{"id":1493,"date":"2012-05-21T17:05:22","date_gmt":"2012-05-21T21:05:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thinblueflorida.com\/?p=1493"},"modified":"2015-04-19T15:40:20","modified_gmt":"2015-04-19T19:40:20","slug":"travel-with-your-firearm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thinblueflorida.com\/?p=1493","title":{"rendered":"Flying With Your Firearm"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/abI0Z0ofSmo?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p>For the last several years I have been traveling by domestic airline with a handgun declared in my checked baggage.\u00a0 I initially thought the process would be a hassle, but I discovered that it is not as difficult as I had anticipated.\u00a0 As a certified law enforcement officer, you should always have access to a firearm.<\/p>\n<p>Your authority to carry a concealed firearm as a &#8220;qualified law enforcement officer&#8221; or &#8220;qualified retired law enforcement officer&#8221; in any jurisdiction in the United States of America is granted via the <a title=\"LEOSA NRA\" href=\"http:\/\/le.nra.org\/leosa.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Law Enforcement Officers&#8217; Safety Act<\/a> or LEOSA.\u00a0 Click on the link if you are not thoroughly versed in its regulations, which you need to be.<\/p>\n<p>First off, consult the <a title=\"TSA Regulations for Special Items\" href=\"http:\/\/www.tsa.gov\/travelers\/airtravel\/assistant\/editorial_1666.shtm\">Transportation Security Administration&#8217;s regulations<\/a> and those of your individual air carrier.\u00a0 This is easy to do on the Internet.\u00a0 You&#8217;ll see that a locked hard-sided container for the unloaded handgun is a must.\u00a0 This container cannot be easily pulled open to allow access the gun.\u00a0 Many manufacturer&#8217;s plastic gun cases will not pass the prying test.\u00a0 I have a <a title=\"NanoVault 200\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gunvault.com\/nanovault-200.html\">GunVault NanoVault 200<\/a>, which cost me under $35.00. It is a small metal safe with a cable that secures it to the frame of my suitcase.<\/p>\n<p>Next, ammunition must be stored in a cardboard, wood, or metal container or in one specifically designed\u00a0 for ammunition.\u00a0 Since I travel frequently with my Smith &amp; Wesson 442 or M&amp;P340, I take a 20 round factory box of .38 cal. Speer Gold Dot Hollowpoints in the Short Barrel 135 grain +P load.\u00a0 This box will fit with the gun in the NanoVault, if necessary.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/thinblueflorida.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/IMG_1580.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1503\" title=\"IMG_1580\" src=\"http:\/\/thinblueflorida.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/IMG_1580.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"863\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thinblueflorida.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/IMG_1580.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/thinblueflorida.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/IMG_1580-300x215.jpg 300w, https:\/\/thinblueflorida.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/IMG_1580-1024x736.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a>Bullets may not be stored in pistol magazines unless the magazines have a cap or device to fully enclose the rounds.\u00a0 Unloaded magazines are best stored with the gun in the safe.\u00a0 The NanoVault 200 is large enough to hold my Glock 23 and two magazines.<\/p>\n<p>Now, about checking-in at the airport.\u00a0 Give yourself at least an extra 20 minutes prior to your usual arrival time.\u00a0 At the airline baggage counter (no curbside check-ins with a firearm), tell the ticket agent you are <em>declaring an unloaded firearm in your checked luggage<\/em>.\u00a0 Normally, they won&#8217;t bat an eye and will have you sign a declaration form to be<!--more--> placed on top of your gun safe inside the bag.\u00a0 On occasion, they have made me lock the declaration form inside the gun safe.<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes a ticket agent will ask to visually examine the unloaded gun and ammo.\u00a0 I show them, if asked.\u00a0 Most often, they only inquire if the handgun is unloaded and let you lock it in the safe.\u00a0 Once the safe is secure, you can lock the bag.\u00a0 The lock on the outside of your bag should be TSA compliant (keyed so TSA can open your bag).\u00a0 TSA locks can be bought at any home improvement or hardware store.\u00a0 The lock to the gun safe must <strong>not<\/strong> be TSA compliant and you need to retain the key on your person.<\/p>\n<p>Once your suitcase is locked they may just throw it on the regular baggage conveyor.\u00a0 At Tampa International Airport, you are escorted with the bag to a TSA screening area, where you wait for the suitcase to be either machine checked or hand searched.\u00a0 Once this is done you are free to go to the gate.\u00a0 In other airports, TSA screening is not at the check-in site.\u00a0 At McCarran in Las Vegas, they ask you to stand by a door near the ticket counter.\u00a0 If no one from TSA comes looking for you after 15 minutes, you may proceed to your gate.<\/p>\n<p>Another possibility is a call to law enforcement.\u00a0 When I flew out of JFK in New York, the ticket agent summoned Port Authority Police when I said I was a police officer <em>declaring an unloaded firearm in my checked luggage<\/em>.\u00a0 The Port Authority police officer came and examined my LEO credentials.\u00a0 He said they make many arrests for violations of their local firearms possession laws at the airport.\u00a0 Remember, you are safe if you are compliant with LEOSA.<\/p>\n<p>When my flight arrives at its destination, I try to get to baggage claim before the luggage does.\u00a0 Your suitcase should have no exterior signs there is a firearm inside, but as discreet as you try to be, other people on your flight may see the proceedings at the ticket counter.\u00a0 I don&#8217;t trust anyone anyway and would attempt to grab my bag right out of the chute even if it didn&#8217;t contain a gun.<\/p>\n<p>I have heard of some cops traveling with printed copies of the TSA and airline regulations in case there is a conflict at the airport.\u00a0 Though I did this on my first flight, I have found this to be unnecessary in my travels.\u00a0 The most important things are to do your homework, buy the right safe and locks, and be prepared before you get to the airport.\u00a0 Happy trails!<\/p>\n<p>Randall<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For the last several years I have been traveling by domestic airline with a handgun declared in my checked baggage.\u00a0 I initially thought the process would be a hassle, but I discovered that it is not as difficult as I had anticipated.\u00a0 As a certified law enforcement officer, you should always have access to a firearm. Your authority to carry a concealed firearm as a &#8220;qualified law enforcement officer&#8221; or &#8220;qualified retired law enforcement officer&#8221; in any jurisdiction in the United States of America is granted via the Law Enforcement Officers&#8217; Safety Act or LEOSA.\u00a0 Click on the link if you are not thoroughly versed in its regulations, which you &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/thinblueflorida.com\/?p=1493\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[34,33,4],"tags":[832,302,299,301,300],"class_list":["post-1493","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-concealed-carry","category-off-duty","category-officer-safety","tag-concealed-carry","tag-flying-with-a-firearm","tag-leosa","tag-police-off-duty-carry","tag-tsa"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p28xkp-o5","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thinblueflorida.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1493","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thinblueflorida.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thinblueflorida.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thinblueflorida.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thinblueflorida.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1493"}],"version-history":[{"count":36,"href":"https:\/\/thinblueflorida.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1493\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9666,"href":"https:\/\/thinblueflorida.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1493\/revisions\/9666"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thinblueflorida.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1493"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thinblueflorida.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1493"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thinblueflorida.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1493"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}