Flying With a Firearm

Unknown to some, United States Federal Regulations do allow a person to transport a firearm and ammunition, in checked baggage, aboard a commercial airliner. My experience in traveling with a firearm is limited to the transport of one pistol (with magazines and ammunition) aboard Delta Airlines.

There are certain TSA (Transportation Security Administration) and airline procedures that must be followed.

Packing the Firearm and Ammunition:

1. The firearm must be unloaded.
2. The firearm must be in a hard sided, locked container, and you must have the only key... see photo #1.
3. Magazines (unloaded) must be "securely boxed" according to the TSA website... or they can be packed in a hard sided locked container (if so, you must have the key), or they can be in the same container as the firearm... see photo #2.
4. The ammunition must be in a fiber (cardboard), metal, wooden, or other container specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition, and the container must provide a separate divider for each round. The ammunition does not have to be in a locked container... see photo #3. However, ammunition can be in the same locked container as the firearm as long as it is packed as stated.

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At the Departure Airport:

1. You must (before going through security) take your bag to the airline counter and speak directly to an airline ticket agent. You must inform the ticket agent that you are carrying a firearm and/or ammunition in your checked bag.
2. The ticket Agent will have you sign and date an orange card, confirming that the firearm was declared... see photo #4. Then, one of several things may take place... I have personally seen all three things listed below occur.
   • The ticket agent may ask you to show him that the firearm/ammunition is properly secured and that the firearm is unloaded, or...
   • The ticket agent may direct you to a TSA representative who will verify the status of the firearm/ammunition, or...
   • The ticket agent and/or the TSA representative may simply take your word for the status of the firearm/ammunition and may not ask you to open the locked container at all.
3. The orange card will be placed inside the bag near the firearm either by you, or by the ticket agent, or by the TSA representative, as directed.
4. The bag will then be checked aboard the aircraft (no special markings or tags to indicate a firearm will be put on the outside of the bag) and you will be given a regular airline baggage claim check.

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At the Destination Airport:

1. Upon arrival at the destination airport, the bag will come off the baggage claim machine in the regular manner with other checked baggage. Under Federal regulations you do not have to inform anyone at the destination airport of the firearm... just get your bag and go.
2. TSA has the authority to inspect checked baggage at any point during the trip, and if your bag did undergo an additional inspection, a card will be found inside you bag informing you of this... see photo #5.

The above procedures are authorized by Federal regulations. These regulations apply strictly to procedures between the traveler, the airline, and the TSA. They do not address state and local laws, which may be in effect at the point of departure or at the point of arrival.

State and Local Laws to be Considered:

1. If you enter the departure airport (with a gun in your bag) and walk to the airline counter to declare your firearm, have you already violated a state or local law simply by having the gun "in your possession"?
2. When you pull your bag off the baggage claim carousel at the destination airport, have you already violated a state or local law simply by having the gun "in your possession"?
3. Even if your gun or magazines or ammunition are "legal" in your home state, do state or local laws in effect at the destination city forbid the possession of magazines of certain capacities, or forbid the possession of hollow point ammunition, or require you to notify some agency of your firearm upon arrival at the destination airport?

My experience in traveling with a firearm is limited to flying between the States of Texas and Minnesota on Delta Airlines. My gun was in a metal locked case purchased from Cabela's and the magazines were also in the same case as in photo #2. The ammunition was in a hard plastic ammunition container as in photo #3.

No problems were encountered at either end, coming or going, but those states are regarded as "gun friendly" states.

If the traveler is departing from, or arriving in, states such as California, New York, or New Jersey (or other "anti-gun" states), he might find himself in conflict with local or state laws, as outlined above.

This Paper Does Not Constitute Legal Advice:

It is the responsibility of the traveler to inform himself concerning all applicable Federal regulations, as well as all applicable state and local laws, at both ends of the journey when traveling with a firearm.

Conclusion:

It is a good idea to write down the make, model, and serial number of your gun so that if it gets lost during transport, you would have the correct information to (1) file a claim with the airline, and/or (2) report the gun lost or stolen to a law enforcement agency.

The TSA website (www.TSA.gov) provides additional information... query For Travelers and then Traveling with Special Items. In addition, some airline websites specifically address the transportation of firearms aboard their aircraft.

It is hoped this information has been informative and useful.