Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/778830
32 | Overdrive | February 2017 DANGER ZONE locked and stored in an inaccessible area. The ammunition needs to be stored separately in a locked location. Don't take any chances with military bases, which are strictly off-limits for concealed carry. Some other locations, such as Native American Tribal lands, also prohibit firearms. And American truckers might want to think twice about bringing a gun into Canada. Recently, Marion Furman Taylor Jr., 55, was ordered to pay $7,500 in fines in a court in Penticton, Canada, after pleading guilty to three firearms- related counts. Taylor had entered Canada in April with a trailer full of canoes and kayaks and a case with a loaded Beretta and Smith & Wesson .38 caliber revolver. He forgot the weapons were on board. "The Canadian attitude toward weap- ons is very different than in the U.S.," the judge told Taylor. For someone with irregular lanes in all 48 states, constantly checking states can seem more trouble than it's worth. Nevertheless, "Ignorance of the law is no defense," says Brad Klepper, execu- tive vice president and general counsel for Driver's Legal Plan. "A firearm viola- tion depends on where you are. In some states, it's a misdemeanor, and in others, it could be a felony." If you get into an encounter with law enforcement regarding a gun on your truck, Klepper recommends what he would for any trucker-trooper interac- tion: "Be professional, courteous and, most of all, honest." An owner-operator, speaking off the record because of his company's gun policy, recalls being stopped and volun- teering to the officer his concealed-carry permit and his Smith & Wesson 357. He and the officer realized they had the exact same weapon and spent 10 min- utes talking about guns. "I'm always respectful and very pro- fessional toward law enforcement," says the driver. He wasn't ticketed and says he's never been hassled by law enforce- ment over his weapon. Depending on circumstances and how you present yourself, there could be minor or even no repercussions. Also, keep in mind that there are personal safe- ty measures that do not involve weapons. Independent Anthony Grandinetti, who has had his share of drivers with road rage and even has dashcam video of a four-wheeler pointing a gun at him, says he always stays calm. "Even though I have a weapon, I also believe in common-sense self-defense," he says. "I have locks and security equip- ment and always make good parking decisions in well-lit areas. At the end of the day, I want to make sure I come home to my wife and kids."