Flying with guns is easy

[reidnez]

Umm no...not in carry-on. I was directed to carry my checked bag to a TSA station and tell the agent that I was declaring a firearm, so that's what I did. I'm not law enforcement and I'm not confused about my story. Sorry for not being more clear.

[paul0660]

Sorry for not being more clear.

Ok. For what other reason would he think you were there?

Anyway that sort of shows the point that procedures vary.

[InGrAM]

Rule #1 of flying with anything, make sure that it can be replaced with ease.

[The Gleam]

IThe only thing I found odd was that the airline agent at the counter (not TSA) asked me to open the case and show her that the gun was unloaded; she seemed to think this was required...

That used to be the norm prior to TSA setting up their own special baggage check-in points; opening the case and exhibiting that the firearm is unloaded or disassembled in that it is clearly unloaded. Before 9/11 that more often was the case, that I have had to show the senior-staff clerk at the regular baggage check for whatever airline flying that the gun was unloaded. Often a couple of other desk staff would stand behind me as this was being done to block the view from other passengers. Some airlines have noted they will do this in a private area, but that has never happened; it has always been right there, at the main check-in (prior to when TSA set up it's own baggage check in at many airports).

Best was once in the Midwest, probably around 1997, standing in line at baggage check and pulling out a Benelli shotgun, a .44 Mag Smith, and 3 1911 pistols to show they were unloaded; this was around Thanksgiving, lines were packed and as I looked over my left shoulder I saw a few horrified faces of some shrieking Anti-2nd Amendment types in line.

The best was the middle-aged uptight beehive suddenly gone into panic-attack mode and blurted "I don't want to fly on whatever plane he's on, what plane is he on? Security! Sir what plane are you on?" over and over in hysterics. I ignored her being busy with my own concerns; a curb-check guy helping cart bags for someone else helped calm her down/asking her questions. Nevertheless, she got out of line and walked off somewhere, presumably to the customer service hub for that airline.