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I think I already know the answer to this, but is it OK for me to carry while picking someone up at the airport? I don't think this qualifies as the "secured" area of the airport but just wanted to make sure. Thanks in advance.

Yes, it's fine. No law against carrying in the "unsecured" area of an airport, in baggage claim or the ticket counter type areas.

Don't be like me and wait in the pick-up area and antagonize the police officers there, though

I believe you are right, it is not the secured area so there is nothing wrong with your carrying. I carry when I take someone to the airport or pick someone up. I do not think entering the building is prohibited, as slong as you do not try to enter the secured area, but am unwilling to test this belief so I stay with my truck. Never been stopped and searched in the parking lot, but I think they can and do perform random stops and searches at times.

Someone who actually knows the laws very well will probably answer you. There are several people on this Forum who know enough that it is wise to listen to them and trust what they say. One, in particular, often posts the text of the relevant law and explains it. I'll be watching your thread for such an answer.

Regards,
Andrew

The secured area of an airport is anywhere the airport defines it to be. They can place signs on the road leading to the terminal defining the secured area as any point past the sign.

Correct me if I'm wrong, guys, but this is how it was explained to me.

I've been in the ticketing area many times while carrying. You cannot get into the secured area without a boarding pass anyway.

"secured area" technically refers to the sterile area behind security.

I know this...I go through security everyday to go to work.

You're fine as long as you don't try to go through this area.

-nick

nitrogen wrote:Yes, it's fine. No law against carrying in the "unsecured" area of an airport, in baggage claim or the ticket counter type areas.

Just remember that if you have occasion to visit an airport in Arkansas, the entire terminal (including the unsecured area) is off limits by state law. There's one other state (Virginia?) that is the same way. I believe all others are similar to Texas.

Kevin

nitrogen wrote:Don't be like me and wait in the pick-up area and antagonize the police officers there, though

You were poking them with a stick weren't you!

Funny Steve story...Ready??? OK...

Was coming home from Huntville, Alabama in late 2001...Yeah the air was thick with tension and all that blah blah blah...

I was early for my flight and headed down to the gate to wait...

Well...Me being a snazzy Native Texan, I had to get a shine on muh boots to impress the "female" flight attendents...So I hopped up on one of the attended shoe shiner seats and proceeded to get a great shine for the trip home...

I had been there about 3 minutes, and a couple of uniformed Alabama troopers walked up pretty fast near the show shiner and I and started staring at an un-attended shopping bag that had been there slightly longer than I had been there...

They proceeded to take some crime scene tape and cordon off an area around the bag with the tape and some wet floor pylons...

And just stood there...

So I'm kinda scrating my head now and wondering "Ok, what next?" (so I asked)...

Big mistake...

Both of them instead of paying attention to the unattended bag, brought both of their attention to me, and my shoe shine efforts...My shoe shine guy didn't miss a beat or stop...(He was well tipped BTW afterwards, hehehe)...

(Trooper Billy) Sir! what is THAT bag next toy your seat there!

(Stevie-D) Oh, thats mine...

(Trooper Bob) Sir! Why is it not in your posession!

(Stevie-D) Oh, I got a good handle on it while I'm sitting here getting a shoe shine...(Steve smiles)

(Trooper Billy) Sir, you must maintain control over your belongings while we are in a heightened state of alert due to the 9-11 attacks! What is in the bag!?!

(Stevie-D) Oh, about $15 worth of duty free crap? Two, Three Musketeer candy bars, and bag of trail mix, and (under a hushed tone) two gun magazines...

(Trooper Billy) Well, we're going to have to verify that...(Steve thinks at that time, what am I going to do? Say no???)

(Trooper Bob) Ok, Sir...Just make sure you keep track of your belongings...

(Stevie-D) OK, thanks...Hey guys...What happened to that bag you guys have taped off there???

- The bag had been picked up by another traveler who was just inside the store next to us buying some other "things"...

From what I recall, they never did see who picked it up, nor did they bother much with it afterwards, as just about everyone we saw had a store bag just like it...Including me...

Moral of the story...

Don't go poking sticks at security while at airports...

Anyway, I thought it was funny...

Idjut wrote:The secured area of an airport is anywhere the airport defines it to be. They can place signs on the road leading to the terminal defining the secured area as any point past the sign.

Correct me if I'm wrong, guys, but this is how it was explained to me.

Not true, the secured area has a strict definition and that is beyond the security checkpoint, which includes any fenced off areas such as runways, taxiways, and gate and baggage and cargo loading and handling areas.

The secured area of an airport is anywhere the airport defines it to be. They can place signs on the road leading to the terminal defining the secured area as any point past the sign.

Correct me if I'm wrong, guys, but this is how it was explained to me.

There are different definitions for specific areas of the airports and the TSA along with the FAA outlines those. I can't get into any specifics other than to say that if you violate them the Airport LE or TSA Security will inform you.

Some of them are very visible though and will be pointed out to you if you ask. If you go to Love Field just look where they allow you to wait in your car along the curb for passengers, and where the point is that they ask you to move along. There is a red line painted on the curb and that is an exact measurement set by the TSA that the Dallas Police have to enforce. Also, depending upon the security level we are in, the rules change.

For concealed carry the Texas law specifying "secured area" is the metal detectors beyond which only ticketed passangers are allowed.

An interesting tidbit of Texas law is that Personal Protection Officers (armed bodyguards) are legally exempt from restrictions at the secured areas of airports when providing PPO services. Good luck with that.

KBCraig wrote:

nitrogen wrote:Yes, it's fine. No law against carrying in the "unsecured" area of an airport, in baggage claim or the ticket counter type areas.

Just remember that if you have occasion to visit an airport in Arkansas, the entire terminal (including the unsecured area) is off limits by state law. There's one other state (Virginia?) that is the same way. I believe all others are similar to Texas.

Kevin

So are you saying that it is impossible to have an unloaded firearm in your checked baggage (which you declare of course) when embarking from a AR or VA airport?

I would find it very odd that this would be the case.

Or do you just mean that you can't carry a loaded concealed handgun in these airports?

I fly a lot, mostly transporting one or more firearms in my checked baggage, and I have never encountered anything like this. But admittedly, I have never had occassion to declare a firearm in either AR or VA.

frankie_the_yankee wrote:So are you saying that it is impossible to have an unloaded firearm in your checked baggage (which you declare of course) when embarking from a AR or VA airport?

. . .

Or do you just mean that you can't carry a loaded concealed handgun in these airports?

No, and yes. The subject was "carrying", meaning loaded concealed handguns. Arkansas makes the "passenger terminal" off limits for concealed carry without specifying the secure zone, thus the entire terminal is off limits. You can still check unloaded firearms as baggage there

I'm not positive that the other state is VA; just going by memory.

Kevin