Good experience flying with weapon

[InfoTechCHL2007]

Just wanted to pass along a positive experience yesterday...
Checked in at the AA ticket counter at DFW and quietly declared a firearm in my luggage.
The AA employee discretely handed me the declaration form to sign,
gave me my boarding pass, and then quietly directed me to the TSA
room just down the way. The TSA guy took the bag, wiped the outside of my
pistol case, and ran the explosive chemicals test. He did not need to
see my LC9. He then placed a "this bag has been checked" form inside the
bag, placed it with the other bags, and sent me on my way.
Sweet, simple, quiet.

[USA1]

Good to hear. I had an equally positive experience when I recently flew.

As long as you do a little research and preparation, it's pretty much a non-event ...as it should be.

[i8godzilla]

I ran across this USA Today joke of an article:

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/air-trav ... RCE=obrain" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[RoyGBiv]

I ran across this USA Today joke of an article:

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/air-trav ... RCE=obrain" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I wouldn't call that a joke.... Seems close to correct, especially considering the source.

[RoyGBiv]

Here's why you ALWAYS lock your hard case with a non-TSA lock.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/07/24/lo ... latestnews" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[RHenriksen]

Just wanted to pass along a positive experience yesterday...
Checked in at the AA ticket counter at DFW

Glad to hear it. I flew out of Houston (IAH) on Saturday, and had a very smooth, pleasant experience. I've probably checked firearms 8 or 10 times over the past couple of years, and no horror stories to report. Occasionally have to educate under-trained personnel, but nothing that can't be worked through with some patience and good humor.

Heck, I'm even in an open carry state for two weeks...

[cubbyjg]

The TSA guy took the bag, wiped the outside of my
pistol case, and ran the explosive chemicals test.

This is going to sound dumb, but what is the purpose of running an explosive test ? Its a firearm and there is ammo either in the lock box or somewhere in your luggage. Are they checking for something other than gun powder?

[RHenriksen]

Are they checking for something other than gun powder?

That's what I'd imagine... any of a slew of other compounds which can be used for explosives. Ammonium nitrate, anyone?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn6hb3kZ2NI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Excaliber]

The TSA guy took the bag, wiped the outside of my
pistol case, and ran the explosive chemicals test.

This is going to sound dumb, but what is the purpose of running an explosive test ? Its a firearm and there is ammo either in the lock box or somewhere in your luggage. Are they checking for something other than gun powder?

Yes, but the likelihood that anyone who is trying to sneak a high order explosive through would put a firearm that would guarantee the bag would be opened and screened for explosives in it would limit that tactic to the nonexistent subset of sophisticated terrorists whose IQ falls in the single or low double digits.

The short explanation for the practice: security theater to impress the hopelessly gullible folks who think things like this make them safer, and job security for TSA agents.

[Excaliber]

Are they checking for something other than gun powder?

That's what I'd imagine... any of a slew of other compounds which can be used for explosives. Ammonium nitrate, anyone?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn6hb3kZ2NI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You wouldn't need a swab test to detect an explosive mixture based on ammonium nitrate. The smell of fuel oil would be pretty obviously out of place in passenger baggage.

[RoyGBiv]

Security Theater

I love this expression....

[RHenriksen]

Are they checking for something other than gun powder?

That's what I'd imagine... any of a slew of other compounds which can be used for explosives. Ammonium nitrate, anyone?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn6hb3kZ2NI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You wouldn't need a swab test to detect an explosive mixture based on ammonium nitrate. The smell of fuel oil would be pretty obviously out of place in passenger baggage.

LOL! I was thinking more along the lines of their finding evidence that the suitcase *had* been used for transporting suspicious compounds, and therefore you'd get flagged for lots of extra screen. Not so much that you'd have fuel-oil saturated fertilizer right in there next to your toothbrush.

But I'm probably giving TSA way too much credit...

I guess my use of an 81mm mortar case for checking my underwear, toothbrush, socks (and pistol) is my little act of rebelliousness against the theater :-) Gave some ex-military TSA guys in Wyoming a good chuckle, they liked it.

[ddstuder]

I flew to NYC and back last week so I did not bother to bring my gun.

The funniest thing at LaGuardia airport was the warning about SNOW GLOBES! Evidently they are not allowed and they had big signs stating that!

Who travels with snow globes?

Its good to be back in Texas!

[SQLGeek]

Who travels with snow globes?

People leaving places where they purchased souveniers. I flew out of Orange County, CA a couple years ago and a couple tried to bring a snow globe from Disneyland through their carry on luggage. Quite a ruckus was raised over it when TSA said they couldn't bring it on. I can't say I really blame the couple considering how baggage handlers seem to like to make a sport out of seeing how badly they can trash a bag.

[jimlongley]

The TSA guy took the bag, wiped the outside of my
pistol case, and ran the explosive chemicals test.

This is going to sound dumb, but what is the purpose of running an explosive test ? Its a firearm and there is ammo either in the lock box or somewhere in your luggage. Are they checking for something other than gun powder?

Actually, it's a violation of TSA procedures to run such a test on a gun box. I had a screener insist on swabbing my gun a few years back, and I was sure it would alarm. It did not, and since it didn't, it tells me that the test equipment was not properly calibrated, because the gun had not been cleaned since it was fired the night before.

At the time I was a screener myself and well aware of the procedures. I filed a complaint/report, and the screener was disciplined for her actions.