I had the opportunity to declare a firearm for the second time as I flew to Dallas. The attendant at the SWA counter didn't bat an eye and asked me to follow the bag to the TSA counter.
At the TSA counter the inspector opened the case, noted I had ammo in the hardside case and asked for another inspector to come over. She checked with him concerning the ammos location. He said it was OK (which I already knew and was prepared to produce the documentation to verify) and commented that he liked my case (Stock Colt case
). Locked everything back up and the flight went off without a hitch. After landing we got our rental care and proceeded to the hotel. I decided to wait until we got to our room to put my sidearm back on. While I could have ducked into an airport restroom, I imagined what would happen if I should drop a round under the stall and someone saw it, even in the "non-secure" side of the terminal.
When we arrived at the hotel, we were early and we would have to wait for a room. Until then, we were going to drift around the area and grab a bite to eat. Time to load up.
I found a restroom and ducked into the stall with my bag. Out came the case and I proceeded to load the magazines, chamber a round, holster the weapon, and don the holster. I figured out one thing real quick...it is hard to load a magazine, insert the mag and cycle the slide in a granite restroom without it being amplified and echoing off every wall.
I used my best stealthy-ninja skills and got everything loaded and ready with out scattering rounds all over the floor or making too much racket. (Myrtle, you should have heard this poor fella in the stall next to me, he has more prostate problems than I do...
). When finally tucked away and adjusted, we went to lunch and had wonderfully uneventful day.
Throughout the next few days I carried all the time as usual. Since I had a Tucker holster I would sometimes just tuck in my shirt and blouse it a little to help cover the clips. Other times I just wore my normal attire, camp shirts or sweat tops, and covered my whole belt.
On the way home the SWA attendant checked out the firearm, put it on the belt, and sent it to the TSA. TSA gave it, at best, a casual glance and we made it home without any incident, as it should be.
I guess the biggest concern was getting everything loaded and ready to wear while in the stall. Maybe this can be a heads-up for others.
)
