Carrying in other states/business trips.

HoLeChit said:

I gotta go to Davenport Iowa next week for work related training. And will probably be making the trip once or twice more this summer for the same reason. I have never traveled via airline with a firearm, aside from my little visit to the sandbox in 2010. I understand that you have to declare your firearm and keep it in a locked case with your checked luggage, but aside from exactly that, I have no clue what I am doing when it comes to flying and firearms.

Just teach me the fine arts of doing so?

I understand Iowa has rather lenient laws about carry, and allows any permit holders to carry during their visit.

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OK guys, I'm going to make this clear once and for all. If you persist in dispensing misinformation, I'll have the mods delete the incorrect information and lock the thread.

The firearm must be locked in a hard sided case, to which only you may have the key or combination. If the case is a stand-alone case, i.e., a long gun case, then the declaration form is placed inside the case. No markings may be applied to the exterior of the case denoting that a firearm is contained within. If the case is a smaller one placed inside a checked bag, the declaration is placed on top of and outside the locked hard sided case. As before, no markings may be applied to the exterior of the checked bag denoting that a firearm is contained within. The airline agent may not handle the firearm and they may not ask you to demonstrate that the firearm is unloaded. By signing the declaration form, you are certifying that the firearm is unloaded. Attempting to transport a loaded firearm in checked baggage is a violation of 49 C.F.R. § 1540.111(c) and the penalty for a 1st offense with no aggravating or mitigating factors is a civil penalty fine of $1,000-2,000, plus a criminal referral if applicable. Attempting to transport an undeclared or improperly packaged firearm in checked baggage is also a violation of 49 C.F.R. § 1540.111(c) and the penalty for a 1st offense with no aggravating or mitigating factors is a civil penalty fine of $500-1,000.

49 C.F.R. § 175.10(a)(8)states: Small arms ammunition for personal use carried by a crewmember or passenger in checked baggage only, if securely packed in boxes or other packagings specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition. Ammunition clips and magazines must also be securely boxed. This paragraph does not apply to persons traveling under the provisions of 49 CFR 1544.219. (armed LEO’s) The ammunition limits as defined by the FAA are 11 pounds, but some airlines have more restrictive limits. Violations of part 175 are referred to the FAA for disposition. I can state for a fact that the FAA Dangerous Goods Inspector has the authority to recommend an order assessing civil penalty of up to $1,000 for violation of hazardous materials regulations pertaining to Part 121 air carrier operations for a 1st offense.

Now let’s talk practically. Some airline agents do not know the regulations correctly and neither do some TSA Transportation Security Officers. Some will have you place the declaration in the wrong place. Some will not allow you to have ammunition in a magazine in a magazine pouch, even though this is allowed. Some will attempt to mark your bag tag with an “F” or apply some other special designator to let others know there is a firearm inside. Some will tell you that your plastic flip top ammo boxes aren’t allowed because they weren’t packaged that way by a “manufacturer”. Whether you wish to educate them on their mistakes is a matter of how much time you have, how much headache it’s going to cause you if someone downstream stops your bag and how much aggravation you’re willing to endure.

I’ve personally had to correct airline and TSA employees, both on duty and when travelling on my own dime. Why? Because I have credentials that say I have regulatory authority as a Transportation Security Inspector over these matters. Because if a violation occurs, I’m the one who writes the case recommending an order assessing civil penalty against the violator. So, I can assure you that you may get someone telling you something different, but they’re wrong.

As for any problems you may have in the system, there are two quick ways to get someone who should at least know the right answer. If an airline agent refuses to do it correctly and it’s to the level that someone else will be looking at you for doing it wrong, simply ask to speak with a Ground Security Coordinator, or GSC. That will immediately let them know that you know more than they think you do, and in fact may know more than them. If it’s a TSA agent, ask to speak to a supervisor or manager. Either way, remain calm, speak rationally and respectfully, and you’ll get much farther in getting the problem solved than if you rant and rave about how messed up everything is.

I do hope this helps. If you’re flying out of Tulsa and have an issue, you can let me know and I’ll try to help get it corrected. In order to do that, I’ll need the date, time, your name, flight information, the name of the person you dealt with and where you were at the time. Without that information, my hands are tied.

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SMS said:

We've had a few informative threads on this subject. Glocktogo is our resident subject matter expert…I would defer to his intimate knowledge with this subject.

Check this thread out:https://www.okshooters.com/showthre...-of-Town/page2&highlight=security+coordinator

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frayluisfan said:

Haven,t seen it here yet, so I,d like to pass along to the OP that you can get a very good summary of each state,s laws at handgunlaw.us. That may help you in Iowa.

I,ve traveled multiple times with pistols, and SMS is right on about rules, procedures, and what to do if an airline rep isn,t sure about legalities.

Good luck!

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dennishoddy said:

I followed that very post when flying to Denver last year. No hassles in OKC getting through checking. Denver was another matter checking in.
They called an armed TSA guard to escort me and my luggage to a room where the agent went over the bag with what I think was a portable metal detector or something. He never opened the bag. Put a sticker on it, and sent it down a conveyor. I had to stand in the door watching him while he went through this process. The sticker was not on the bag when we got back to OKC.
My only advice is if transporting a gun in your checked baggage is to get there early for check-in.

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