Flying with firearm, first experience. Beware! FYI

[Ritchie8719]

or have a CCW for that state?

Only Co residents can get Co CCw. Likely the OP did not have one.

without actually needing it

Huge assumption. The safe outcome of the trip matters not.

Negolien, you must be rich from betting on stuff after the outcome is known.

[njineermike]

And the purpose of taking you firearm to another state without actually needing it and without a CCW for that state?

Because. /end response to obvious troll

[Cody]

Look for your stuff on Ebay.

TSA Agent Selling Stolen Items on Ebay

Read This

If they see something good on the scanner they go after it. I've had my EDC knife stolen twice.

-Cody

[Jongage]

I've flown 13 times in the past 20 years with firearms. Never a problem. As for anything valuable, why would you NOT have put it in with your firearms, if you're going to (and required to) lock the case anyway, and it remains locked for the duration of the trip?

I PREFER to fly with firearms because:

1) I breeze through the lines, because I get extracted out of the sheep-line and taken to the TSA line at most airports where it is separate; and I often get a personal escort with a TSA agent who helps carry my gun-bag/case through the airport.

2) Lockable case, that I can put other things in it: ammo, knives, tools, cameras, any valuables and personal crap that would be an issue as carry-on, etc.

Flying with firearms is an advantage, not a disadvantage - for those two reasons alone.

So after declaring you firearm, do you keep it with you into the secured area and check your bag gate side?

[madsend81]

So after declaring you firearm, do you keep it with you into the secured area and check your bag gate side?

You don't get a fast past through security, just through the baggage check-in area. Once your bags are checked in, you have to wait in security like everyone else.

To the OP, you can have other things in the locked case besides the firearm, it's just that the firearm has to be in a locked, hard side case and the lock cannot be a TSA lock. This has its advantages in securing your belongings from unnecessary TSA secondary searches.

I'm sorry this happened to you. My experiences flying with a firearm were much different from yours. In my case, I put my locked handgun case inside my range bag and packed my range bag inside my check-in luggage. I had no problems.

[njineermike]

You don't get a fast past through security, just through the baggage check-in area. Once your bags are checked in, you have to wait in security like everyone else.

To the OP, you can have other things in the locked case besides the firearm, it's just that the firearm has to be in a locked, hard side case and the lock cannot be a TSA lock. This has its advantages in securing your belongings from unnecessary TSA secondary searches.

I'm sorry this happened to you. My experiences flying with a firearm were much different from yours. In my case, I put my locked handgun case inside my range bag and packed my range bag inside my check-in luggage. I had no problems.

Seems a guy could make a buck or 2 creating firearms friendly luggage with an interior locking case attached to the framework of the luggage.

[Ibefuz]

Im sorry to hear that your items were stolen. as i have stated on this website a few times, i work for the tsa in san diego and i'll be the first to tell you that i work with my fair share folks that power trip like no other and others that do things that make everyone around them shake their heads. But this is no differant than any other profesion.

Here in san diego you cant go anywhere on the checkpoint or tsa baggage screening areas without being filmed. once you leave the screening areas the amount of cameras seem to diminish greatly, everyone is quick to say tsa took your stuff but i would have an equal suspiscion that the airline baggage handlers took your stuff. i dont seem to notice many cameras watching the baggage handlers once they pick up bags from the screening area other than the stationary cameras watching the emergency doors to tarmac.

From what ive seen at work is that tsa here in SD dont play around with theft or percieved theft. ive witnessed a coworker almost lose his job because he picked a nickel up off the ground and put it in his pocket, ive seen folks lose their jobs, fined, and do time in jail for theft.

Also within the past 2weeks a passenger left behind an ipad that i logged into the lost and found log when i found it in a stack of trays. The passenger came bacl later and coworker gave it back without having them sign that it was returned. I go home for the day and as soon as i come to work my supervisor and managers swoop in on me and start interogatong me asking where the ipad that i logged in was because i was the last person to sign for it. I thankes the lord we have so many cameras on checkpoint to prove i didnt steal it and it was given bacl to the rightful owner.

Dont get me wrong, im not trying to say a tsa employee didnt steal your items, im just trying to say look at the airlines with equal suspicion. good luck im getting your items back.

[adamjay]

Yes, it's definately not fair to say "TSA stole my stuff!"

Because there was a TSA tag in the luggage, the airline says they will do nothing to replace the items. Buck passed.

I won't be surprised if the TSA tries to pass it off on the baggage handlers.

There are good and bad apples everywhere. Sure seems like there are some gaps in the chain of custody, as far as assigning responsibility. I'm goin to report it mostly because I want the offender nailed, will be great if I get reimbursed, too.

Lesson learned. Thanks for the condolences.

[adamjay]

...without actually needing it...

I have never needed a gun for personal protection.
Nor have I needed auto insurance or a locked front door.

[Bill Carson]

And the purpose of taking you firearm to another state without actually needing it and without a CCW for that state?

Spoken like a true anti 2a.

[The Gleam]

You don't get a fast past through security, just through the baggage check-in area. Once your bags are checked in, you have to wait in security like everyone else.

Not necessarily so; at some airports, the TSA has a separate station where you check your bag or for special circumstance; thus, after checking your bag on the conveyor, you can then go through their separate security check as well. I have. So YES... that IS a fast-pass through security, because at that point, I'm the only one in their line; and then I'm on my merry way. That has happened more than once.

I wish I could say which airports that had been particularly, but after a while, they all blend memory-wise.

[arsilva32]

And the purpose of taking you firearm to another state without actually needing it and without a CCW for that state?

what ???? how about for protection , plenty of reasons. its not bad to have a firearm and not need it , it is very bad to need a firearm and not have it.

[underworld]

TSA used to inspect your luggage prior to check in now its after check in. I think they do that on the basement before it could go to your plane. I prefer the old system where you go to TSA first before check in that way atleast you can see them checking on your things. When they implemented the new system alot of my friends and families including my self loss alot of things in our luggage,sad to say but its always at LAX airport. We all filed a case but nothing happend.they stole all sort of things the recent incident was my wife mac makeup and a perfume, so heres a tip when you see a sticker of TSA on your luggage it means it has been inspected so run on your things try to find out if you lost somethng. After all our bad experienced everytime we travel now we make a list of our things! But still were lossing something everytime and still nothing happens to our complains. TSA sucks! Watch brian ross stolen ipad at youtube.

[Quiet]

If you fly a lot, apply for TSA Precheck.

Once you are approved, it's like flying during the 1990s.
Shorter process line, not required to take off your shoes & belt & jacket, not required to remove items from your pockets.
And most of the time you get to go through a metal detector instead of being x-ray'd or fondled.

[mag360]

I don't know why but negolien can be very anti gun at times.