LEO traveling

[ca194216]

going to hawaii. want to know the procedures with airlines. the only reason im asking is that i might return to Los Angeles during the Treyvon stuff. Normally i havent carried going to Hawaii due to possible complications with such a liberal state but I would like to be armed coming home from the LAX. I have looked at the forums about Hawaii and Im not so sure an encounter would be smooth. Not that I would expect problems but hey. I guess im looking for a good recommendation. I carry everywhere except Hawaii. 25/8 not looking to get slammed here, just need some decent advice. thanks

[Samuelx]

If your big worry is the return trip from LAX to home, all you have to do is retrieve your firearm from your check in luggage and rearm yourself before leaving LAX... ???

[ca194216]

thank you sam. your advice is good. i would rather leave them at the LAX substation. any lapd guys here? can we leave our guns at the substation and pick them upon return? rather not deal with airlines. sam if you could PM me that would be great.

[Heiko]

If you are parking your car for your flight out of LAX you can park at a number of relatively secure parking places and stash your gun in your secured vehicle. I either go to great lengths of putting it under the spare tire or I use a Gunvault type locking box with the cable looped around a metal part of the body in a hidden spot like in the spare tire area or rear side compartment if you have an SUV. I know this is not the most secure option but neither is trusting TSA morons (especially the gang affiliates and probationers that work LAX) and baggage handlers to not pinch your gun out of your luggage. Plus, the hassle of complying with federal law and declaring it to the ticket agent and all that comes with that is no fun. Even if you try to do it subtly and show them your ID and advise them you have "something" in your checked luggage to declare it can be a touchy situation.

I would go through that hassle if I were going somewhere I felt I needed to be armed but Hawaii is pretty tame and it's hard to conceal a gun in my Speedo anyway.

If you don't live close to LAX and would like to stay the night before close to LAX so there's less day-of rush, several of the nearby hotels do a stay-and-park deal for one night stay and 7 nights parking as a reasonable cost. The parking is pretty secure. I've used the Radisson and there are spots very close to the hotel entrance and by the parking attendant's booth. They shuttle ride to LAX is 2-5 minutes.

[Ron-Solo]

OP, as far as LAX Police I don't know. I did check with Ontario, which is part of LAX, and they would not let me store a firearm on one of my trips leaving from there.

Each airline has their own policies on firearms, and all have rules set by the FAA and then there's TSA to deal with.

The most consistent guidelines are a locked hard sided container, unloaded, and ammo must be in a factory box with packing to keep rounds separated. Some airlines will let you use the magazines to hold the rounds, others won't allow it. I would recommend a plastic case like many reloaded use that has individual slots for each round.

If you are LEOSA qualified, it applies in Hawaii, but they have some hi capacity mag rules that have yet to be addressed by LEOSA. I believe they have a 10 round limit unless you are Hawaii LEO status like California, so be careful with that issue. That's another reason I like my Ruger LC9, it only has a 7 rd magazine, but shoots real 9mm.

[NineteenElev3n]

Each airline has their own policies on firearms, and all have rules set by the FAA and then there's TSA to deal with.

The most consistent guidelines are a locked hard sided container, unloaded, and ammo must be in a factory box with packing to keep rounds separated. Some airlines will let you use the magazines to hold the rounds, others won't allow it. I would recommend a plastic case like many reloaded use that has individual slots for each round.

If you are LEOSA qualified, it applies in Hawaii, but they have some hi capacity mag rules that have yet to be addressed by LEOSA. I believe they have a 10 round limit unless you are Hawaii LEO status like California, so be careful with that issue. That's another reason I like my Ruger LC9, it only has a 7 rd magazine, but shoots real 9mm.

Great advice given. Personally, I have no experience dealing with other agencies storing my firearm. I would concur with Heiko and would use an in-car safe option that is secured to your car if you do not feel comfortable in dealing with the whole declairing a firearm process. Doing the the declaring a firearm process is a pain, but to me, it is worth it. As far as my LEOSA experience with carrying in Hawaii on the island of Maui, I had no issues while carrying. I carried a Ruger LCP in a Galco pocket holster in my cargo shorts. I was even chit-chatting with some officers about police work.

Have fun in Hawaii!

[Samuelx]

thank you sam. your advice is good. i would rather leave them at the LAX substation. any lapd guys here? can we leave our guns at the substation and pick them upon return? rather not deal with airlines. sam if you could PM me that would be great.

Sorry CA, I'm not with the LAPD and have no idea...

[chsk9]

I just spent 2 weeks on Maui and Oahu and took my LC9 (and 2 spare mags).
Here's the deal: unload your pistol and secure the loaded mags and I put my Emerson CQC7 in a locking (I used Lockdown) case. At the counter I advise the ticket agent "I have a unloaded firearm to declare." and they have you fill out a tag to go in the suitcase and then escort you to TSA. You need a non TSA lock for your hard sided suitcase, which should be kept locked after you tag goes inside, unless the TSA asks you to unlock it- they never have. At your destination you can proceed with lawful concealed carry.
In Hawaii there were zero issues at the airports, but the ticket agent on Maui said she and her husband were firearms collectors and we chatted guns for a moment. I found the deSantis nemesis works well for shorts and a t-shirt carry. I've never had any issues traveling with a firearm in the Western States.

[CBR_rider]

I just spent 2 weeks on Maui and Oahu and took my LC9 (and 2 spare mags).

I'm still a little miffed you didn't take me up on my offer, but glad the trip went off without a hitch!

To the OP: Have you called LAPD yet and asked about storing your firearm with them? I'm curious to see what their response would be...(though I know what it most likely will be)

[Bobby Ricigliano]

All of the above LEO advice is accurate. I declared my gun at the airport and then carried in Chicago with no problems. Illinois is probably more anti than Hawaii even.

If you don't want to deal with that I'd park in a secure lot during your stay and just leave it locked in the trunk.

[chsk9]

[QUOTE=CBR_rider;11765805]I'm still a little miffed you didn't take me up on my offer, but glad the trip went off without a hitch!

Thanks... you can roll with me next time I go to party in Juarez

[Garrett128]

If you end up checking your gun in luggage, look at the TSA website. It has all the info you'll need (type of container for the gun, how to store the ammo, etc.). I think it's pretty common for people to travel from state to state with their handguns.

[micro911]

I don't know about LAX to Hawaii.

I have had a vacation in Canada. When I drove north on I-5, I stopped by at the Olympia PD, and left my pistol with them. They took it in and issued a receipt number for it.

Upon my return, I had no problem picking up the pistol.

When I went to Mexico, I left my pistol with San Diego PD, before I crossed the border.

I have traveled with my firearm before on air trips. I have declared my firearm, and had no problem.

[CBR_rider]

Thanks... you can roll with me next time I go to party in Juarez

Just give me enough notice so I can get a new pair of white boots to match my cowboy hat.

[Ericb760]

A bit OT, but I remember flying to Chicago out of LAX in 1978 with my father, then a LAPD detective. He wore a holstered .38 snub nose on his belt under his coat. Upon entering the plane he pulled aside a flight attended and showed her the gun and his badge. We were instantly upgraded to 1st Class! This was before the routine use of metal detectors and he just walked right on the plane armed. Man, have times changed...