“He probably thought he was doing the right thing, keeping the weapon in the bed of the truck, not accessible, etc. I would never go to New Jersey. I remember reading another story about a guy driving through from one state to another, parked to rest in New Jersey, and got busted for a weapon legally registered in his home state. To me, that sort of situation would be a clear violation of the Commerce Clause of the US constitution, but good luck convincing most courts of it.”
If he followed these rules he’s protected by federal law:
18 U.S. Code § 926A - Interstate transportation of firearms -
“Notwithstanding any other provision of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or any political subdivision thereof, 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”
Provided
“That in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver’s compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.”
You’re probably right. Probably would have needed to lock the barrel, etc.
NJ has some odd laws. At least Christie pardoned a few guys for this sort of stuff over the last year.