Flying with a firearm?

[KillZone45]

I have flown in the past with my handguns with no problems. I was talking to a buddy of mine who is OCSD and this is what he said regarding flying with a gun. He said that an internal department memo was sent out saying that if you are flying with a gun that you dont put a TSA lock on it but your own. When you check it at the counter you obviously declare the firearm, then a TSA employee comes over and checks the firearm. You then lock it up with your lock and put it back into your luggage.

In the past I did all that but used a TSA lock, the one that has the combo and key that the TSA has. When I have flown and checked my luggage in the past after I landed the little red "ring" has been popped as if the TSA had checked my luggage without me being there. I never really thought about it and if that was ok or not.

Basically what I am getting at is can I check my firearm and lock it with a lock that only I can open or does it have to be a TSA approved lock on the firearm case? From what my OCSD buddy was telling me his dept memo said to only use a lock that I can lock and unlock.

[Blackrain7557]

I have flown in the past with my handguns with no problems. I was talking to a buddy of mine who is OCSD and this is what he said regarding flying with a gun. He said that an internal department memo was sent out saying that if you are flying with a gun that you dont put a TSA lock on it but your own. When you check it at the counter you obviously declare the firearm, then a TSA employee comes over and checks the firearm. You then lock it up with your lock and put it back into your luggage.

In the past I did all that but used a TSA lock, the one that has the combo and key that the TSA has. When I have flown and checked my luggage in the past after I landed the little red "ring" has been popped as if the TSA had checked my luggage without me being there. I never really thought about it and if that was ok or not.

Basically what I am getting at is can I check my firearm and lock it with a lock that only I can open or does it have to be a TSA approved lock on the firearm case? From what my OCSD buddy was telling me his dept memo said to only use a lock that I can lock and unlock.

There was a long thread on here about this a while back, basically use a lock that you control. NOT a TSA lock. You should be the only one able to access your locked firearms case.

[echoThreeOneSix]

i used a TSA lock because it was what I had. there were no problems, they swiped it down for explosive residue but didn't even open the case.

[RickD427]

Gents,

We did discuss this one a few weeks ago.

The bottom line is that the law requires a Non-TSA lock on the container. The requirement is that only you have the keys or combination.

It is a violation of federal regulations for you to use a TSA lock.

Your OCSD buddy was right on point.

Here is the text of the applicable law:

and only the individual checking the baggage retains the key or combination; and

(iv) The checked baggage containing the firearm is carried in an area that is inaccessible to passengers, and is not carried in the flightcrew compartment,.

(3) Any unauthorized explosive or incendiary.

(g) Ammunition. This section does not prohibit the carriage of ammunition in checked baggage or in the same container as a firearm. Title 49 CFR part 175 provides additional requirements governing carriage of ammunition on aircraft.

[KillZone45]

Good to know, thanks!

[SonofWWIIDI]

Yes, use your own lock. The info posted by Rick is correct.

Now, there was another post some time ago where a flyer was ordered by the TSA to provide the combo (key maybe, I can't remember) to the lock so they might inspect the firearm, after a prolonged conversation back and forth, as I recall he gave it up rather than be yanked off the plane and delayed unduly.

I'll see of I can find the thread. Or if someone else has it handy, post it up.

[EVGRambis]

Now, there was another post some time ago where a flyer was ordered by the TSA to provide the combo (key maybe, I can't remember) to the lock so they might inspect the firearm, after a prolonged conversation back and forth, as I recall he gave it up rather than be yanked off the plane and delayed unduly.

I'll see of I can find the thread. Or if someone else has it handy, post it up.

I remember that thread. My search-fu seems to be lacking today but I recall the thread title to be something along the line of "Did I do something illegal".

[dozer wright]

I remember the thread can't seem to find it . Seems like a follow the rules until we say not to.
I think some people said there's no way they would have turned over combo/key definitely a b.s. situation of who is gonna give first.

[_TomT_]

Flying into California is a lot more difficult than flying out from what I heard.

[rosemont83]

I need to read up on these rules.
I was under the impression that you can't take your guns out of your own state, let alone flying..
Calguns archives here I come lol

[Greenfield_Fire]

So... I just did this...

So I just flew yesterday with my firearm (on Delta... originating in TN, flying through ATL, into San Jose)...

The firearm case itself must be locked with a non-TSA lock (but in a TSA-approved firearms case... go figure )... if you put that in another bag, then the other bag must have a TSA-approved lock on it... (I flew with a hard-sided pistol case in my larger checked bag -- the larger bag had a TSA lock on it, the pistol case had a Brinks high-security lock on it)...

The other interesting thing on here is that people keep saying that TSA has to inspect the firearm... I've flown on multiple occasions now with firearms, and I've _NEVER_ had TSA inspect the firearm itself... I've had the check-in agent inspect the firearm and make sure that it was unloaded, but I've never had TSA do that...

[GardoneVT]

Flying into California is a lot more difficult than flying out from what I heard.

Here's what happened when I flew into and out of Los Angeles in late March, 2014.

I was checking two firearms in one case. Because the firearms went into the same bag as the rest of my luggage, I used three non-TSA locks on the other compartments plus the main non TSA lock for the compartment my guns were in, which was itself secured to the frame of the luggage suitcase via key I maintained.

The longest delay I faced was waiting on the airline counter personnell to sort out how to print out the orange firearms declaration. The older woman sith the airline at LAX did give me the stink eye when she saw I was declaring two handguns , but upon display of my military ID she withheld comment.

Pro tip -keep accessable printouts of TSA and Federal regulations with the firearm(s) in the suitcase. Having and not needing it beats the alternative.

[CJJohn]

Have done this as well, never an issue. I use a hard sided suitcase with a TSA approved container inside, and locked with a cable to the framework of the suitcase. NON TSA lock on gun container, TSA lock on suitcase. I have been inspected, but never had an issue, nor have I ever had an agent actually look at the firearm, only at the declaration that I sign stating the gun is empty.
Ammo must be in factory box, and I've never had an issue with that either.

[rmatt]

I fly all the time with my pistols all over the US for competitions. 14 times in 2014.

Do not use a TSA lock of any kind.

Do use a hard sided case that can not be easily pried open. I've used the suitcase sized pelican case with multiple locks on it and counted the whole thing as my case. Or I've also just used a small plastic pistol box with it sufficiently locked and in my regular luggage. The pelican case requires you to pack light though as it is 20lbs itself empty.

The very worst things that I had happen this year were:
-the gate agent saying very loudly "we got a gun here!" to the baggage handler. so much for low profile..
-the somali baggage handler telling me "oh i see guns all the time and i always follow the bag around." sets off my paranoia about baggage theft.
-multiple airlines asking me to take my pistol out of the case and demonstrate it was unloaded and "safed".
-multiple gate agents taking the plasctic case out and trying to break into it, right there at the ticket counter.
-gate agent telling me, "i wont do a ticket for a customer with a gun" and asking for someone else to help me.
-almost every single airline asking me for my key and giving tsa access to my firearm while i am not present. against federal rules and airline policy. but evidently more expedient for their luggage processing. i have taken names down with the threat of "you took my key, you took my gun out away from my presence. if i land and my gun is not there i am holding you criminally liable"

And I will second that CA is pretty horrible generally when I fly with a pistol. But Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Jersey have all given me waaaayyyy more nervous worry about my firearm travel than CA.

[KrisDSA]

Flying into California is a lot more difficult than flying out from what I heard.

Not true for me I have come into LAX on 8 diff times this year alone with guns I picked up out of state and ammo. I never use a TSA lock on firearm case. I even use a cable lock to lock the case to the frame of the bag. More then once I have had TSA worker tell me I need there lock on my gun case and I info them that isn't true and bring up there website. I fly all over the USA with a gun