1. I will gladly open my gun case at the airport if directed to do so by an appropriate authority (ticket agent qualifies). There is NOTHING illegal about it. And I will enjoy the doe-eyes stares from others, if that happens.TomsTXCHL wrote:I don't understand how you can easily do that in a crowded airport with people all around you--I mean, just the act of setting the bag somewhere and opening it up is unusual and would get others' attentions???Jumping Frog wrote:Almost every time I fly United, I am asked to show the ticket agent my handgun is unloaded. I quietly and discreetly do so.jimlongley wrote:We were ALSO not authorized to check whether a firearm was unloaded at the ticket counter, that was up to the ticket agents and airline employees and if the airline wants you to demonstrate that the firearm is unloaded, they have the right to do so, and if you refuse, they also have the right to deny you the flight.
2. I have been asked to open the locked container twice (that I remember). When I pack the gun in the container, I thread a tie-wrap through the barrel. Both times I opened the case, didn't touch the gun, pointed out the tie wrap and was sent on my way without any further manipulations. I don't know if they understood that the gun might still be loaded or not, and I didn't care. The tir wrap was enough to satisfy them and I avoided having to handle my heater at the ticket counter.
I also think that if an X-Ray reveals a tie-wrapped gun, I'm less likely to get called off the aircraft to open it later. Just my gut feeling.
The only real problems I worry about are... 1. Lost luggage and 2. Getting diverted to NY or NJ.