TSA and guns
A reader emails a link to this: Packing and the Friendly Skies – Why Transporting Firearms May Be the Best Way to Safeguard Your Tech When You Fly
After a particularly horrible episode of airport theft, Deviant made the decision to never again travel by air with unlocked luggage. Because of this he now flies with firearms all the time. Federal law allows (in fact, it requires) passengers to lock firearm-bearing luggage with non-TSA-approved padlocks and does not permit any airport staffer to open such bags once they have left the owner’s possession. In this talk, you will learn the relevant laws and policies concerning travel with weapons. It’s easier than you think, often adds little to no extra time to your schedule (indeed, it can expedite the check-in process sometimes), and may actually be the best way to prevent tampering and theft of bags during air travel.
Flying with firearms is one of the best kept secrets out there. You’re rarely accosted by TSA.
October 10th, 2008 at 9:33 am
I’ve found that the best way to secure my luggage is to use small safety pins. Before I did that, I’d invariably get a card/notice in my luggage stating that TSA had looked at it. With the small safety pins, I haven’t been “inspected” since. I guess the TSA folks don’t want to risk pricking their fingers (hehehe).
October 10th, 2008 at 9:36 am
I always fly with a firearm – when I can (ie: when I’m not traveling to Chicago, California, or New York/New Jersey). It always saves me lots of time.
October 10th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Every time I’ve flown since 2001 I have checked at least one firearm through on every flight. Last time I did so was in April of this year, and due to unforseen circumstances I missed the flight at the gate. My luggage, and firearm, were properly checked through on the plane, which I did manage to wave goodbye to as it left the access way.
When I arrived at my destination, in the airline’s baggage office my bags (and firearm) were waiting patiently for me, safe and secure, with a smiling airline rep attentive to my every need.
BTW, I love SWA.
Regards,
Rabbit.
October 10th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
+1 I flew with a gun out of Logan Airport in the Belly of the Anti-Gun beast that is Boston. Easiest thing in the world, and my luggage arrived at the same time.
Also if the luggage IS lost, simply inform the Airline staff that the ATF needs to be informed of Lost or Stolen guns within 24 hours, and watch how fast your gun is found!
October 10th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
The TSA folks I have encountered have been uniformly polite and helpful. Best encounter I’ve had yet:
Newbie airline employee in the middle of PSH tells me I’ll have to have my bag “specially inspected” and to take it to the CTX machine (X-ray machine). I take it over, tell the TSA guy I’m supposed to have my bag inspected and that I’m transporting a pistol and ammo in accordance with federal law and airline rules. The TSA guy takes the bag around the CTX machine and sends it on the conveyor down to baggage. I’m a little flabbergasted, so I asked I said, “Aren’t you supposed to scan that?”
He looks over at the newbie behind the airline counter, rolls his eyes and responds with, “What do you think I might find? Weapons and ammunition?”
October 10th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Wonderful link. Thank you so much!
October 11th, 2008 at 12:42 am
Countertop: unless your weapon of choice is an “assault” weapon (in the case of handguns, one with a mag holding more than 10 round), you can fly with a weapon to California; you just can’t pack once you’re there. I’m pretty sure you can fly with one to Chicago, too, as long as you aren’t actually staying in the city.
October 11th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
The speaker in that mp3 has a website, and power point slides of his tawk: http://deviating.net/firearms/