Question about flying and taking my handgun

[Westfield]

Yes of course I will review this on the TSA website and review with the airline as well. I have flown before with my handgun...unloaded in a hardcase inside carry on luggage...Tell the ticket agency...fill out card, bring to TSA baggage check-in....Here's my question...Because I have a hand gun in my checked luggage, can I lock the luggage after the TSA agent checks it ?

[hirundo82]

Procedures vary by airport, but most places TSA doesn't want to look inside the gun case but will usually check the rest of the bag.

You should use a TSA-approved lock on the luggage and a padlock (ie one that can't be opened with the TSA master keys) on the gun case. If the TSA wants to check the bag, they should do it in your presence--don't leave until they are done. They'll either relock your bag or give you a chance to do so.

[jamisjockey]

I suggest printing this page and bringing it with you. Allow a little extra time to deal with all this, too.
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... _1666.shtm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Compare it to whatever the airline says. Don't let the airline tag your bag with a "firearm" tag, as that increases the chances of it being stolen.

consider using some kind of luggage that meets the criteria so you can just lock the entire container. Then you get to lock up all of your valuables in the case.....
http://pelican.com/cases_detail.php?Case=1730" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Thomas]

consider using some kind of luggage that meets the criteria so you can just lock the entire container. Then you get to lock up all of your valuables in the case.....
http://pelican.com/cases_detail.php?Case=1730" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"Get Quote"? Already out of my price range

I do own a Pelican flashlight, and I've worked with people who only use Pelican flashlights. They are great, so I would trust that their other products are too.

I suggest printing this page and bringing it with you. Allow a little extra time to deal with all this, too.
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... _1666.shtm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Compare it to whatever the airline says. Don't let the airline tag your bag with a "firearm" tag, as that increases the chances of it being stolen.

Thank you for that link.

[E.Marquez]

I suggest printing this page and bringing it with you. Allow a little extra time to deal with all this, too.
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... _1666.shtm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Compare it to whatever the airline says. Don't let the airline tag your bag with a "firearm" tag, as that increases the chances of it being stolen.

consider using some kind of luggage that meets the criteria so you can just lock the entire container. Then you get to lock up all of your valuables in the case.....
http://pelican.com/cases_detail.php?Case=1730" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Bad idea...IMHO and experience.

Only the gun case itself should be locked with a single owner retained key. If you lock the outer case, and TSA wants to inspect they will break in.. now you have a unsecured gun, and that package will not travel.

TSA and many subject matter experts agree, two containers.. inner locked case for the gun with owner controlled key, outer locked case with a TSA approved lock.

That said.. I do a double Pelican case travel arrangement.
Small two lock case for pelican case for the gun, inside a large pelican case with my remaining travel items.
I do lock the other case with a non TSA lock,, but I keep two spares with me in my carry on.. In the last 10 flights, I have been called back to TSA screening only once for a second inspection,, I unlocked the outer case, and still Had time to lock it all back up and make my flight. I prefer to miss my flight and have to replace a set of locks,, then give unfettered access to my bags.. But, there is risk with this method.

BTW here is an official response from TSA to my RFI about bag tags..

Thank you for your e-mail message concerning the checked baggage screening process and how it affects passengers carrying firearms in checked baggage.

On flights that originate in the U.S. passengers can transport a firearm in accordance with 49 CFR §1540.111 under the following conditions:

. the firearm must be unloaded;
. it must be in checked, not carry-on, baggage;
. it must be in a locked hard-sided container; and
. it must be declared to the airline.

If these conditions are met, 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 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is required by law to electronically screen all checked baggage that goes aboard a commercial passenger flight. If electronic screening cannot verify that a bag and its contents are safe to bring onboard the flight, TSOs will inspect the bag by hand. TSA, therefore, encourages (but does not require) passengers to keep their checked bags unlocked to facilitate the process and reduce the need to break locks.

TSA recommends that you place the locked hard-sided container with the firearm inside a suitcase or other bag before you check it with your airline. This will allow you to leave your suitcase unlocked but also to comply with the requirement that the firearm be in a locked container.

You can use a hard-sided locked suitcase as the sole container for your firearm. However, this can lead to one of the two following complications if your bag needs to be inspected by hand:

. If the TSOs can determine from the screening equipment that the bag contains a firearm, they will not open it. They will instead attempt to locate you and obtain the key or combination so that they can inspect the bag. If they cannot locate you, the bag will not be allowed onboard the aircraft.

. If the TSOs do not see that the bag contains a firearm before they open it, they may force open the lock and proceed to inspect the bag. Once the lock is forced open, the bag cannot be allowed on an aircraft until it is relocked. TSA will attempt to locate you and make suitable arrangements.

These potential inconveniences can be avoided by following TSA's recommendation that you pack your firearm by itself in a separate, hard-sided, locked container and pack the container inside your suitcase. If TSOs need to open your bag to inspect it, they will be able to do so with out breaking a lock on the bag.

Once the TSOs open the bag, they will see the declaration in your suitcase and will not open the locked container encasing the firearm. They will proceed to search the bag, close it, and (presuming the bag is free of prohibited items) will be able to allow it onboard your flight.

We encourage you to visit our website at http://www.tsa.gov" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for additional information about TSA. We continue to add new information and encourage you to check the website frequently for updated information.


TSA Contact Center

[HD76]

I came across a presentation the other day revolving around the subject of air travel and guns. The point of the presentation was how to travel with expensive equipment, and not have TSA agents and baggage handlers going through your stuff, and possibly loosing it. The solution? Pack a gun!

Since this revolved around protecting all your gear, he was recommending just a softsided weapon case inside of a larger hard container. Also being a security freak, he used locks that the TSA couldn't cut off.

It goes into some of the legal aspects, and practical limitations (such as flying to NY or international destinatons.) One of the interesting things was to use a flare gun. It meets the requirement of a hand gun, but is legal places that hang guns are not. Plus they are cheap.

Now this is from a "con" event like defcon. Lots of talk about lock picking and such as side topics during the presentation. The presenter is obviously very pro RKBA though.

******Warning****** This website contains language not suitable to kids. MODs, it it is too much, please remove the link, and I will PM it if people are still interested.

http://deviating.net/firearms/packing/

[tomc]

I keep hearing advise for people to get a "TSA" lock for their outer luggage lock. If you value your firearm and want to see it at the end of your flight, please don't do this. Too many people other than TSA have the key for these locks and your chances of having your firearm stolen increase significantly using these locks, in my opinion.

Lock both your gun case and outer luggage lock with your own personal locks. If TSA needs to get into your bag, they will notify you to come open it for them. Having a TSA lock is inviting someone to steal your firearm, because, why else would one use a TSA lock other than to "secure" a firearm.

[jimlongley]

In my years as a TSA screener I saw many TSA locks on bags that did not contain firearms.

I also opened a lot of baggage that contained firearms because something else in the bag triggered the machine. Just the mere presence of a gun in a locked case in a piece of baggage does not exempt that bag from being opened, and I have run into situations where the actual gun case had to be opened, which requires the presence of the owner, or a LEO if the case has to be broken into because TSA is not authorized to handle firearms.

[ELB]

....Here's my question...Because I have a hand gun in my checked luggage, can I lock the luggage after the TSA agent checks it ?

To answer your actual question: Yes.

More specifically, if the TSA agent opened your luggage, he will re-lock it as well. I used zip ties for my luggage a lot, and I would take the bag to the TSA inspection un-zip-tied, and tell them I wanted it ziptied after they inspected it, and give them a zip tie. They would run it thru the machine; sometimes they would open it for inspection, sometimes not. Either way they would zip tie it after while I watched.

Same with locks on the luggage.

[hirundo82]

Don't let the airline tag your bag with a "firearm" tag, as that increases the chances of it being stolen.

Not to mention it is a violation of federal law for a carrier to visibly mark a bag as containing a firearm.

[i8godzilla]

Here is a link I found to be very informative. http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1202384" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also, there was also quite a bit of information in this thread: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=39188" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The other only advice I can share, is do not use the word gun. Firearm seems to put the folks more at ease in the airport. JMHO

[hirundo82]

The other only advice I can share, is do not use the word gun. Firearm seems to put the folks more at ease in the airport. JMHO

It also helps to use the word "unloaded" a lot.

[steveincowtown]

Here is a link I found to be very informative. http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1202384" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also, there was also quite a bit of information in this thread: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=39188" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The other only advice I can share, is do not use the word gun. Firearm seems to put the folks more at ease in the airport. JMHO

I agree 100%. This was covered in another thread, but I fly 20+ times a year with my firearm, and I don't even say I have a firearm any more. When I approach the counter I hand over my license, and tell person at the check in desk where I am going. As they start to look up my flight I just lean in a bit and say "Could I get one of those firearms tags as well." This way I am not intially "saying" I have a gun, firearm, etc. etc.

[texas1234]

I just walk up and openly say I need to make a firearms declaration for this piece of luggage I need to check. They say okay and then go through an assundry of differnt procedures depending the ticket agent, but never with much hassle.

[texas1234]

I flew Monday and Thursday with my pistol. I had my pistol in a locked hard pistol case inside the main suitcase. I didnt lock my main suitcase which contained the locked pistol case. I dont lock the main suitcase for two reasons one TSA will just break it or call me if they want to get into it, and the other is if somebody steals the main suitcase they are either going to break the lock or they are going to take a $10 pocket knife and cut the suitcase open in less than a minute. Either way I dont see the point in locking the main suitcase.

Aside from two ticket agents and one TSA agent not knowing the regulations very well I traveled without any hassle.

My recommendation is just to print the airline policy and tsa's policy and take it with you. It can be a fun educational moment for everyone involved.

And when approaching the ticket agent just say with confidence, "I need to sign a firearms declaration tag for this particular suitcase"

I would avoid walking up to the ticket agent and screaming "I have a gun!" that would be ill advised.