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Awhile back somebody here asked about flying into and out of Chicago with a handgun, i.e. are they like NY and ignore FOPA to arrest people, etc. On another board I frequent, same question. I have no intention of going to Chicago for anything, but it piqued my interest, so I decided to see if I could track down some actual experience.

I joined the Illinoiscarry.com web forum and did some searches. Bottom line is, people can and do fly out of O'Hare and Midway with handguns (and other guns) checked in their baggage. You may want double check all this before you go yourself, but here are some threads from that other forum concerning flying with guns out of Chicago. I think you should be able to look at the individual threads without registering at Illinoiscarry.com (I originally found one of them via Google and was able to read it, but joined so I do searches). If not, you can join -- the process is a little tedious, but you'll get there.

So here they are:
http://illinoiscarry.com/forum/index.ph ... =7106&st=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://illinoiscarry.com/forum/index.ph ... gun+midway" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://illinoiscarry.com/forum/index.ph ... gun+midway" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://illinoiscarry.com/forum/index.ph ... gun+midway" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://illinoiscarry.com/forum/index.ph ... gun+midway" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://illinoiscarry.com/forum/index.ph ... gun+midway" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://illinoiscarry.com/forum/index.ph ... gun+midway" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Some of the commenters note that there is actually an advantage to checking a gun -- you get to go to a different counter and skip the long lines of regular travelers. I had this happen in Denver recently -- jumped about 200 people in line. (This was offset by having to take my bag a quartermile across the terminal to have the TSA people do the inspection, then bring it BACK to throw into the baggage chute.)

FYI.

That's an impressive amount of research, ELB.

I am very surprised that people are not being hassled when they fly through the Chicago airports with firearms. When I lived there, the police would use any excuse to search cars at traffic stops and take people into the station and do warrant checks and run their weapon's serial number. I moved away in 1995. Maybe something changed since then.

Of course, if you don't drive a car that has "bust me" written on it, and obey traffic laws, your chances of being stopped are low.

Some of the links lower on the list didn't work.

- Jim

Then there is this anecdote. "Ill. court OKs storing guns in car consoles"

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi- ... 9495.story" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I've been through O'Hare both inbound & outbound with checked firearms and no hassle. The counter folks were a little leery about how to handle it, but I just told 'em that it was legal and that I needed the little orange ticket thingy, and then get the TSA screeners to check it directly, and they were like "Oh. Okay."

The TSA people were a little weird about letting me lock the pistol case after they screened it and before sending it through the checked baggage deal, but I told them Federal law requires it locked, as does the airline, and they let me lock it.

seamusTX wrote:That's an impressive amount of research, ELB.

...

Some of the links lower on the list didn't work.

- Jim

Thanks! I checked the links just now, they are working this morning. ?? Internet gremlins?? But in any case if you are interested enough, go to Illinoiscarry.com, join up, and run a search on "flying handgun midway" (or "o'hare"). Basically all the accounts were consistent -- several different people all had flown with guns successfully at different times, including recently (Sep 09).

elb

The links still don't work for me. I suspect that they work for you because you have logged in to that forum.

I'm glad to see the powers-that-be there are complying with federal law. I made my once-a-decade trip to Chicago last month, so I won't be going back in the foreseeable future.

- Jim

The TSA people were a little weird about letting me lock the pistol case after they screened it and before sending it through the checked baggage deal, but I told them Federal law requires it locked, as does the airline, and they let me lock it.

It is really pathetic that TSA employees need to be told the law they are supposed to enforce.

CompVest wrote:

The TSA people were a little weird about letting me lock the pistol case after they screened it and before sending it through the checked baggage deal, but I told them Federal law requires it locked, as does the airline, and they let me lock it.

It is really pathetic that TSA employees need to be told the law they are supposed to enforce.

Well, to be fair, I don't imagine the TSA folks at O'Hare handle as many firearms in luggage as folks at DFW or Bush International...

I would be nervous going into Chicago. I know some have done it but its taking a chance IMO. Last year the Supreme Court voted that the 2nd amendment would stand and guns couldnt be banned. Chicago Mayor Daily basically said I dont give a damn and still kept them banned. Its being fought in the Supreme Court at this time. He is def pro anti gun. I used to live there. Should have seen his interview when the court ruled last year. The man lost control. Of course his bodyguards are armed to protect him but thats ok. We just cant defend our family because there not as important as he is. Now that im here I will never go back there.

Keith wrote:I would be nervous going into Chicago. I know some have done it but its taking a chance IMO. Last year the Supreme Court voted that the 2nd amendment would stand and guns couldnt be banned. Chicago Mayor Daily basically said I dont give a darn and still kept them banned. Its being fought in the Supreme Court at this time. He is def pro anti gun. I used to live there. Should have seen his interview when the court ruled last year. The man lost control. Of course his bodyguards are armed to protect him but thats ok. We just cant defend our family because there not as important as he is. Now that im here I will never go back there.

I avoid having Chicago as a destination, but my family is from WAY up north in Wisconsin, and I can double the cost of airfare & get closer or fly to Chicago & rent a car. In neither case am I anything more than a transient, and protected under Federal law. I won't even spend the night in Chicago until after the SCOTUS rules that the 2A does too apply to cities/states/municipalities/etc. and Chicago is forced to leave its rights violations behind. It may even clean up the crime and make the city reasonably habitable if regular folks are allowed to carry there.

I cant wait for this ruling.

Chicago: Love the Cubs, Bears, Bulls, people and food. Hate the politics.

I flew out of a regional airport in TX and told the counter lady that there is a handgun in a locked case in the top of my suitcase, and I started to open it so I could take the locks off. She said "That won't be necessary, this is Texas." She put the declaration on the top and put it on through, lol.

Wayne