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mrappe wrote:I will be driving into DC a little bit to see the sights but I will have a hotel in VA. Should I leave the guns locked up in the Hotell rm when going to DC?

Yes. No reciprocity of any kind in DC, and they are very likely to toss you in jail for even having one in a locked case.

Flying out of DAL shouldn't be a problem, but choose your words carefully in other airports you don't know.

I made the mistake of saying, "I have a gun in my luggage" in portland, and nearly got some police attention. (That's another story!)

The following is based on my experiences only:

I've found the best thing to say is, "I need to fill out your firearms declaration form"
If you are asked questions, use the term "firearm" not "gun, rifle, or weapon" no matter what term the other person uses. I've found that the term "firearm" has the least emotional connotation, even with pretty big anti's.

It seems that the procedure changes constantly whenever I do this. Just roll with it.

Thanks to everyone for the input.

Ensure you use a TSA approved lock. Otherwise if they decide to inspect, and you have left the counter, your trip may not start out well.

sig229fan wrote:Ensure you use a TSA approved lock. Otherwise if they decide to inspect, and you have left the counter, your trip may not start out well.

NEGATIVE!

Only the traveler is supposed to have the key or combo to the hard case that secures the gun(s). TSA locks are only for normal luggage. If your luggage IS the hard case (i.e. an hard sided suitcase), then the luggage must have a lock that only you have the key or combo to.

This is straight from the TSA website:

" The firearm must be in a hard-sided container. The container must be locked. A locked container is defined as one that completely secures the firearm from access by anyone other than you."
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... _1666.shtm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Note SW Airlines policy:
"Only the Customer checking the luggage should retain the key or combination to the lock. No exceptions will be made."
http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/guns.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

By definition, a TSA-approved lock gives access to the container by any TSA agent with the master key.

When you check in and declare your firearm to the agent, you will most likely be escorted to the TSA inspection area with your luggage. You or the agent will tell the TSA guys there is a gun in the luggage, and they will X-ray it while you wait. If they need to look inside, then you are right there with the key. (They may take the key for a few minutes to open the case, but they will give it back when done). After inspection, they will put it on the conveyer and you are good to go. It unlikely it will ever be looked at again until you pick it up at destination.

By the way....if you routinely travel with other valuables (wife's jewelry, camera stuff, etc), then adding a firearm is about the only way to have locked luggage. Use a hard sided suitcase. Place the firearm in a soft case inside. Now you have to lock the suitcase, and all your other valuables are more protected.

I saw a great blog recently on the whole process, when I re-find the link I'll share it.

I flew SW a couple of weeks ago from San Antonio to Houston. Declared the firearm to the ticket agent and TSA . The TSA agent did not relay that info to person running the scanner and he freaked out. "There is a WEAPON in that bag!" Supervisors were called and it took a few minutes to satisfy them that it was correctly declared, packed and unloaded. They ask if I was with a government agency. I laughed and told them no, just a chl holder that carried everywhere it's legal.

There was about a 10 min delay that should have been avoided, but not a big deal.

F_L wrote:I flew SW a couple of weeks ago from San Antonio to Houston. Declared the firearm to the ticket agent and TSA . The TSA agent did not relay that info to person running the scanner and he freaked out. "There is a WEAPON in that bag!" Supervisors were called and it took a few minutes to satisfy them that it was correctly declared, packed and unloaded. They ask if I was with a government agency. I laughed and told them no, just a chl holder that carried everywhere it's legal.

There was about a 10 min delay that should have been avoided, but not a big deal.

mrappe wrote:I will be driving into DC a little bit to see the sights but I will have a hotel in VA. Should I leave the guns locked up in the Hotell rm when going to DC?

Yes. Don't take it into Maryland either, unless you want to try the dating scene in prison. Good running shoes are your best defense in Mordor.

F_L wrote:I flew SW a couple of weeks ago from San Antonio to Houston. Declared the firearm to the ticket agent and TSA . The TSA agent did not relay that info to person running the scanner and he freaked out. "There is a WEAPON in that bag!" Supervisors were called and it took a few minutes to satisfy them that it was correctly declared, packed and unloaded. They ask if I was with a government agency. I laughed and told them no, just a chl holder that carried everywhere it's legal.

There was about a 10 min delay that should have been avoided, but not a big deal.

I hope you got the names of the screeners and supervisors, that was a violation of TSA procedures and protocols and should be reported. It is not TSA's job to be looking for firearms or other weapons in checked bags and if the scanner passed the bag, then the screener running the machine is obligated to ignore the gun.