritable goldmine of practically useful information concerning: the carry of firearms in a motor vehicle, concealed carry reciprocity, and firearm law preemption, along with a plethora of additional subcategories.

This year’s edition alone features over 100 updates, newly elucidated segments (50 to be exact) on carrying in hotels by state, and a fresh page format to improve ease of reading and reference.

Given the haphazard manner in which firearm laws seem to change in the U.S., one particularly innovative feature is the linking of the book to a website, www.gunlawguide.com, which is continually updated with changes in state permit reciprocity, to keep readers as informed as possible between print editions. Hopefully of course, this reciprocity section will soon become null and void, with the Concealed-Carry Reciprocity Act already having passed the House, now only needing a positive vote in the Senate. But in the meantime, this portion is invaluable for any traveler concerned with self-defense.

For its more internationally minded readers, the Traveler’s Guide includes segments on taking guns to America’s neighbors: Canada and Mexico. Though the segment on Mexico could be easily summed up into one word: don’t; the information relayed to readers on Canada is very helpful, as though the country is very restrictive, the carry of firearms into the country is still possible if one is willing to meticulously traverse some exhaustive rigmarole. Given the popularity of Canada as a hunting destination, this could definitely come in handy to a number of readers, as could the portion educating readers on how to prove the guns they are reentering the United States with are in fact their own.

As mentioned, the Traveler’s Guide is available for $14.95 (price including Bulk Mail Shipping), at www.gunlawguide.com/shop. Pick yours up today.

Latest

Garmin Buys Appliedballistics 1
Garmin Buys Appliedballistics 1

Garmin Brings The Long-Range Experts At Applied Ballistics In-House

Garmin has acquired Applied Ballistics, bringing Bryan Litz’s ballistic solver and radar-built projectile data in-house after nearly a decade of partnership.

New: MDT One-Piece Night Vision Bridge

MDT’s One-Piece NV Bridge, a 13-inch, 20-MOA rail for select MDT chassis, keeps clip-on night optics aligned with the riflescope.

TriStar Arms Turns 30 and Still Believes a Great Shotgun Shouldn’t Cost a Fortune

TriStar Arms turns 30 as the family-run Kansas City importer announces the Viper G3, its latest semi-automatic shotgun.

New Apex Bag Rider 2.0 Gives Ruger Precision Rifle Shooters Steadier Elevation Control

The Catalyst Arms Apex Bag Rider 2.0 replaces bag-squeeze elevation control with a wider, reshaped polymer ramp for Gen 1-3 Ruger Precision Rifles.

Elliott, Simonton Win Fall Selection Crowns as USA Shooting Names National Skeet Team

Christian Elliott and Samantha Simonton win open skeet titles at 2026 Fall Selection Match as USA Shooting names the national team for Doha, Lima and Acapulco.

Bethel Shooting Team Gives Up a Saturday for Metal Madness Founder

Bethel University’s shooting team spent a Saturday clearing demolition debris from Grand Rivers Shooting Range while Metal Madness founder Ed White recovered from a heart attack.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.