Flying with Firearms

[Colly Wolly]

Has anyone ever checked a firearm at the airport? I'll be taking multiple trips this spring and summer to states that have concealed carry reciprocity with Utah. I have a small, jewlrey-box sized hand safe that I keep a pistol in on my bedside table. The safe easily fits in any bag of luggage with clothing, shoes, or whatever packed in as well.

I have been to the TSA and airline websites. Both places contain language and pictures that seems specific to checking long guns. Gotta have a lockable case, declare with the TSA and the airline, etc.

My question is: if I am packing the handsafe inside my regular luggage, do I need to declare it to the TSA and the airline? It's not a standalone long gun case that is readily identifiable by luggage handlers.

I'm fine declaring it, but I'm not sure it's required since it will be within my regular luggage.

[UtahDan]

No but I once flew with a buddy who is a federal agent (nope, not Philip!) and at least at that time he was required to keep his firearm with him (it was not long after 9-11). He arranged it in advance, we went to the front of the line to go through security and then got on the plane first for him to introduce himself to the captain. At the same time a postal service agent who was also armed was doing the same.

To your question, I would err on the side of telling them about it for at least ten reasons that leap immediately to mind.

[DapperDan]

Perhaps this will be of some help.

http://lifehacker.com/#!5448014/pack-a-gun-to-protect-valuables-from-airline-theft-or-loss

[Drunk Tank]

Has anyone ever checked a firearm at the airport? I'll be taking multiple trips this spring and summer to states that have concealed carry reciprocity with Utah. I have a small, jewlrey-box sized hand safe that I keep a pistol in on my bedside table. The safe easily fits in any bag of luggage with clothing, shoes, or whatever packed in as well.

I have been to the TSA and airline websites. Both places contain language and pictures that seems specific to checking long guns. Gotta have a lockable case, declare with the TSA and the airline, etc.

My question is: if I am packing the handsafe inside my regular luggage, do I need to declare it to the TSA and the airline? It's not a standalone long gun case that is readily identifiable by luggage handlers.

I'm fine declaring it, but I'm not sure it's required since it will be within my regular luggage.

You have to declare it.

Here are the steps:

gunlock thru the gun, no ammo!

show when checking baggage "i have a firearm i need to check"

then the stupid people behind the counter get all serious and shit and start "duh duh duh duh duh" on you.

so you fill out some paper work- like a claim check kinda.


then they ask you to open it and show them "your peice"
then with a confused look..... almost as if they all of the sudden are stuck at the helm of a space shuttle.......they'll ask you if its unloaded, cause they are a bunch of stupid people who dont know



so you'll lock it back up, keep the keys with you and off you go.

pick it up as normal baggage on the roundy roundy thing.


Take the case, and put it in your suitcase. it gets two TSA approved locks. one on the out side of the suitcase, one on the gun case, and a tamper proof zip tie on the gun and the suitcase- just to see if someone f'd with it.


when you get wherever your going- buy a box of shells and your good to go.

shoot them or give em away (or keep the receipt and return them ) when you fly back.
__________________
have the light bill make YOU MONEY.

[Colly Wolly]

Thanks. The TSA website seemed to indicate it was fine to also check ammo in the lock box, but in a separate container. I have a small box of Speer Golddots that would also fit in the lock box. So it would be empty gun, empty magazine, and box of 25 rounds. That wouldn't "fly"?

Is the cable lock a requirement? Website didnt seem to indicate that either.

[Drunk Tank]

not sure. I have done it in the past out of habit. to assure them that it was unloaded.

[Drunk Tank]

From TSA Website
The key regulatory requirements to transporting firearms, firearm parts or ammunition in checked baggage are:

• You must declare all firearms to the airline during the ticket counter check-in process.
• The firearm must be unloaded.
• The firearm must be in a hard-sided container.
• The container must be locked. A locked container is defined as one that completely secures the firearm from access by anyone other than you. Cases that can be pulled open with little effort do not meet this criterion. We recommend that you provide the key or combination to the security officer if he or she needs to open the container. You should remain in the area designated by the aircraft operator or TSA representative to take the key back after the container is cleared for transportation. If you are not present and the security officer must open the container, we or the airline will make a reasonable attempt to contact you. If we can't contact you, the container will not be placed on the plane. Federal regulations prohibit unlocked gun cases (or cases with broken locks) on aircraft.
• You must securely pack any ammunition in fiber (such as cardboard), wood or metal boxes or other packaging that is specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition.
• You can't use firearm magazines/clips for packing ammunition unless they completely and securely enclose the ammunition (e.g., by securely covering the exposed portions of the magazine or by securely placing the magazine in a pouch, holder, holster or lanyard).
• You may carry the ammunition in the same hard-sided case as the firearm, as long as you pack it as described above.
• You can't bring black powder or percussion caps used with black-powder type firearms in either your carry-on or checked baggage.
  
  
• Airlines may have their own additional requirements on the carriage of firearms and the amount of ammunition that you may have in your checked baggage. Therefore, travelers should also contact the airline regarding its firearm and ammunition carriage policies

Looks like ammo is okay in the locked container. I'd just check with the airline beforehand to be safe.