Checked gun on Continental lossed or stolen

[jimlongley]

Here is a valuable website to bookmark, the ultimate detailed guide to flying with guns:
http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1202384" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Two more important links:
http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/Federal/Read.aspx?id=70" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/Federal/Read.aspx?id=59" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Some pretty good stuff there, that has beeen covered here several times, and a little wrong information too.

It is a "courtesy" to TSA to use one of the TSA locks, but it is by no means required. Be aware, though, that no matter what you lock your bag with, if TSA needs to get inside it, they will. We had a passenger, once, who used zip ties on all of his zipper closures, and then used 48" ones around the whole bag (You can buy them at Home Depot.) I would have loved to see his face when he got to his destination and found that not only were ALL of his zip ties gone, but his can of lighter fluid had been replaced by an "item removal" notice.

And, BTW, TSA's master keys have long since been compromised.

Pelican cases are pretty good, but suffer from a poor hinge in terms of security. It only takes a few seconds to pop that metal rod out of the hinge, if you know what you are doing, and then all of the locks in the world don't mean a thing.

I have seen cable locks used, as he suggests, but the problem with them is that they look a little suspicious on the x-ray and the system can, and often does, alarm on them, whether or not the operator recognizes the device.

BTW, I can open any zipper with a ball point pen, so zipper bags may just as well not be locked.

[jimlongley]

When TSA first started there were some dishonest screeners, but the rest of us were not bothered by turning them in at all.

Snitch!!!



I'm with you Jim. I can't understand co-workers not turning someone in if they are stealing. If nothing else, it will at potentially get an investigation started. This type of crime is totally inexcusable IMO. When you put your trust in baggage handlers, airline attendants, bell-hops at hotels and car valet's, you should be able to trust that they will take care of your items and not steal something.

Yeah, I did "snitch" a couple of times, and one, not very young, lady who had taken a piece of jewelry, even confronted me about it. My response to her was that I have no criminal record and needed the job and I had no obligation to her to either get a criminal record or lose the job. She was still fuming about me turning her in as they walked her out the door. I spent a lot of time being very careful in our, unlighted, parking lot after that. CHL in the parking lot was "against TSA regs."

[FL450]

As a corporate pilot. I very seldom travel by airline I am thankful I can just throw my firearm on and go.
The CEO is a CHL holder as well. he's ok with it.

[HankB]

I've been to US airports where you had to match luggage tags before exiting. Once you got your luggage at the carousel, they bottlenecked the outgoing traffic with those black fabric fence things and at the neck was an airport employee checking your carried luggage tag with the bag you took.

I ran into something like that exactly once at the old Austin, TX airport. Plane came in quite late, hot, crowded airport with no air conditioning, and they put up those movable fence/handrail things (like they have at some banks in the lobby) to bottleneck down to where ONE repeat ONE airline employee was checking claim checks and luggage tags . . . very, very slowly.

Did you know that even 75 feet back from the "official" exit, the handrail can be dropped simply by unhooking it from the post? And when it happens, everyone in sight egresses through the new opening?

[phrogg]

Here is a valuable website to bookmark, the ultimate detailed guide to flying with guns:
http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1202384" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Two more important links:
http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/Federal/Read.aspx?id=70" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/Federal/Read.aspx?id=59" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wow, this was great info! I have spent most of the day going through these items and down the rabbit trails of links that give you all the background info. I'm actually considering a change of roles within my company that will increase my travelling extensively. Travelling unarmed was a key reason I was really waffling on the new job. Now that I see this and see how easy it is to travel with your firearm, I'm ready to move on.

[redlin67]

I brought a revolver from Kentucky to Houston on Continental once. I did all the proper paperwork and turned it over to the attendant. When I arrived in Houston, I had to go to the little TSA office near the baggage claim area to pick it up. No problem except they didn't tell me this up front, so I had to go and ask after there where no more bags left except my one that wasn't on the conveyor.

[jimlongley]

I brought a revolver from Kentucky to Houston on Continental once. I did all the proper paperwork and turned it over to the attendant. When I arrived in Houston, I had to go to the little TSA office near the baggage claim area to pick it up. No problem except they didn't tell me this up front, so I had to go and ask after there where no more bags left except my one that wasn't on the conveyor.

That's very unusual, I would sure like o know the back story behind that, it's not a standard TSA procedure. Did they provide any sort of explanation?

[redlin67]

No, I just assumed that it was standard procedure. Other than having to wait, it was no big deal. At least I didn't lose my weapon so I was okay with it.