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Traveling in a few weeks to PA via air arriving in Newark NJ. Any recent experiences checking firearms in at Newark airport? Wondering how much of a hassle i'm in for during the return trip.

You are making a huge mistake. Your choice is to leave your gun at home or find a way to fly into Phila. "Hassle" doesn't begin to cover what can and is likely to happen to you if you try to check in with a gun in Newark.

chasfm11 wrote:You are making a huge mistake. Your choice is to leave your gun at home or find a way to fly into Phila. "Hassle" doesn't begin to cover what can and is likely to happen to you if you try to check in with a gun in Newark.

Oh, that's why I'm asking. One idea I've had it to leave it with my parents vs. checking it on the way back. My dad has a PA CHL, and I'm sure would be happy to have it.

That being said, what I've read so far seems to indicate that if I have it locked and unaccessible while in NJ with the exception of the check in procedure I should be ok. The issue 'seems' to be taking possession of a gun in NJ with out one of their silly gun ownership permits.

ralewis wrote:Oh, that's why I'm asking. One idea I've had it to leave it with my parents vs. checking it on the way back. My dad has a PA CHL, and I'm sure would be happy to have it.

That being said, what I've read so far seems to indicate that if I have it locked and unaccessible while in NJ with the exception of the check in procedure I should be ok. The issue 'seems' to be taking possession of a gun in NJ with out one of their silly gun ownership permits.

New Jersey's interpretation is the gun is accessible to you while you are removing the luggage from the car and bringing it into the airport.

Jumping Frog wrote:

ralewis wrote:Oh, that's why I'm asking. One idea I've had it to leave it with my parents vs. checking it on the way back. My dad has a PA CHL, and I'm sure would be happy to have it.

That being said, what I've read so far seems to indicate that if I have it locked and unaccessible while in NJ with the exception of the check in procedure I should be ok. The issue 'seems' to be taking possession of a gun in NJ with out one of their silly gun ownership permits.

New Jersey's interpretation is the gun is accessible to you while you are removing the luggage from the car and bringing it into the airport.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/01 ... eme-court/

Jumping Frog wrote:

ralewis wrote:Oh, that's why I'm asking. One idea I've had it to leave it with my parents vs. checking it on the way back. My dad has a PA CHL, and I'm sure would be happy to have it.

That being said, what I've read so far seems to indicate that if I have it locked and unaccessible while in NJ with the exception of the check in procedure I should be ok. The issue 'seems' to be taking possession of a gun in NJ with out one of their silly gun ownership permits.

New Jersey's interpretation is the gun is accessible to you while you are removing the luggage from the car and bringing it into the airport.

The Port Authority interpretation of U.S. Code › Title 18 › Part I › Chapter 44 › § 926A

18 U.S. Code § 926A - Interstate transportation of firearms

Notwithstanding any other provision of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or any political subdivision thereof, any person who is not otherwise prohibited by this chapter from transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle: Provided, That in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver’s compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.

Is that checking the gun for a flight is not covered.

carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm

That is the catch. You can't lawfully possess a hand gun in NJ unless you jump through their hoops and get the necessary NJ documents. It's a fair bet that he would be arrested and charged upon taking possession of his handgun containing luggage after arrival.
I would do anything to not fly into NJ or NY now. If going to PA it would be better to go through Avoca (Scranton/WB) or Philly and hope you don't get weather diverted to Newark, Trenton, or Binghamton.


Edit: By the way don't take any hollow point ammo into NJ. As I understand it, each round carrys it's own felony charge for possession.

2farnorth wrote:

carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm

That is the catch. You can't lawfully possess a hand gun in NJ unless you jump through their hoops and get the necessary NJ documents. It's a fair bet that he would be arrested and charged upon taking possession of his handgun containing luggage after arrival.
I would do anything to not fly into NJ or NY now. If going to PA it would be better to go through Avoca (Scranton/WB) or Philly and hope you don't get weather diverted to Newark, Trenton, or Binghamton.


Edit: By the way don't take any hollow point ammo into NJ. As I understand it, each round carrys it's own felony charge for possession.

It's happened before - read this article
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/01 ... eme-court/

Just found this. Didn't see it the other day when I first considered bringing a weapon on the trip. I think it's fine, but I still don't like the idea checking a firearm in NJ for the return trip.

http://www.state.nj.us/njsp/about/fire_trans.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The following guidelines are provided in order to assist law enforcement officers in applying New Jersey's firearms laws to persons who are transporting firearms through the State of New Jersey.

New Jersey laws governing firearms permits, purchaser identification cards, registration and licenses do not apply to a person who is transporting the firearm through this State if that person is transporting the firearm in a manner permitted by federal law, 18 U.S.C.A. 926A.

The issue 'seems' to be taking possession of a gun in NJ with out one of their silly gun ownership permits.[/quote]
New Jersey's interpretation is the gun is accessible to you while you are removing the luggage from the car and bringing it into the airport.[/quote]

The Port Authority interpretation of U.S. Code › Title 18 › Part I › Chapter 44 › § 926A

Is that checking the gun for a flight is not covered.[/quote]



I would never go through NJ to get to PA. I would never willing go to NJ or NYC for any reason.

Mike

The only question I have at this point is when I get my bag from baggage claim in Newark (with my gun in the locked/hardside container) and walk to the rental car, am I still traveling per the USC18 with my journey ending in PA. If I bring a firearm, I'll leave it with my dad in PA vs dealing with checking it on the return trip.

I'll probably end up just not bringing a firearm. What an absurd situation with NJ/NY gun laws....

And believe me, I looked at options for Philadelphia, Allentown, Harrisburg, and AVP (Avoca - Scranton/WB - which is where my destination is). I despise Newark airport, but the price and schedules worked out favorably for a family of 4 with 2 little kids. Direct flight Austin-Newark leaving at 1030am. :)

You can mail (UPS or FedEx, NOT USPS) a gun to yourself in PA, and back home again, without an FFL.

http://www.atf.gov/content/firearms-fre ... ed-persons" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
See question 9

Q: May a nonlicensee ship firearms interstate for his or her use in hunting or other lawful activity?

Yes. A person may ship a firearm to himself or herself in care of another person in the State where he or she intends to hunt or engage in any other lawful activity. The package should be addressed to the owner. Persons other than the owner should not open the package and take possession of the firearm.

Address the package to YOU, C/O (care of) your father at his home address and follow the UPS/FedEx rules for shipping firearms.
This assumes it is legal for you to possess the gun at your fathers home address.

This is my OPINION. IANAL.

I agree with Roy. Even the ATF says it's legal to ship a firearm to yourself interstate, such as for a hunting trip.

That doesn't solve the quandry of being unarmed in Newark.

ralewis wrote:The only question I have at this point is when I get my bag from baggage claim in Newark (with my gun in the locked/hardside container) and walk to the rental car, am I still traveling per the USC18 with my journey ending in PA. If I bring a firearm, I'll leave it with my dad in PA vs dealing with checking it on the return trip.

I'll probably end up just not bringing a firearm. What an absurd situation with NJ/NY gun laws....

And believe me, I looked at options for Philadelphia, Allentown, Harrisburg, and AVP (Avoca - Scranton/WB - which is where my destination is). I despise Newark airport, but the price and schedules worked out favorably for a family of 4 with 2 little kids. Direct flight Austin-Newark leaving at 1030am. :)

That it is an absurd situation. Having lived in Northern NJ, I can confirm that much of what goes on there is absurd by any reasonable set of standards.

I flew in and out of Newark airport alot and have the same opinion of it as you do. I cannot honestly say that Phila or LGA are better, however.

Last year, we attended my MIL's funeral in Ephrata, PA. We drove from the Dallas area because of the miserable circumstances in our airline system today. I completely understand that a 24 hour driving trip with two small kids would be difficult at best and that you probably don't have the extra time for driving. But it solves most of the gun problem (among others) except for a 12 mile stretch on I-81 in Maryland. That is another absurd situation.

I think you are making a wise choice to leave the gun at home.