(AP Photo/Don Ryan)
Karen McNutt of Women & Guns has a warning for travelers.
You could be traveling by airline with a declared and checked-in gun in your baggage, all perfectly legal, and think you've done everything required of you. Then say something compels you to claim your luggage at a layover airport: perhaps your flight was rerouted, or perhaps there was a delay and they're going to shuttle you to a hotel or an alternate terminal...
Don't assume it's safe to claim your suitcase. That could put you in a world of hurt.
I came across McNutt's article--one I missed when it first came out--in a forwarded email from Firearmsregprof, a "discussion list for scholars specializing in firearms."
Here's part of what she had to say:
Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey are particularly bad states to pass through. If you check your luggage in, then find because of some delay that the airline is asking you to claim your luggage, do not do so. As soon as you take possession you could be arrested. Go to the baggage counter or to customer service. Explain that the baggage cannot leave airline custody. If that results in the bag missing the connection and arriving late, so be it. If they insist you take the bag, tell the clerk that he may be violating the law, could be arrested for the unlawful transfer of a firearm. That should get his or her attention. Ask for a supervisor. If you have to, ask for airport security. Explain to them that you can not take possession of the bag. Ask them to instruct you as to what you should do.
Read the whole thing and pass it on. It's another example of agenda-driven "law" entrapping citizens trying their hardest to jump through all the hoops, but nonetheless at risk of having their lives destroyed.
I guess it's easier and safer than going after real criminals.
The Firearmsregprof discussion includes a note of hope from Stephen P. Halbrook:
18 USC 926A entitles a person to transport a firearm in this situation. NY is apparently the only state where passengers are arrested when they comply with TSA procedures to transport firearms by air. We are litigating this policy in the US Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit...We have had oral argument and are awaiting a decision.
Isn't it amazing that this is even an issue?
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The village may be missing an idi...uh...representative member...
...but at least he hasn't lost his voice.
"Gun Rights Examiner" David Codrea rages...
Codrea ends in dismay...
Yesterday's column was actually an exercise in optimism, Roy. There's an opportunity for a small victory there that could have larger implications, not the least of which could be to constipate Furious Mike.
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Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!
Anchorage Libertarian Examiner Kevin Wilmeth wants to arrange a hunting safari for a self-identified expert.
"Airdrop Deputy Chief Moore" sounds like a great bumper sticker or T-shirt slogan.
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Have you read the latest from all the Gun Rights Examiners?
- Atlanta: Ed Stone
- Austin: Howard Nemerov
- Boston: Ron Bokleman
- Charlotte: Paul Valone
- Chicago: Don Gwinn
- Cleveland: Daniel White
- DC: Mike Stollenwerk
- Denver: Dan Bidstrup
- Los Angeles: John Longenecker
- Minneapolis: John Pierce
- National: David Codrea
- Seattle: Dave Workman
- St. Louis: Kurt Hofmann
- Wisconsin: Gene German
Comments
Any idea what the "laws" and conditions are for this in California? I must fly there in Sept. and am NOT looking forward to it. With all the new gang activity in So. Calif. I'm not at all happy about being disarmed, but airport insanity could wind up being just as bad.
Catch 22....
MamaLiberty got some people on firearmstalk that can possable help you with that.
I have a friend who flies with firearms regularly, and he's flown into CA. From what he's told me, it is a lot easier than most of us would probably believe. The exact details vary somewhat depending on the airline. Google "flying with firearms" and you can get a fair start on what you need to know, then as always check and double-check.
Here's a link to a good article to start with
www.dillonprecision.com/docs/Dec-07p22.pdf
Keep it in the container you check it in for your flight.
The two biggest things you will need to worry about are not "importing" full capacity magazines and transporting your firearm. Magazine capacity is limited to 10 rounds. No threaded barrels. Either one magically transforms your gun into an "assault weapon".
The simple version: To legally transport handguns they must be unloaded and stored in a locked container. Magazines should be locked as well, there is a bad bit of case law that says because a magazine is an "integral part" of a pistol, a concealed (but not in a locked container) magazine is a concealed weapon. Contrary to some misinformation, it is okay for loaded magazines to be in the same container with the gun but NOT in the magwell.
There are also exemptions to the concealed law for having a loaded handgun in incorporated territory in "temporary residences" like hotel rooms but, again there is some bad case law that says "having" does not mean carrying.
Be
Very well written, good info- I shared it too facebook and a few others!
The only problem with her article is that she says that trains and buses follow the same rules... but it is my understanding that guns are prohibited completely on both of those.
I flew into San Diego last December, after e-mailing the head of airport security that I was going to be bringing a handgun. He e-mailed back and said I was cleared thru the airport with firearm in locked container. Brought the signed letter with me and had no problems.
Would these stupid laws even exist had the NRA not compromised for the last 75 years on gun control legislation?
Remember the March 1968 issue of the NRA publication the American Rifleman; when the NRA admitted the NRA’s purpose was to pass reasonable gun control laws.
Before the 1968 GCA we could buy guns through the mail NO background CHECKS.
Today you can bust your butt to follow the law and end up in prison for your efforts.
Continued…
To ad insult to injury Obama wants you to take an unproven, untested vaccine for a flu virus that was created in a lab or become a felon.
So does this mean if we don’t want to take an unproven, untested vaccine for a virus created in a lab that some believe is a binary bio-weapon we loose our gun rights?
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