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Firearms / ammo via "checked baggage"
Alan Rushing
Member Posts: 9,002 ✭✭
I had varying experiences years ago transporting firearms via checked baggage.
(Seattle was "off-the-wall" had an employee there accussing me of importing firearms from a foreign country without the proper permits!!! I was flying from Achorage, AK to Denver, CO to hunt in WY. The employee was figuring that AK was a foreign country and was incapable of accepting the fact that AK was one of the 50 U.S.A. States!!!
They had supposed to be checked through to Denver. When I arrived in Seattle, they demanded that I get the guncase from the baggage area ... even though it had tags directing it to be sent to Denver. They then demanded that I break the official federal seals on the cases and open the cases! The reason? Because they told me "they had a suspicion that there were weapons in the gun cases"!
Long story shortened ... it got even more bizarre.))
Are there any new wrinkles lately about transporting firearms via "checked baggage" now?
* * * Ammunition can be transported in the same locked case as the handguns, correct? * * *
Thanks for the link and all the information folks, believe that I am prepared now; appreciated!
(Seattle was "off-the-wall" had an employee there accussing me of importing firearms from a foreign country without the proper permits!!! I was flying from Achorage, AK to Denver, CO to hunt in WY. The employee was figuring that AK was a foreign country and was incapable of accepting the fact that AK was one of the 50 U.S.A. States!!!
They had supposed to be checked through to Denver. When I arrived in Seattle, they demanded that I get the guncase from the baggage area ... even though it had tags directing it to be sent to Denver. They then demanded that I break the official federal seals on the cases and open the cases! The reason? Because they told me "they had a suspicion that there were weapons in the gun cases"!
Long story shortened ... it got even more bizarre.))
Are there any new wrinkles lately about transporting firearms via "checked baggage" now?
* * * Ammunition can be transported in the same locked case as the handguns, correct? * * *
Thanks for the link and all the information folks, believe that I am prepared now; appreciated!
Comments
When you check your bags, tell the person at the desk that you want to declare a firearm or firearms. The gun must be in a locked hardcase & unloaded. Ammo must be in original container or similar cartridge box. They may or may not have you open the box for inspection, this varies from airline to airline. They will fill out a firearms declaration card and have you sign it. The card will go with the storage box inside your check bag.
I flew here to Texas on American. It took about 2 minutes longer than it would have traveling without my gun.
I have numerous times traveled with 3 guns, a handgun, a shotgun and a rifle when going to 3-gun competitions. It has always been the same for the last 15 or so years for me when flying with guns.
Actually, checking your gun is a good thing. The more frequently we do it, the more we desensitize the ignorant (in the literal sense, not "stupid") counter clerks and get them educated on legal transport of firearms. [:)]
When you check your bags, tell the person at the desk that you want to declare a firearm or firearms. The gun must be in a locked hardcase & unloaded. Ammo must be in original container or similar cartridge box. They may or may not have you open the box for inspection, this varies from airline to airline. They will fill out a firearms declaration card and have you sign it. The card will go with the storage box inside your check bag.That's pretty mch how it went for me just a few months ago. It's all on the TSA's website.
Traveling With Special Items: www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1666.shtm
I'd also suggest you check your airline's website for any special restrictions, odd ball policies, etc. they might have.
Some airlines tend to be more gun friendly than others, but the same can be said for the airports themselves. For example, the person at the ticket counter undoubtedly deals with people carrying handguns more frequently at DFW airport than Newark. [:D]
It's not a requirement, but in addition to the hard side pistol case with two locks I also cable locked this case to the metal frame of my soft side luggage. If my pistol is going to be taken by a sticky fingered baggage handler he's going to have to figure out how to sneak that entire suitcase out the door.
BTW - When you walk up to the ticket counter it's a good idea to say, "I need to declare a firearm" instead of announcing "I've got a gun". [:0][:D]
EDIT: Yes, ammo can be in the same container as the firearm but it still must be in either the original packaging or a simliar container - not in magazines. Their reasoning behind this is so the primers are protected from an accidental blow.
I put mine in an original box, but I also put a strip of duct tape over each end to prevent accidental spillage due to the baggage monkeys tossing my luggage around.
Another heads up - Once you check your bag, pay attention to any calls for you over the airport PA system. I've heard of incidents where the TSA chose people's bags for random inspection prior to loading and they wanted to look inside the firearm container itself. You MUST be the only person who has a key to this container and if they call for you but receive no response your bag will not be boarded.
If you place a lock on your suitcase it must be a 'TSA compliant lock', meaning it's specially constructed so it can be opened by them using a master code or key.
Any place that sells a decent selection of padlocks carries them. Just look for either of these symbols on the packaging and lock:
A few weeks later the bag was delivered to his house. All was well but unsettling.