For those who have declared firearms at the airport...

[RoyGBiv]

When I read this...
" the airline will place a declaration tag inside the checked baggage containing the firearm. This notice alerts Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) to the presence of the firearm if they have to open the bag to inspect it. "

The only way the tag can alert the TSA agent to the presence of a firearm is if the tag is NOT inside the locked gun case. Inside the TSA accessible bag, outside the TSA-inaccessible case. If this is the intended purpose of the tag, it's simply impossible for the tag to serve this purpose if it's locked inside a case for which the agent does not have a key.

And..... This statement is self-contradictory....
" The declaration tag is required to be placed inside the checked baggage containing the firearm, not in the outside bag, the firearm container may be separated from the other bag, and the declaration tag must stay with the firearm"

The way I read this (I can certainly see where it can be read otherwise), the baggage I am checking ("the checked baggage containing the firearm") is the bag with the destination tag on it... the OUTER bag. But if the TSA expects the tag to stay with the gun should the gun "be separated from the other bag", then the tag must go inside the locked case, or be affixed to the outside of the locked case in such a way that it's not easily separated. Also, if the gun case becomes separated from the outer case, the gun case will not have any identifying or destination information on it so it would be "lost"... I put my business card inside the gun case and tether the gun case to the structure of the bag with a cable lock to minimize the chance of the gun case becoming separated from the "checked bag".

So..... Clearly the TSA has their head inserted in their posterior on this issue.
Excaliber is spot-on in advising to follow the directions you're given at the time you're checking in.

[Kahrry]

Just an update from another traveler.

I made a trip from Austin to Dallas to a final destination of Hayden Airport just outside of Steamboat, CO. I flew AA and had not one issue.

I went to counter in Austin said "I'm checking a firearm." The lady didn't even blink an eye. She took the form for me to dign stating the gun was unloaded. She didn't ask to see it at all. I said "should I put in inside the firearm case?" She responded, "in it or near it... whichever." I unzipped my bag, unlocked the gun case and put it inside. She then point to the TSA area that was near by and roped off and said I would need to take my bag there to be checked. I walked it over and TSA agent say "you checking a pistol?" I said "yes" and he removed the rope and let me in. He wiped the zippers with a swab and then asked me to show him the case. He did not want me to open it. He sent it through the X-ray and that was it.

Coming from Hayden, which is a very small airport. All I had to do was fill out the form. I once again put it in the case and they took it at the counter. The lady at the counter was actually showing a new person who had never checked a firearm where the forms were and gave her a brief run down of the rules, unloaded, in a locked case, etc. I overheard her tell the newer lady where the forms were and made the comment "they [refering to gun checkers] usually know what to do".

[Drjfiremedic]

A little different, but I have declared a firearm while travelling on Amtrak. Extremely easy. A lot less hassle all the way around for us.
They basically just wanted to see that it was unloaded and then put into my checked baggage.

I did have to give them 24 hour notice though.