Checked baggage question

[skytrucker]

Now that all checked baggage is searched by hand (at slect airports); is the public allowed to transport firearms? Gun owners used to do this all the time with no problems.


Next question. At what point do you become a criminal if you carry a firearm on airport property? The scenerio being you have a CCW, go to the airport to pick up a friend and are carrying? Will you be in trouble at the parking garage? Inside the terminal?

Last question. Say you make the really big mistake of getting to the security checkpoint, set off the bell, and then realize you have a contraband item, what then? Can you tell them you need to return an item to check-in or back to your truck? Or is it game-over, go to jail?

I haven't seen any published information on the specific's.

Any help would be appreiciated.

 

[wxman13]

From what I've read in published reports, it's still legal to carry unloaded firearms in checked luggage, although the TSA may give your luggage a more thorough inspection when they see guns on the first scan...

Most TSA agents who aren't power tripping will let you return to the ticket counter and check the banned item or ship it home to yourself by UPS or something. Only if you decline doing either of those yourself will they confiscate it, but unless you're walking around with loaded weapons/explosives/drugs/anything really sketchy they won't arrest you.

I'm not sure about carrying a weapon on airport property--if it's unloaded it might be okay if you have the necessary permits, but don't quote me on it. Probably best to call the airport ahead of time and find out.

The bottom line is that they aren't going to arrest you for doing something now that they wouldn't have arrested you for doing earlier since hightened security measures--the TSA is just being way more thorough (excessively so, I think, but that's another can of worms) than they have been.

Happy New Year,
Peter

 

[bunnyfufu]

I'm not sure about carrying a weapon on airport property--if it's unloaded it might be okay if you have the necessary permits, but don't quote me on it. Probably best to call the airport ahead of time and find out.

so it's alright to carry a firearm with a CCW permit for self-defense as long as it isn't loaded...

 

[skytrucker]

alittle more help...

Does anyone know of a web page to look up, exactly whre there published reports are, first hand knowlege, .....anything?

I got nothing.

 

[wxman13]

Check out this link at the TSA website:
http://www.tsa.dot.gov/public/display?content=15

So my earlier statement about it possibly being okay to swagger around with an unloaded gun in an airport is probably incorrect. Conceivably they would arrest you if they felt you were a threat. But seriously, why would you need or want to carry a gun around an airport? Just check it in your bag, unloaded, and make sure you declare it to the ticket agent when you check in. The latter is especially important, because it's pretty hard to plead ignorance to a shotgun in your suitcase...

My inclination would be to err on the side of caution, because as the site says, it's up to them whether to arrest you or just confiscate whatever you have. I suppose you could give them a call to clarify (1-866-289-9673, their customer service number).

Peter