flying with guns

[rockerz71]

Originally Posted by Trace

Everytime I heard of a bag getting the weapon stolen out of it, it was because there was a big red F written on the bag tag notifying EVERYONE that there was a Firearm inside. I know at D/FW, they stopped doing that, but I can't speak for other airports.

I just called the TSA at Hartsfield and they said that they definitely do not put any marking of any sort on the outside of the bag. The woman I spoke to said to make sure that the airline doesnt mark it, but also said that she had never heard of or seen a bag indicating on the exterior that it had a firearm inside, so it should be OK.

[turbo2ltr]

I would look into using TSA locks. When I traveled, I am 99% sure the airline policy was that you were NOT to use TSA locks on the gun case itself. As jetsiphon said, the only key for the lock should be in your posession. The luggage that has your cun case in it can (and probably should) have a TSA lock on it.

I've traveled both ways, checking the gun case in luggage and checking the gun case by itself. This determins where they put the bright orange tag (inside or outside the case).

One of the times I checked just the case, it came out on the belt with the big orange FIREARMS tag on the outside. I was so pissed. I think it was Delta. I'm pretty sure having anything signifying there is a firearm inside is against TSA (FAA?) policy.

[mudfoot]

I hate to sound argumentative, but screw TSA locks. If I stand in line and WAIT for them to clear my bags with firearms in it, I'll be damned if I am gonna spend hard money on **** locks. The only key for my bags is in MY POSSESSION, and not some guy I don't know personally, behind the scenes. After the initial screening, nobody should be going through my bags, but me. Period.

**** comes up missing? Pay up sucker!

[rockerz71]

I went to walmart the other night and got a TSA lock to lock the suitcase and a regular lock for the gun case -- can you tell them to search your bags with you present and then lock it with a normal lock without risk of it being cut? I too would rather not use a lock that anyone else has a key to, but if theres a decent chance of the lock being cut off then the TSA lock sounds like a good idea.

[mpak87]

Originally Posted by rockerz71

I went to walmart the other night and got a TSA lock to lock the suitcase and a regular lock for the gun case -- can you tell them to search your bags with you present and then lock it with a normal lock without risk of it being cut? I too would rather not use a lock that anyone else has a key to, but if theres a decent chance of the lock being cut off then the TSA lock sounds like a good idea.

I've only flown with guns a couple times, but in my experiences, the gate agent will look at your guns, and s#@! themselves, so you get a supervisor who actually knows what they are doing. after you have satisfied their cursory glance that there are no loose rounds, or loaded chambers, they send you on to TSA. you leave everything unlocked, and give it to TSA. they inspect it, and then lock it in your presence. The inner gun case should be secured with a personally held key lock, and the outer suitcase with a TSA lock. As was said before, TSA regs say that mags are ok if they are in a closed mag carrier, but different airlines have different rules.
One trick that I absolutely cannot stress enough is to look in the baggage guidelines section of your airline's website, and print out the section applying to firearms. Then get one of the same from the TSA website. You are quite likely to run in to someone who does not know what they are doing, and it has helped me immensely in the past to be able to show them on the regulations that you are following them to the letter. If you take nothing else from this thread, be sure to do that.

[rockerz71]

good idea, I'll print them out.

thanks

[Trace]

Originally Posted by rockerz71

I went to walmart the other night and got a TSA lock to lock the suitcase and a regular lock for the gun case -- can you tell them to search your bags with you present and then lock it with a normal lock without risk of it being cut? I too would rather not use a lock that anyone else has a key to, but if theres a decent chance of the lock being cut off then the TSA lock sounds like a good idea.

It all depends on the airport. There are some checkpoints in DFW that have screening within public view, but there are none in two of the 4 terminals. When you check your bag, it goes down the conveyer and to the CTX machines for the scanning.



If a gun is seen in the bag, the operator can perform addtional slices in the image to verify that it is unloaded. Think of a CT Scan of your bag. Once they are comfortable it is unloaded, they clear the bag. If there is a question, they kick it aside to another conveyer and it goes to a TSA agent in the bowels of the airport to do a physical search. THAT is where they perform their verifications, and attempt to obtain a key to the bag if they do not have the TSA override keys on hand. The cannot unlock the gun case unless there is LEO and a Screening Manager present. Most likely YOU will be there too if they suspect it is loaded. They can take you aside and put you up in the gray bar motel and hit you with a $10,000 fine if they find it loaded, so be careful.

Your airport may be different, but this is how it went down at DFW for the 2 years that I was there as a BAO, and was present to clear LOTS of weapons that were picked up in the baggage xray.

Hope this helps.

[Trace]

This is a link to the TSA site.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...rial_1666.shtm

[rockerz71]

thanks a lot for all the replies, I'll be real careful to do everything the right way so I wont have to worry about being arrested. Im not that worried about it being stolen anymore either.

[rockerz71]

everything went well, much quicker and easier than I expected. I missed my flight on saturday morning but ended up getting a direct flight on delta that got me there faster without the layover at dulles. One question -- on the way there, the guy at the check-in counter wanted the orange "firearms unloaded" tag put inside the locked gun case, and on the return trip they put it outside the gun case (but inside the suitcase). I think that putting it outside the gun case makes more sense, but is there a certain way this is supposed to be done? Im not sure if this depends on the airline or not, disregard the question if so.