Travel with guns

The #1 community for Gun Owners in Indiana

Member Benefits:

  • Fewer Ads!
  • Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership
  • Discuss anti-gun legislation
  • Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section
  • Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses
  • Discover free outdoor shooting areas
  • View up to date on firearm-related events
  • Share photos & video with other members
  • ...and so much more!
  • Tanfodude

    Master
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Jul 25, 2012
    3,886
    83
    4 Seasons
    Ok, I'll start this thread since there hasn't been much discussion here. Most people who compete travels. I have flown with guns too but there some unclear things for me.

    Here's one.

    TSA asking your key or lock combo when your luggage needs to be checked


    This seems a bit off for me as we are the only one to keep our lock or combo per federal law


    Fed.jpg






    Then TSA has an addendum on their website:


    TSA.jpg





    So basically, the fed law doesn't say that you can just give your key or combo when asked by an a security agency, unless I missed it. If I do, I'm basically violating federal law right?


    To follow the letter of the law, TSA can not ask for your key/combo to open you luggage unless your are in person? Here in Indy, I end up giving the combo to IMPD as I stood my ground in not giving the TSA my combo to open my luggage without me in person (they offered to have me watch through a monitor as they refused to bring my luggage back up in a secure area) .

    Any thoughts on this?
     
    Last edited:

    VERT

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    23   0   0
    Jan 4, 2009
    9,801
    113
    Seymour
    Tagged. I think the OP is correct. I have flown with handguns several times. Indy airport is the only one who have ever asked me for my combo.
     

    Coach

    Grandmaster
    Emeritus
    Trainer Supporter
    Local Business Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    3   0   0
    Apr 15, 2008
    13,411
    48
    Coatesville
    I have been recalled after making it through security in order to open the luggage and the case for the guns to be checked. I have never been asked to turn over a key. I have been told that many times they guys just want to check out the gun.
     

    BehindBlueI's

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    29   0   0
    Oct 3, 2012
    25,890
    113
    Never been asked to give up a key or combo, my understanding is you are supposed to be present if they use your key.

    I use a case with foam cut outs. I take the slide off so on an x-ray it's readily apparent it's not in firing condition. With a revolver, I put a lock through the frame so the cylinder can't close. I don't know if this has helped, but I've never been asked to open it.
     

    bwframe

    Loneranger
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    93   0   0
    Feb 11, 2008
    38,170
    113
    Btown Rural
    ...I put a lock through the frame so the cylinder can't close. I don't know if this has helped, but I've never been asked to open it.

    Some years back, I put the gun lock through my 1911. Then another gun lock to close the gun case that was inside of my hard luggage. Theory at the time was that it'd be less concealable to handlers that might find a way for an expensive handgun to get lost. Dunno that was it or whatever, but x-ray passed it every time without any questioning.

    I also threw that whole mess open and gunned up on the main drag in front of the Philly airport with people buzzing around me like ants. ;)
     
    Last edited:

    Tanfodude

    Master
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Jul 25, 2012
    3,886
    83
    4 Seasons
    The excuse that I have gotten was if the scanner/xray machine makes an alert, they have to open it, so far it has happened to me twice and twice I refused to give them the combo.

    When I travel, both guns have a cable lock through the ejection port and mag well, slide locked back. Both guns in the Pelican case.

    Been traveling multiple times but only been asked 2x. First time they brought the luggage back up, the 2nd time I had IMPD open it and I watch through the monitor. And of course, they asked what a Tanfoglio is.

    I told the TSA folks that they aren't law enforcement so I wasn't going to give them the combo.
     

    bwframe

    Loneranger
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    93   0   0
    Feb 11, 2008
    38,170
    113
    Btown Rural
    I think more folks should go through the trouble to fly with their firearms. That way it becomes common to the folks that have to handle this.

    While I didn't have any trouble with my flights (years ago,) it was handled differerently at each airport. First look from the attendant at Indy was as if I was going to rob her? And yes, I was careful in my explanation that I was declaring a firearm.

    Personally, I think we should be able to qualify to carry on the plane. :twocents:
     

    longbeard

    Expert
    Rating - 100%
    2   0   0
    Oct 15, 2013
    959
    43
    United States
    The excuse that I have gotten was if the scanner/xray machine makes an alert, they have to open it, so far it has happened to me twice and twice I refused to give them the combo.

    When I travel, both guns have a cable lock through the ejection port and mag well, slide locked back. Both guns in the Pelican case.

    Been traveling multiple times but only been asked 2x. First time they brought the luggage back up, the 2nd time I had IMPD open it and I watch through the monitor. And of course, they asked what a Tanfoglio is.

    I told the TSA folks that they aren't law enforcement so I wasn't going to give them the combo.

    And after you told them. They said. "Why didn't you just get a CZ?" :laugh:
     

    BehindBlueI's

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    29   0   0
    Oct 3, 2012
    25,890
    113
    Been traveling multiple times but only been asked 2x. First time they brought the luggage back up, the 2nd time I had IMPD open it and I watch through the monitor. And of course, they asked what a Tanfoglio is.

    Probably not IMPD. Airport Police are a separate entity and we don't patrol the airport or have officers there.

    I think more folks should go through the trouble to fly with their firearms. That way it becomes common to the folks that have to handle this.

    While I didn't have any trouble with my flights (years ago,) it was handled differerently at each airport. First look from the attendant at Indy was as if I was going to rob her? And yes, I was careful in my explanation that I was declaring a firearm.

    Personally, I think we should be able to qualify to carry on the plane. :twocents:

    I think it is pretty common, particularly with long guns. I have gotten the "new guy/gal" who was unsure and had to ask someone, but for the most part it's always been really easy. Vegas in particular. Might as well declared I had extra socks.
     

    Bfish

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    13   0   0
    Feb 24, 2013
    5,801
    48
    I've been held up twice when flying. One time as I checked the bag someone escorted my bag to a area near by where they swapped my locked pelican and put it back in my suitcase never even opening it all while I watched. Only once did they want to open the locked case and I presented the key to them while I watched them open the case and then lock it again handing me the key and I was present the entire time. This took place in Phoenix. In Indy I've never even had them ask. I use a key that I keep on me and if I was asked I'd request to be present when it's opened which from what I've gathered is not abnormal.

    I do know that some of the guys from SilencerCo had an issue with this and they were threatening to cut the locks if they didn't hand over the keys. They would not hand them over because they wanted to open them while not allowing them to be present. They were trying to explain to them that it would be against the law due to the contents etc. I can't remember the outcome but I believe I remember them saying it was like a 2 hour ordeal. Another time I believe they were told one of their cases was missing but in the airport and they basically had to let them know they'd call the ATF and how serious of an issue it would be and their case promptly turned up. They talk about it on one of their early podcasts from some time last year I believe. I found it interesting.
     

    EyeCarry

    Master
    Rating - 100%
    9   0   0
    May 10, 2014
    1,532
    63
    Bloomington
    This looks like the closest thread to my searches.
    I'm traveling to Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, and Albuquerque. I only have a Indiana ltch.
    1. Flying with a firearm to those places doesn't seem to be a problem except I would prefer to pocket carry once on the ground and it looks like that would be a no go.
    2. Mostly, I just want the firearm for the motel and the rental car. ( And since the checked bag is free, trying out the " system" for my first time)

    Help me out with this. Answers. Your experience. Thanks.
     

    opus1776

    Expert
    Rating - 100%
    10   0   0
    Apr 28, 2008
    900
    28
    Depending on how much time you have before you go, you can apply for a non-resident AZ permit by mail, which would cover AZ, NV and NM. Go to handgunlaw.us, click on AZ on the map on the homepage for more info. :)
     

    ghuns

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    2   0   0
    Nov 22, 2011
    9,308
    113
    I have flown exactly once with a gun. I was flying South Bend to Vegas and driving back home with my daughter. The idea of a cross country road trip unarmed didn't appeal to me. Neither did the idea of trusting TSA with any of my 1911s. So I borrowed my son's XD, put it inside of gunvault hand print kinda lock box in my suitcase which was locked with a cable type combo lock. I also didn't bring any ammo. Thought it might save a little hassle and I could just pick some up when I landed.

    When I checked the suitcase and declared the firearm, the dude said, no problem. Gave me the card to sign saying everything was unloaded and locked up. He asked me to sit near the bag check in. He said they'd run my bag through and let me know when it was cool for me to proceed through security. 10 minutes later, here comes the airport cop wheeling my suitcase. He seemed almost embarrassed to tell me, uh, sir... You said you were traveling with ONE unloaded firearm... Yeah, well... There are TWO firearms in this bag and one is... Uh... Well... One of them is loaded.

    I wasn't sure how to respond to this. It's not like I have handguns in the hundreds where I lose track of them. I KNOW where every single one of them is at any given time.

    I told the cop, I'm not calling you a liar, but it is simply NOT possible that there is a second gun in this bag. It's also NOT possible that there's a LOADED gun in this bag. But let's just say for the sake of argument that there is. What do you propose I do about it? He advised me to enter the nearby family restroom. They are one holers with locking doors. Open the bag, unload the the second, loaded, firearm, lock it all back up, and they'd run it again.

    So I go in the restroom, knowing that I would find exactly ONE, unloaded, Springfield XD. I opened the bag and checked through everything. I tried to imagine what they could have seen that they'd even mistake for a loaded gun. I came up with nothing. I walked out and told the cop, just the ONE, unloaded XD. I don't know what to tell you.

    He himmed and hawed a little like he wasn't sure what to do. I finally said, can I go back to the x-ray area with you? I will be happy to unlock my bag and show you whatever you need to see. He was like, you'd do that? Wow, that'd be great. I'd sure appreciate it.

    So we go back and he has Larry, his brother Darryl and his other brother Darryl run the bag through the machine. One the Darryls about jumps up and down and says, see... It's right there... A gun with a loaded magazine right there in this here little pouch.

    :rolleyes:

    I unlocked the cable lock on the suitcase and removed the little pouch. It's small bag that I usually carry inside my Tactical Tailor backpack with some misc tools. What Larry, his brother Darryl and his other brother Darryl were mistaking for another handgun and a loaded magazine was the Gerber carabiner/crescent wrench and it's "magazine" containing screwdriver bits...

    GI6nI05l.jpg


    This satisfied them. They didn't even want the gun vault opened to see the actual gun inside.

    The one thing I didn't much like is that Allegiant's policy is the bags with checked firearms just go into general population. They get tossed on the conveyor belt like all the others. Even though there's nothing to outwardly identify a bag as having a gun inside, it would sure suck to have someone grab your bag by mistake. I've heard that other airlines make you pick up your bag with a firearm at their office, which I'd kinda prefer.
     

    fullmetaljesus

    Probably smoking a cigar.
    Rating - 100%
    6   0   0
    Jan 12, 2012
    5,849
    149
    Indy
    I'm missing something. You tell them you have a gun in the bag. They x-ray, see gun. Why do they ask to see it? Apart from the "ooh guns are cool i wanna see it". What's the purpose of demanding keys and combos to open the case?
     
    Top Bottom