Secure your checked bags -- fly with a gun

[TX-Leo]

http://www.boingboing.net/2006/09/24/secure-your-checked-.html

Secure your checked bags -- fly with a gun

Posted by Cory Doctorow, September 24, 2006 2:04 PM | permalink
If you want to keep your checked valuables from being stolen while you fly, just keep a gun in your suitcase.

Many airports won't let you effectively lock your suitcases when you fly, and the new limits on carry-on luggage thanks to moisture-terror-hysteria mean it's open season for unscrupulous TSA employees and baggage handlers who want to help themselves to expensive cameras and other valuable in checked bags.

But once you add a gun -- even a starter pistol -- to your luggage, it gets extra-locked, gains new tracking privileges, and is subject to heightened scrutiny all the way to your destination.

    A "weapons" is defined as a rifle, shotgun, pistol, airgun, and STARTER PISTOL. Yes, starter pistols - those little guns that fire blanks at track and swim meets - are considered weapons...and do NOT have to be registered in any state in the United States.

    I have a starter pistol for all my cases. All I have to do upon check-in is tell the airline ticket agent that I have a weapon to declare...I'm given a little card to sign, the card is put in the case, the case is given to a TSA official who takes my key and locks the case, and gives my key back to me.

    That's the procedure. The case is extra-tracked...TSA does not want to lose a weapons case. This reduces the chance of the case being lost to virtually zero.

    It's a great way to travel with camera gear...I've been doing this since Dec 2001 and have had no problems whatsoever.

[TX-Leo]

Traveling with Special Items

Firearms & Ammunition

You may only transport firearms, ammunition and firearm parts in your checked baggage. Firearms, ammunition and firearm parts are prohibited from carry-on baggage.

There are certain limited exceptions for law enforcement officers who may fly armed by meeting the requirements of Title 49 CFR § 1544.219. Law enforcement officers should read our policies on traveling with guns.

The key regulatory requirements to transporting firearms, firearm parts or ammunition in checked baggage are:

    * You must declare all firearms to the airline during the ticket counter check-in process.

    * The firearm must be unloaded.

    * 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. Cases that can be pulled open with little effort do not meet this criterion. The pictures provided here illustrate the difference between a properly packaged and an improperly packaged firearm.

    * We recommend that you provide the key or combination to the security officer if he or she needs to open the container. You should remain present during screening to take the key back after the container is cleared. If you are not present and the security officer must open the container, we or the airline will make a reasonable attempt to contact you. If we can't contact you, the container will not be placed on the plane. Federal regulations prohibit unlocked gun cases (or cases with broken locks) on aircraft.

    * You must securely pack any ammunition in fiber (such as cardboard), wood or metal boxes or other packaging that is specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition.

    * You can't use firearm magazines/clips for packing ammunition unless they completely and securely enclose the ammunition (e.g., by securely covering the exposed portions of the magazine or by securely placing the magazine in a pouch, holder, holster or lanyard).

    * You may carry the ammunition in the same hard-sided case as the firearm, as long as you pack it as described above.
    * You can't bring black powder or percussion caps used with black-powder type firearms in either your carry-on or checked baggage.


We and other authorities strictly enforce these regulations. Violations can result in criminal prosecution and civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation.

Airlines may have their own additional requirements on the carriage of firearms and the amount of ammunition that you may have in your checked baggage. Therefore, travelers should also contact the airline regarding its firearm and ammunition carriage policies.

Also, please note that many other countries have different laws that address transportation and possession of firearms. If you are traveling internationally, please check with the authorities at your destination about their requirements.

[TX-Leo]

Law Enforcement Officers Flying Armed

Office of Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service

Law Enforcement Officers, such as the one shown here, may fly while armed if thet have gone through the proper training with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Office of Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service maintains oversight of the Law Enforcement Officers Flying Armed training program. This training program is mandatory for all Law Enforcement Officers flying armed under Code of Federal Regulation CFR 1544.219 Carriage of Accessible Weapons.

The training material for this program is comprised of a structured lesson plan, slide presentation, FAQ's, and applicable codes of federal regulation. This material is provided to other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and departments to properly instruct their officers on the subject of flying on board commercial aircraft while armed. The material covered includes protocols in the handling of prohibited items, prisoner transport and dealing with an act of criminal violence aboard an aircraft.

The program training material may be obtained by emailing the Office of Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service, Office of Training and Workforce Programs, Training Policy and Development Division, Operations Branch at LEOFA@dhs.gov with the following information:

    * Full Name
    * Agency Name
    * Agency Address & Number
    * Supervisor Name & Number

For time sensitive requests please call 1-703-487-3100 between the core business hours of 9:00am to 5:00 pm Eastern. To ensure uniform and consistent instruction of the program, the training material will only be disseminated to the training division of the requesting agency.

On July 15, 2009 the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will no longer accept the original letter of authority for the purpose of flying while armed. State, Local, and Territorial LEOs flying armed must submit a National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NLETS) message prior to travel. The NLETS message sent by the employing agency will replace the current original letter of authority, signed by the chief or agency head, required under 49 CFR 1544.219. Once the NLETS message is received by TSA, a return NLETS message will be sent to the employing agency with an eight character Unique Alphanumeric Identifier for verification at the airport on the day of travel. This change is being implemented to provide a more secure means of confirming the identity of LEOs, since the Original Letter of Authority can be counterfeited. The current procedures for federal LEOs flying armed remains unchanged.

Failure to use the NLETS message in lieu of the Original Letter of Authority (Commonly referred to as the “Chief’s Letter”) will result in denial to the sterile area for failure to comply with the “Letter of Authority” requirement delineated in 49 CFR 1544.219.

A general overview of the program can also be found on the FBI's Law Enforcement Online system which is only available to persons duly employed by a law enforcement, criminal justice, or public safety agency. To request access to the FBI's Law Enforcement Online system, please contact their program office at (888) 334-4536 or e-mail membership@leo.gov.

For general questions or guidance related to Law Enforcement Officers flying armed, please contact the Office of Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service, Liaison Division. Their e-mail address is: LEOFA@dhs.gov.

The links on this web page should only be used by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and departments who are seeking information on the subject of flying on board commercial aircraft while armed. Please do not submit inquiries about employment opportunities to the above e-mail addresses.

[Lone Ranger]

Yes, but does it still require the big red tag that screams, HEY I HAVE A GUN IN HERE!!!!!

[AITG]

No. Big red tag goes inside the suitcase. United makes you lock the tag inside the gun box (morons). Northwest lets you tape tag to gun box. TSA people are usually curious as hell about what the x-ray looks like. In a steel box I'm not thinking you can actually see a lot.
Probably the only thing I wasn't expecting was that ammo has to be in a box and not in mags. Otherwise, flying with a gun is a non event ... unless you go to NY or NJ.
DO check the airline's web site - I print them for protection, but I've never been challenged. Frankly, getting a badge through the carry-on scan is harder.

[TX-Leo]

No. Big red tag goes inside the suitcase. United makes you lock the tag inside the gun box (morons). Northwest lets you tape tag to gun box. TSA people are usually curious as hell about what the x-ray looks like. In a steel box I'm not thinking you can actually see a lot.
Probably the only thing I wasn't expecting was that ammo has to be in a box and not in mags. Otherwise, flying with a gun is a non event ... unless you go to NY or NJ.
DO check the airline's web site - I print them for protection, but I've never been challenged. Frankly, getting a badge through the carry-on scan is harder.

Interesting!  The ammo can be in mags if its then placed inside something else that covers up the ammo like a mag holder...odd.

[AITG]

Interesting!  The ammo can be in mags if its then placed inside something else that covers up the ammo like a mag holder...odd.

"Odd" covers most of the process. For example: placing the "unloaded firearm" tag INSIDE the gun box ... which is then locked. TSA does not have a key to the gun box. Therefore, no-one can see the tag except the gun owner.
Thank God the ticket agent doesn't try to verify that the gun is unloaded - I can only imagine how that would work out.

Next trip I may try to use the mag holder trick - I found myself in the Ft. Myers airport rent a car lot last year at 0200 loading mags. Bad idea but better than wandering around unarmed at that time of night.

[Lone Ranger]

They can see that it's unloaded when they x-ray the bag. I wonder if the tag is made of something that shows up as well?