Southwest Firearm Check In Experience at OAK

[DolphinFan]

I flew Jet Blue and Virgin America from LAX-FLL-LAX in June. No problems. Declared it at LAX, they asked to open my case, I did, the handgun and ammo in the case. Ammo in Factory sealed box. they tagged the gun, I locked it up and went on my way. Same thing on the return trip.

I had my firearm and ammo in a double locked pelican case that was cable locked to the inside frame of my luggage.

[lowriderryda]

Personally, I'd rather have a Local LE present if TSA is for some reason fondling my weapons then not. I've never had TSA ask me to open my firearms case for them, but if they believe their is a discrepancy or that something is hidden I can see why they would contact local LE.

Tsa doesnt not fondle your weapons its the Leo's that's why they are called whenever there is an issues.

Sent from my LG-H871 using Tapatalk

[bigbearbear]

This is the reason why I would not bring a firearm anywhere near an airport. There's literally no reason that would be worth that much hassle.

People usually fly with their guns for competition and hunting. I just returned from the Grand American, a big trap shooting competition in Sparta, IL. Thousands of shooters flew in with their guns, some of them internationally from places like Brazil and Australia.

It is more common than most people realize for guns to travel with passengers on commercial airlines.

[dobek]

I fly all the time out of SMF and never have a problem - If the TSA agent insists on the key / combo - tell him point blank you WILL NOT violate the law by giving him access and then turn and ask the PD how you can swear out a complaint against the TSA agent for conspiracy to violate the law.

From that point forward you are done with the TSA agent - if he wants to discuss further, explain you are done with him and will only speak with a supervisor - then again ask the PD to document the attempt to violate the law so that it can be pursued.

Put him on the defensive.

Steve

[RickD427]

I fly all the time out of SMF and never have a problem - If the TSA agent insists on the key / combo - tell him point blank you WILL NOT violate the law by giving him access and then turn and ask the PD how you can swear out a complaint against the TSA agent for conspiracy to violate the law.

From that point forward you are done with the TSA agent - if he wants to discuss further, explain you are done with him and will only speak with a supervisor - then again ask the PD to document the attempt to violate the law so that it can be pursued.

Put him on the defensive.

Steve

Nonsense.

There is no "Conspiracy" when the TSA agent requests your key/combination.

A conspiracy requires that two or more persons act in concert to commit a criminal act, and that an overt act is taken toward the completion of the act. The TSA agent acting alone does not commit the violation.

One does not "swear out a complaint" in California. Someone has been watching too much television. If you report a felony violation to a LEO, or if the LEO is present when a misdemeanor violation is committed, the LEO may (but is not required to) make an arrest absent any other involvement.

Conspiracy is a felony. That remains true even if the underlying crime is only a misdemeanor or an infraction ( a real "quirk" in California law).

If a misdemeanor crime occurred outside of the LEO's presence, then the victim (or another person who was present) may need to make a private person's arrest. This is mostly a legal step, the officer will do the hard part.

But be careful here, if a private person makes an arrest on their own, the LEO is under no obligation to accept custody of the person arrested. Then you're up the proverbial creek without a paddle.

[L84CABO]

Do you think they ran your serial number?

You bet!!

[dwalker]

I fly in and out of Oakland fairly often, and have not had any issues, although to be honest I never pack ammo in the same bag as the gun case. When I have flown with just a handgun I lock the gun case, then use a cable lock to lock the gun case into my suitcase. Mags go into a small bag or just wrapped in clothes in the suitcase.
Never had any issues so far, but who knows what the future holds.

[grneps]

The best guide to flying with a firearm:

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

[nszzya]

I fly in and out of Oakland fairly often, and have not had any issues, although to be honest I never pack ammo in the same bag as the gun case. When I have flown with just a handgun I lock the gun case, then use a cable lock to lock the gun case into my suitcase. Mags go into a small bag or just wrapped in clothes in the suitcase.
Never had any issues so far, but who knows what the future holds.

I assume your mags are unloaded.

[dwalker]

I assume your mags are unloaded.

Not always. There is no requirement for them to be in a specific case or box. The biggest concern has been loose ammo. I once got hassled in Texas because a shotgun round had escaped its box and was rolling around in the bottom of my suitcase. You would think the TSA guy would have just piked it up put it back in the bo or thrown it into the garbage, but you would be wrong. The TSA jackwad got all excited and called over the nearest Airport Police Officer, who picked it up and asked if I wanted it or not, and when I shrugged he tossed it into the nearest waste bin. The look on the TSA jackwads face was priceless.

[edgerly779]

Never jad an issue and have been fkying with firearms for 47 years. In the old days you took to gate and they put in cockpit and gave them to you when you deplaned.

[nszzya]

Just a follow up on the return SAN - OAK flight on Southwest. Same packing as the first flight. No issues whatsoever at SAN.

[Garrett128]

Sometimes I've been told to wait 7-10 minutes before proceeding to the gate, sometimes I've not. It depends on the Southwest or airline agent. What they're trying to do is save you a trip from the gate back to the counter should your case "Alarm" at TSA EDS (Explosive Device System). I've had the same gun case "Alarm" in San Jose but not Ontario. Sometimes it has to do with the way you package the gun & magazine, sometimes it "Alarms" because of something else. Luggage may "Alarm" with no gun case in it. When it "Alarms," they'll ask for the key or combo. A TSA officer will open the gun case and take a quick look. They shouldn't even touch the contents. You can ask that a LEO be present but they don't have to grant that. Once it "Alarms" your bag cannot go further until it's been "Cleared" by TSA. If you refuse to give them a key or combo, they will call the Airport PD. The PD will resolve it how they see fit but your bag will not fly until TSA gives it the ok. If you fly, you and your luggage are subject to search. If your gun/ammo was declared and properly packaged, and the EDS system does not "Alarm," TSA really doesn't care about the gun because they are looking for Explosives.

As far as the ammo in the magazines, the deputies were just giving you bad information.

[dwalker]

^^^ Yeap.

I flew Delta once and they had a TSA guy check my gun case out in the open. Usually they just wipe the outside and if it passes they just move you on. THIS GUY decides to open my case, open the soft case inside, swabbing all of it, and then swab the pistol bag I use at the range. Well, of course the pistol bag test positive. He has to call in his supervisor, who takes forever to get there. He tells her he swabbed the bag and it tested positive, she pokes around in the bag for a second, decides it is just powder residue (shocker) and I seal the case up. Now, I could have made a big deal about them opening my case, they are not supposed to, and it did NOT fail the wipe of the case, but I went along with it in the interest of expediency. It should be obvious if your swabbing around in a gun case you might find powder residue, but apparently they skipped that day at TSA school...

[Pandanin]

I flew out of OAK on Southwest around 5 - 6 years ago and it went almost exactly as yours did.

Deputies came out, took me to a quiet spot on the counter, had me open the case (I retained possession of they key), saw ammo in the mag, mag not in the gun. They said that Southwest wants the ammo completely covered, not just the primer.

I had no other container so one of the deputies went to his car and brought back an empty ammo box and let me have it. I use that box every time I fly now and I've never had another issue.