# Checking guns at the airport **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 1, 2015, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-guns-at-the-airport/723943 "2015-07-01T09:01:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![zwede](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ac91a4/32.png) [@zwede](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zwede)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-guns-at-the-airport/723943/21 "2015-07-02T18:05:46Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > I’ve flown with firearms about 10 or 20 times in the US and never had any special seal. Huh. Could it be a difference between flying inside the US and internationally? ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-guns-at-the-airport/723943/22 "2015-07-02T19:25:32Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > How would I get special treatment when I haven’t ID’d myself? 😕 > > When I check into a flight I simply say I have a firearm to declare and fill out the card. Why would I tell them what I do for a living? The weapon is in checked bags I’m not carrying it on the plane. My bad, I did not mean for that to mean at TSA gun check in but in just a general way. It felt to me that your statements were indicating that you never get any special treatment anyplace. That is what I was referring to. Not about you identifying at an airport. My bad. Should have been much clearer… Question: Do you carry a metal badge? ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-guns-at-the-airport/723943/23 "2015-07-02T20:23:25Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > Question: Do you carry a metal badge? No. Just an ID card. I can’t remember the last time I ID’d myself off duty. Probably 20 years. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-guns-at-the-airport/723943/24 "2015-07-02T21:03:47Z")
> [@zwede](#): > > Huh. Could it be a difference between flying inside the US and internationally? You didn’t say if you were flying internationally or not. Or did I miss that? But maybe that was the (a) difference. Either way I wouldn’t want any indicator on my bag telling others there’s a firearm inside. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-guns-at-the-airport/723943/25 "2015-07-02T21:06:00Z")
About the LEOs flying, the ones I talked to during my NYC overnight stay (a lovely concrete floor it was), they said when they vacation with family they leave their guns at home. And they don’t like that. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-guns-at-the-airport/723943/26 "2015-07-02T21:42:51Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > About the LEOs flying, the ones I talked to during my NYC overnight stay (a lovely concrete floor it was), they said when they vacation with family they leave their guns at home. Why? The only time I don’t take something is when it’s to a place I can’t have it, like Europe & Canada. ---
**Author:** ![zwede](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ac91a4/32.png) [@zwede](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zwede)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-guns-at-the-airport/723943/27 "2015-07-02T22:04:10Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > You didn’t say if you were flying internationally or not. Or did I miss that? But maybe that was the (a) difference. Either way I wouldn’t want any indicator on my bag telling others there’s a firearm inside. Sorry for the confusion. My original post was an article I read by a photographer that said this was his way of avoiding theft by airport handlers. I have no first hand experience. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-guns-at-the-airport/723943/28 "2015-07-03T00:59:07Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Why? > > The only time I don’t take something is when it’s to a place I can’t have it, like Europe & Canada. Because they say it’s too much of a hassle flying into and out of JFK or LGA. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-guns-at-the-airport/723943/29 "2015-07-03T01:45:15Z")
A gun scandal has erupted over here after a former Bangkok police chief got caught in Tokyo last month trying to board a flight back home with a small gun and ammunition in his carry-on bag. He’s now sitting in jail there while prosecutors mull the next step. Airport authorities in Bangkok are very embarrassed. They say the scanners failed to pick up anything, so it’s possible he didn’t have the gear on him at the time, but they’ve not ruled out a technical glitch. The man himself claims he just “forgot” the gun was in there. But everyone figures it’s yet another case of a Big Man having his way and ordering security not to check him. Thailand has a lot of Big Fish in Small Ponds who order around everyone they encounter like some sort of emperor. I think he just found out the hard way that this power does not extend to a modern country like Japan. He’s facing some serious prison time. But I was surprised to learn in the media that while you can carry guns and ammo in your check-in baggage on international and domestic flights, people’s bodyguards are allowed to carry firearms on their person on domestic flights. That’s what one report claimed. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-guns-at-the-airport/723943/30 "2015-07-03T02:48:53Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Because they say it’s too much of a hassle flying into and out of JFK or LGA. I’ve never had a problem with it. But as always YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-guns-at-the-airport/723943/31 "2015-07-03T04:39:37Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > I’ve never had a problem with it. But as always YMMV. Maybe they were trying to help me feel better, while I was behind their bars and under their control. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-guns-at-the-airport/723943/32 "2015-07-03T06:50:13Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Maybe they were trying to help me feel better, while I was behind their bars and under their control. Well, under the current laws it is going to be different for a LEO checking a gun in NYC than a non-LEO. Federal law overrides New Yorks stupid draconian laws. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-guns-at-the-airport/723943/33 "2015-07-03T19:51:50Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Well, under the current laws it is going to be different for a LEO checking a gun in NYC than a non-LEO. Federal law overrides New Yorks stupid draconian laws. Even though you don’t need or use it, LEOs get treated different than civilians in this case? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-guns-at-the-airport/723943/34 "2015-07-04T14:03:13Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > How would I get special treatment when I haven’t ID’d myself? 😕 > > When I check into a flight I simply say I have a firearm to declare and fill out the card. Why would I tell them what I do for a living? The weapon is in checked bags I’m not carrying it on the plane. Sheese! The original comment didn’t say anything about off duty! You could have just let it slide. Little story here. (X) was meeting his elderly parents at the airport for a flight. He was surprised and amused to find, when he got there, that they’d been put in a small closed room to wait for him. The airport had assumed, since he had notified them that he was carrying his gun in the passenger cabin (actiually just a requirment from his employer, even off duty), that at least one of the other persons booked on the flight with him would be his prisoner. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-guns-at-the-airport/723943/35 "2015-07-04T14:04:43Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > I was trying to imagine the reaction in Heathrow…🙂 > > I remember some guy getting the full body search and light grilling after just joking that he had a tommy gun in his violin case. …There go the secret violin lessons… ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-guns-at-the-airport/723943/36 "2015-07-06T04:22:29Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > Even though you don’t need or use it, LEOs get treated different than civilians in this case? 😉 Absolutely. You don’t want to go to New York or a couple other places with a firearm in your luggage if you’re not off duty or retired LEO. Federal law exempts us but everyone else gets railroaded. it’s BS if you ask me. I’ve never had anyone give me problems and I never had to ID myself the last few times I flew in/out of NYC. But I was prepared to based on some horror stories I’ve heard. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-guns-at-the-airport/723943/37 "2015-07-06T16:06:57Z")
Oh, yeah. BTW: Went to Nashville Thursday night, got back last night. Flew from Milwaukee on United. Airline employee didn’t blink when I asked for a firearm declaration card. But after I put it in my luggage he was unsure if he needed to call TSA or just put the bag on the belt behind him. I told him he could just put the bag on the belt but if he felt more comfortable call TSA as we had plenty of time before our flight. A 10 second call to TSA revealed I was correct. He put the bag on the conveyor belt and we were on our way. Flew home on Delta. Employee knew exactly what to do. Declaring a firearm added about 20 seconds to our check in time to fill out the card and put it in the bag. It’s no big deal. 🙂 Stayed @ the Renaissance in downtown Nashville. Broadway was pandemonium on Saturday the 4th. Local beer is kind of mediocre. Go on Ratebeer towards the end of the week to see my ratings of 5 of them. \*\*I did not carry while I was drinking! \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-guns-at-the-airport/723943/38 "2015-07-06T16:19:51Z")
Those airports, it’s simple. That’s nice. At SFO it’s fill out the declaration card, put it in the bag, and then go with United agent downstairs to TSA where they inspect that it’s properly locked and packed. Then you lock your bag in front of TSA, then TSA gives it back to the United agent. At that point you can leave but it’s best to follow the agent until s/he puts your bag on the conveyor. It usually takes 15-20 minutes extra for all of this. The last time I did this was last fall. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-guns-at-the-airport/723943/39 "2015-07-06T18:27:45Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Those airports, it’s simple. That’s nice. At SFO it’s fill out the declaration card, put it in the bag, and then go with United agent downstairs to TSA where they inspect that it’s properly locked and packed. Then you lock your bag in front of TSA, then TSA gives it back to the United agent. At that point you can leave but it’s best to follow the agent until s/he puts your bag on the conveyor. It usually takes 15-20 minutes extra for all of this. > > The last time I did this was last fall. SFO must be it. That’s where I had the problem and it was United that time. Everywhere else, including NYC, it was nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-guns-at-the-airport/723943/40 "2015-07-06T21:04:00Z")
I wish NYC was nothing for me. That cost me $30K and my 2 guns. DAMN. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-guns-at-the-airport/723943.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-guns-at-the-airport/723943.md?page=3)