Safe passage
Safe passage: The federal protection in 18 U.S.C. § 926A for transporting a firearm through a state where you may not lawfully possess it, while traveling between places where you may. The firearm must be unloaded, and neither it nor its ammunition may be readily accessible from the passenger compartment; in a vehicle without a trunk, it must be in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.
What safe passage means
In practice, you will see safe passage in pleadings, motions, orders and court rules. The definition above explains the general meaning. Even so, the meaning can shift with context. Therefore, always read it alongside the rule or document where it appears.
Where safe passage comes up
The term is used across many kinds of cases. For example, you may see it in pleadings, motions and court orders. To see it in context, browse the motions and procedures library or the Learn the Law topics.
Read the source: Traveling with a gun guide.
How to research the term
First, read the term where it actually appears. A rule, statute or court decision may define it for its own purposes. Next, check whether your court has a local rule that uses safe passage in a special way. Then look at recent decisions from courts in your jurisdiction. They show how judges apply the term today. Also, remember that state law can differ from federal law. For that reason, use our state procedures guide to find your state’s rules. Finally, confirm every source is current before you rely on it.
You can read the current federal court rules online for free.
Related legal terms
- Right of redemption: a right, under state law, to reclaim foreclosed property by paying the amount required within a set period.
- Right to travel: a constitutional right to move freely from state to state. The Supreme Court has recognized it in cases such as Shapiro v. Thompson, 394 U.S. 618 (1969) and Saenz v. Roe, 526 U.S. 489 (1999). Courts have consistently held that the right does not exempt a person from state driver's license and vehicle registration laws.
- Rule of lenity: the canon that "ambiguity concerning the ambit of criminal statutes should be resolved in favor of lenity," meaning in the defendant's favor (United States v. Bass, 404 U.S. 336, 347 (1971)). It applies to unclear criminal laws, not to laws that are merely hard to read.
- Rules Enabling Act: the federal law (28 U.S.C. § 2072) that authorizes the Supreme Court to prescribe rules of practice, procedure and evidence for the federal courts, subject to the limit that "Such rules shall not abridge, enlarge or modify any substantive right."
Why precise terms matter
Courts read legal terms closely. As a result, knowing the exact meaning of a word helps you follow orders, rules and filings. Each glossary entry on Lawtopolis is short on purpose and links to the pages where the term is used.
Sources
Sources last reviewed: 2026-10-24
Lawtopolis provides legal information and education, not legal advice. Using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws and court rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time; verify every authority against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction about your situation.