Carrying while traveling to Florida by Plane?

[paulie6978]

ok im sure your already thinking " what the hell is this guy doing carrying on a plane!?!?" but i have heard of people unloading their weapons and placing them in their luggage. i just wanted to know if this is a fairy tale or it is really permitted. i would never try to get on a plane with it concealed( im not that dumb!). but i will be going to Florida soon and was wondering about that one. is it that you are only allowed to carry while driving through states? if i were to drive to FLA from PA , which is a pain also since SC does not honor our LTCF, would i have to unload it and keep it in my trunk, or i would allowed to carry it concealed? thanks

[RocketFoot]

AFAIK, you MUST secure a firearm in an FAA approved locking case and check it in as a gun at the luggage check. Otherwise...you'll be in big, big trouble!

[Zef_66]

Not sure on what has to be done to take your pistol to FL, but have you considered mailing it to yourself? Find out where you will be staying, package up what you want to take, and ship it out via UPS or Fed Ex. And when you arrive, your gun is waiting for you. If you don't want the hassle, it may be worth it to look into this.

Also, while SC does not honor the PA permit, you are allowded to carry a loaded handgun in the glovebox or console of a car while driving. You are also allowded to carry a handgun concealed from your car to a place of residence or a place you have rented for the night. Check into the exact laws, but this is what I did when I visited SC.

[sgt7546]

ZeF beat me too it. I know several people that have used Fed Ex in this manner.

[knight0334]

Since you're on the east side of the state and assuming you are interested in a road trip. Federal law protects you if you have the firearm unloaded, securely encased, the ammo stored separately, and the cased firearm stored in the trunk or remote part of vehicle that has no trunk.

The only states/areas that you will need to do that if you go south from the Philly area are through Maryland and Washington DC. You can transport and carry with a PA LTCF in Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida and West Virginia(if you head a little west in your travels). South Carolina doesn't honor our license, but as said above - you can transport it loaded in the glovebox or console, and to/from your paid place of stay.

To fly down - you will need to bring the firearm in an approved and locked container. Ammo needs to be in a box that keeps the cartridges from rolling around or loose. You will have to declare the firearm at the luggage check and will usually require a TSA personnel to inspect the contents of container and check to make sure the firearm is unloaded. The experience is generally not as bad as it sounds, some airports and personnel are very cool about such things. Rarely a bad experience.. Places like NY and NJ might give you problems.

[Pa. Patriot]

Checking firearms in luggage IS permitted by most airlines.
They have different procedures.

Answer:
Call the airline and ask the procedure for transporting a firearm in checked luggage.

[DaveM55]

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...rial_1666.shtm

[marinakorp]

short Answer - Yes , it is legal to transport your firearm to FLA by Aircraft

Longer answer....

YOu need to follow all of the TSA rules and regulations AND make sure that the airlines rules are followed as well

I found that SEVERAL airlines are a direct copy of the TSA regulations...

An overview

1 - unload firearm, place in lockable container
2 - Ensure Magazine is not in weapon
3 - If carrying ammunition... there are varying reports of how... usually if you have a factory ammo carrier (box) there is less of a hastle... but other ways may be acceptable. I usually place in the same lockable box...easier for me
4 - Will need to declare at the Gate when checking in... no going throught the curbside check in... tell the valet that you need to hand check your luggage and the reason why... they will usually take you to the front of the line
5 - Will need to show clear, fill out a small card and place in the container
6 - May need to discuss with TSA agent on an Xrary (had to do this on the way back from FLA) type of ammo storage, etc... easier if FACTORY Box...

I usually place my lock box in my bags... but not necessary.

go to the TSA website, and follow the rules... then go to the Airlines website and do a search for "weapons policy" or some other. I found that they usually do not provide a direct link to how to transport... but a search can dig up the docuemnt. I print both the TSA and the Airlines reg, and bring with me.

Of the 5 times I flew with a weapon, only one did not know what to do... I handed her the airlines rules and asked for a supervisor. It went smoothly

[Jake^]

Flown on American several times; firearms in checked baggage was pretty user friendly. You need to have a hard side lockable case; I just use the gun case that came with the firearm and get one of those 4-digit padlocks which go through the holes.

What you'll need to do is go to the counter with the firearm to be placed in the baggage in the gun case (unloaded, of course). Tell the ticket agent you're going to be checking an unloaded firearm in your baggage; he/she'll give you a form to fill out verifying the firearm is unloaded, and which will be placed in the gun case. I've had some agents ask me to show them the weapon's cleared. You'll then lock the firearm in your checked baggage. If it's being checked thru the TSA thing, you'll want to let them know there's an unloaded and declared firearm in your checked baggage. That's about it. You can also carry some ammo as long as it's in its original container; I've placed a box or 2 in the lockable case. The amount depends on the carrier.

If you're driving, you can carry full up in states with reciprocity on your Concealed Firearm License. Some of these states have screwy rules on where you can carry (Ohio is reciprocal with FL, and has some specific rules for firearms in cars by CHL holders during traffic stops), so be sure and check them before you drive through the state (and some require you to inform LEO if asked for ID in all cases). Handgunlawus website has good info.

If you're flying yourself (i.e. PIC of your own plane) you can carry subject to the laws of the state you're in (provided it's at a small airport and you don't need to go into an airport sterile area). If you could make it to FL, you wouldn't have any problems. However, you'd need to check the laws of the state you land in if you land or divert. If, for example you'd need to land in MD while carrying it could be a problem.

[Xringshooter]

Checking a gun when you fly is not a problem. Call the airlines beforehand and they will tell you exactly how to do it. After it is checked and you go through all the security measures check the bag that it is in. Make sure that no one has put any kind of identifying stickers on it that may give someone a clue that there is something special inside. By law they cannot put any kind of identifying mark on the bag (other than your luggage ID and the routing tag). Also, after it has been through the TSA you will lock it and YOU keep the key. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. This is also in the regs, the owner keeps the keys.