On Sunday I flew from Lubbock to Houston via Austin. I checked-in at the airport in Lubbock about 40 minutes before departure. I declared two firearms and the gentleman behind the counter asked me to open my bag and show him that the firearms were unloaded. I did, and then filled out the customary Southwest Airlines Firearm(s) Inspection Tags that declare the following:
I then took my bags to the TSA agent. He asked me to set it on the ground behind the 10 or so bags he had to do next. I told him I had two firearms and he bumped my bag to the front of the line. In bigger airports, TSA uses giant X-ray machines to look in the bags. At the Lubbock airport, they do everything by hand, so I was subject to the following fair and reasonable treatment (in my estimation).I understand that the carriage of a loaded weapon is a violation of federal regulations. I therefore declare the following regarding the firearm(s) contained in my luggage:
1. The firearm(s) chambers are free of ammunition and the magazine clip has been removed (when applicable).
2. Loaded magazines or clips are packaged to prevent accidental activation of the primer.
3. The unloaded firearm(s) is inside a hard-sided locked container and I alone am in possession of the key or combination.
4. My total allowance of checked luggage contains no more than 11 pounds of ammunition and it is securely packaged in an appropriate container.
I packed my guns at the bottom of my suitcase. I packed my clothing in some plastic bags and packed those on top of my gun cases. He took everything out of my bag including the following:
1) gun in a case w/ 1 loaded mag, packed in a separate part of the case
2) gun in case, packed alone
3) loaded mag and 2 stray bullets packed in case
He got his boss to approve the mag in case one, he approved case 2, and said I couldn't have the two lone pieces of ammo in case 3 (he said he didn't want the ammo to slide around and shoot the pilot -- interesting scenario). He taped the mag down in case 3, and asked me what I would like to do with the two stray rounds. I told them he could keep them. He then asked if there was anywhere where I could put them (presumably because he didn't want to have to deal with disposing of them), and I said I could secure them in case 1. He told me to do that, then packed my bags for me, and I was on my way.
Incidentally, I should mention that they swabbed my bag and my guns with the Explosive Trace Detection wand and it came back negative. I guess gunpowder is not what they're concerned about.
Stay safe...
SteyrM40