Tea Party Patriots co-founder arrested for handgun at airport

[melm00se]

41. i have

what happens is that you walk up to the ticket counter, tell them you have something to declare and the usual response is:

"Is it unloaded" while they reach for a form (the size of a 3x5 card) which you fill out (name, address, flight number and date) and sign (affirming that the gun is unloaded). You get asked if you have ammunition and how much (5kg is the max). Some airports want you to open up the case others don't.

you either place the locked case inside your luggage (only you have the key/combination) or place the locked hard case with the agent.

Then you follow your bag to the giant x-ray machine at the end of the baggage conveyor, the agent tells the screener you have a declared item. They run it through the x-ray machine and give you the thumbs up or pull you aside (never had that happen).

At no time is a special tag placed on the bag.

upon arrival, you pick up your bag off the carousel and away you go.

My advice when travelling is to field strip your weapon and have all the magazines (empty) in a separate container (they don't need to be under lock and key) and smile, say "have a nice day" and thank them for their extra time.

Long guns go thru the same process but you usually have to pick them up for the large luggage place (along with skis and other things larger than your regular suitcase. Walking thru the airport with a long gun case usually catches a few looks but nobody screams out "he has a gun".

I leave the airport and proceed to the nearest place where I can procure ammo and, depending upon local laws and reciprocity, load up.

I do this a couple/three times a year going to matches. Never had a problem or an issue. I do refuse, however, to fly thru NYC or NJ and will pay extra to avoid going thru those airports to avoid any hassle.