How to Travel With a Firearm

[Benja455]

Most Important Federal Law:

Sec. 926A. Interstate transportation of firearms

Notwithstanding any other provision of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or any political subdivision thereof, any person who is not otherwise prohibited by this chapter from transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle:Provided, That in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver's compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.

***It is very helpful to have a copy of this law printed out and kept with you. Many local LEO are unfamiliar with this law.***

By Train:

Amtrak:
https://www.amtrak.com/onboard/baggage- ... items.html

By car:

http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/Federal/Read.aspx?id=59" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

In most states, personally-owned firearms may be transported legally if they are unloaded, cased, and locked in the automobile trunk.

The exceptions to this rule apply mainly to interstate transportation of handguns. The myriad and conflicting legal requirements for firearm transportation through the states make caution the key for travelers.

***Be very careful about how often and where you stop. Section 926A allows you to travel with your firearms - say across the country - but if you stop in Chicago for a Cubs game, you open yourself up to a legal gray area. Section 926A only covers you during stops necessary to reach your destination (gas, sleep, food, car repairs, etc.). Stopping for any other reason is questionable. Stopping for any other reason in a municipality with fascist gun laws would be very questionable.

By plane:

TSA
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... _1666.shtm

Airtran
http://www.airtran.com/policies/permitt" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... ted.aspx#6

Alaskan Airlines/Horizon
http://www.alaskaair.com/as/www2/help/f" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... dItems.asp

Aloha Airlines (scroll down in the window at the bottom to 0195 "Special Items)
http://www.alaskaair.com/as/www2/help/f" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... dItems.asp

American Airlines
http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformatio" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... rearms.jsp

Continental (United)
http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content ... ports.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Delta
http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... /index.jsp

JetBlue (PDF file, scroll down to page#12)
http://www.jetblue.com/p/jetblue_coc.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Southwest
http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/guns.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

United
http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content ... ports.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

USAIR
http://www.usairways.com/en-US/travelto" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... items.html

Air travel can be tricky. If you plan to travel with both a firearm and ammunition, you need to check if the particular carrier you are flying on allows the firearm and ammo to be transported in the same bag. Some do - others don't. Check their website and read carefully. It also can't hurt to call and confirm. Printing out the airline's policy is wise as well.

Arrive at the airport early. Go inside. I don't believe any airline permits you to do a curb check of a bag with a firearm inside. Approach the counter and inform them that you need to declare the "UNLOADED" firearm inside your bag you are checking. Depending on the counter attendant's experience with the procedure, they will ask you if the firearm is locked in a hard sided case - you will say yes. They will give you a firearm declaration form and ask you to fill it out. It's very short. At this point, they send you off to have your bag inspected by TSA - either by hand or by a scanning machine. I prefer to have the slide locked back already, so if they check the weapon by hand, they can tell it's unloaded without fiddling with it. If they check with the scanning machine - you won't even need to open the case. After this, you'll throw the declaration form into your bag (somewhere near the firearm) and that's it. Do NOT allow the airline representative at the ticket counter to open the firearm case - this is an outdated and incorrect procedure. TSA regulations stipulate that you shall open the firearm case for inspection only to TSA Officers - not airline employees. Another part of this outdated procedure is to place the declaration form inside the locked case - don't let them do that either. If TSA needs to confirm you declared the firearm, how would they see the declaration form if it is locked inside the case? I encourage them to tape the form to the firearm case. Also, don't allow them to attach anything to the outside of your bag that suggests there is a firearm inside - this is another outdated policy, which is now a violation of TSA regulations. Once you land and retrieve your bag, I feel it's wise to simply feel inside to confirm the locked case is still inside (it's easier to file a complaint that your firearm was stolen while you're still at the airport). With that said, I've never heard of any one's weapon being stolen but make sure you complete the declaration form and put it inside your bag or the gun will be confiscated and you will be pulled off the flight!

I found this website with grades for the different airlines based on their firearm policies to be very informative:

http://deviating.net/firearms/packing/report.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

While at your destination:

http://handgunlaw.us/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[tpryder]

Benja455, excellent post with a lot of information. I just wanted to add that I have flown many times with firearms, with different airlines and I have not had any problems. The only issue I would stress is that every airline has a different policy regarding the ammunition. Mostly regarding how much you can have, which is determined by weight. I took a course in Tucson and had to have 500 rounds of .308, which exceeded my limit dictated by the airline. All I did was ship the ammo ahead of time so it was there when I arrived.

[Benja455]

Thanks!

I'm glad you hear you've never had a problem. The most serious problem I had was with US Airways - the employees were really poorly trained on the proper procedure. I filed a formal complaint with TSA (who never followed up - big surprise). In my experience, Southwest Airlines is the best although I did have a small problem once, but the moment the employee checked with their supervisor - the supervisor knew the correct procedure and implemented it immediately (while apologizing for the mistake). That was really refreshing after dealing with the ignorance at US Airways.

Happy travels!

[Bill Starks]

Building on what Benja started and for those of you who hate to surf or go clicky clicky, I created a PDF of the TSA and various airlines firearm info.

Enjoy

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

[MadPick]

Bill:

Very cool of you, man.

[Massivedesign]

Nice job Bill!

[Benja455]

That's a great document! The only thing I would add is a note to make sure to get there early when declaring a firearm.

[Talons]

might want to add this to the opening post. i personally enjoy travel by train.

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentSe ... 8542758975

[8shotz]

FIY
United and Continental merged many many moons ago. The links above no longer work. So far this is what i found:

http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content ... ports.aspx

[Massivedesign]

might want to add this to the opening post. i personally enjoy travel by train.

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentSe ... 8542758975

Added, thanks!

FIY
United and Continental merged many many moons ago. The links above no longer work. So far this is what i found:

http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content ... ports.aspx

Edited, thanks as well!

[Talons]

i suppose we can also add this, for those of us in the seattle area.

http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/bus/ruleride.html

under criminal penalties, rule 5

However, cigarette, cigar or pipe lighters, firearms, weapons, and ammunition may be carried if in a form or manner that is not otherwise prohibited by law or ordinance.

[Massivedesign]

Not worried about travelling within the state, as RCW's and preemption have that pretty well nailed down.

[mash man]

so last month i went to Kalifornia twice so i flew out of Seatac twice once to San Diego and once to San Fran. of all 3 places not a one of them was the same dealing with the TSA. and yes in san fran they wanted to see my pistol

[Massivedesign]

They have always wanted to see my pistol. Each time they have swabbed it and ran it through the machine. It's been easy though.

[BadKarma]

Recently they start to ask to see it then say they don't. They still swab the outside of the case but that is it(besides putting the declaration in my bag). So far I have had 2 ladies freek out and security called over once in the past 12 years of traveling with my rifles/pistols. I got really lucky taking a red eye that had me switching planes(and carriers which required re-checking in) in California. Apparently they didn't know about magazine size bans or barrel length bans.