Flying With Guns

With more and more folks carrying concealed today, a question that comes up from time to time is, "How can I take my firearm with me when I fly?"

The answer is really more simple than we are led to believe. A little time spent doing homework reveals that if one follows the proscribed procedure, there will be no problems.

There is a specific Federal Law that requires the license holder to follow a general procedure for flying with guns. In addition, the various airlines may have more specific requirements and these may vary from one to another, but not much.

I fly Southwest and I must give this carrier high marks indeed for all the times I have flown with my firearm. The check in procedure is consistent, hassle free, and done very professionally. Further, after checking my baggage containing the firearm, the response of the TSA folks has been very respectful and reassuring as well. Kudos to both for a job well done.

Here's a recipe for meeting the requirements. Purchase yourself a TSA lock; Wal-Mart, Sears, Target, and many other stores have combination locks that are TSA accessible; cost is less that $10 and many have a tattler built into the lock. Get this type lock.

What is a tattler? Well, this is a little window in the body of the lock that will have a green dot showing in the background after you close the lock and spin the combination wheels. If TSA uses their master key to open the lock, this window will then show red to indicate the lock has been opened with a key and not the combination. In other words, you will know if the bag has been opened for inspection. Hence the name; tattler.

Here's how it goes. When packing your bag, be sure you have a hardsided, lockable pistol case. Be certain your firearm is unloaded. If carrying a semi automatic, rack the slide open, and remove the magazine so the ticket agent can easily see the chamber and the magazine well to determine that the weapon is unloaded. If carrying a revolver, open the cylinder.

Tell the agent you wish to declare an unloaded firearm in your bag. The agent will take it from there. She will fill out a form documenting the firearm is indeed unloaded. You sign this card and put it in with the firearm. The agent will then tell you to close and lock the pistol case.

She will then ask if you are carrying ammunition as well. Since you have done your homework, you know that ammunition must be packaged in the original box. Please, be smart about this. Even though plastic ammo boxes are more sturdy than the original Styrofoam and cardboard boxes, this is not what they want to hear. Be certain the magazines are unloaded and include your holster and mag pouch in this bag as well.

This should get you to the point where you then are instructed to relock your bag. Following the agent's instructions you then take the bag to the TSA agent and advise them that there is an unloaded firearm in your bag. Usually they will ask you to stand by while they X-ray your bag. All this takes mere moments and then you're on you way to the boarding area. That's it. I worry about the bag getting left behind if I have to change planes, but this has not been a problem ever on Southwest.

A word of caution here; if you are flying into an unfriendly gun state, (New York, New Jersey, Washington DC) be certain you know their gun laws. If you merely retrieve your bag, you may have violated one of their restrictive state laws.

As our elected officials in Washington continue to drive our economy into the ground and with unemployment over 10% now and climbing, we'll see more violent civil disobedience in the form of home invasions, muggings, and car jackings.

We also will see an increase in the number of folks who realize that they must now accept personal responsibility for their safety and security. Along with this will be a corresponding increase in the number of citizens with concealed license holders. Likewise, more states will recognize the issuing state's licenses.

If you do decide to obtain a license, don't stop with just the training required by the issuing state. Get yourself enrolled in one of the advanced defensive pistol schools around the country. The Chapman Academy in Missouri, Gunsite in Arizona, and Thunder Ranch in Oregon, are just a few of the top of the line programs across the country. You will complete courses that put you on a par with a rookie police officer and in many cases exceed that. But again, don't stop there. Get more training every year. During the year, shoot competitively with a local organized gun club.

Then you can fly with your guns to the various schools and competitions! You'll certainly see a lot of the country and enhance your shooting skills in the bargain. Be polite to the ticket agents and tell them I said, "hi!"

I'm betting you'll have a good experience.

PB