# Do all states allow firearms to be carried on flights from checked-in luggage? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 7, 2017, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-states-allow-firearms-to-be-carried-on-flights-from-checked-in-luggage/776518 "2017-01-07T10:50:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-states-allow-firearms-to-be-carried-on-flights-from-checked-in-luggage/776518/1 "2017-01-07T10:50:40Z")
Apparently Army vet Esteban Santiago checked in his gun gun in a hard case before boarding a Delta flight from Anchorage to Minneapolis. He then got a connecting flight to Fort Lauderdale and pick them up his case at baggage claim. How many other states allow firearms to be checked in and carried on flights? Does the FAA allow this countrywide? I look forward to your feedback. > **[Travelers describe chaotic scene after shooting by ‘extremist’ Army vet](https://nypost.com/2017/01/07/travelers-describe-chaotic-scene-after-shooting-by-extremist-army-veteran/)** > > A man identified as a mentally disturbed Army veteran with voices in his head urging him to join ISIS opened fire inside the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., airport Friday, killing five and injuring eight o… 'On Thursday night, Santiago took Delta Flight 1088 from Anchorage to Minneapolis-St. Paul, before grabbing a connecting flight to Fort Lauderdale. He had stashed his gun in his checked luggage, which he retrieved at the baggage claim. The killer then slipped into a bathroom, where he put on a blue “Star Wars” T-shirt and took out his weapon, a federal source told The Post… When Santiago emerged, he executed travelers at random. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-states-allow-firearms-to-be-carried-on-flights-from-checked-in-luggage/776518/2 "2017-01-07T10:56:11Z")
Perhaps its a TSA rather than FAA matter. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-states-allow-firearms-to-be-carried-on-flights-from-checked-in-luggage/776518/3 "2017-01-07T11:13:42Z")
I wouldn’t think the states would have any say in the matter - air travel is federal. Yes, the TSA regulates it. Guns and ammo can be checked in luggage. [https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition](https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition) ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-states-allow-firearms-to-be-carried-on-flights-from-checked-in-luggage/776518/4 "2017-01-07T11:53:09Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > How many other states allow firearms to be checked in and carried on flights? Just to be clear, firearms cannot be carried onto the flight. They are checked and transported as cargo with the other baggage. It has the same effect as mailing a gun and ammo to yourself and picking it up in another city you’re flying to (which is also legal) . ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-states-allow-firearms-to-be-carried-on-flights-from-checked-in-luggage/776518/5 "2017-01-07T14:49:35Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Just to be clear, firearms cannot be carried onto the flight. They are checked and transported as cargo with the other baggage. It has the same effect as mailing a gun and ammo to yourself and picking it up in another city you’re flying to (which is also legal) . Well, with qualifications on “mailing” (for example, handguns sent by a non-licensee need to go by UPS or some other common carrier, IIRC). ---
**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:** [January 7, 2017, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-states-allow-firearms-to-be-carried-on-flights-from-checked-in-luggage/776518/6 "2017-01-07T19:15:24Z")
I fly 5-10 times per year and always have a firearm in my checked bag when traveling domestically. Been doing it for several decades. With only one exception the city/state has nothing to do with it. It has to do with the airline. Most (but not all) airlines allow for it in their regulations. The TSA has regs on it, but it was allowed by airlines long before the TSA came along. The one exception is New York City. Unless you are a LEO or have one of their very rare permits, **DO NOT TAKE A GUN TO NYC!** ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-states-allow-firearms-to-be-carried-on-flights-from-checked-in-luggage/776518/7 "2017-01-07T20:15:03Z")
Current rules keep a passenger and a weapon apart while in a secure location (from the security checkpoint going in at the departure airport, to the plane, to the security checkpoint going out at the destination). Since check-in and baggage claim are both outside of the secured areas they don’t keep you apart from your weapon. So you can carry your weapon there just as you could out on the street near the airport. You’re not endangering a flight at that point so the TSA isn’t involved. At that point it’s a local law enforcement concern. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-states-allow-firearms-to-be-carried-on-flights-from-checked-in-luggage/776518/8 "2017-01-07T20:18:28Z")
One requirement is that you must be able to legally possess your firearm at the destination. Folks have gotten into trouble if a flight originally destined for say Georgia gets diverted to New York City where they can’t possess their firearm. Sent from my LG-V495 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-states-allow-firearms-to-be-carried-on-flights-from-checked-in-luggage/776518/9 "2017-01-07T20:41:35Z")
Mailing a gun to yourself may also run afoul of state laws. In CA, your must have the gun mailed from a licensed dealer in another state to a licensed CA dealer. This is for a rifle. I’m not sure it’s allowed at all for pistols. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-states-allow-firearms-to-be-carried-on-flights-from-checked-in-luggage/776518/10 "2017-01-07T20:46:15Z")
California will have similar restrictions on showing up in the state with a firearm, either in your car or via an airplane. That’s kind of the point. Checking it in your luggage is no different than those other methods. If those other methods are not legal, than neither is having it in your luggage upon arrival. See pkbites post about New York as well. ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-states-allow-firearms-to-be-carried-on-flights-from-checked-in-luggage/776518/11 "2017-01-07T20:49:27Z")
Sure, I understand–just wanted to expand by adding the info about mailing. ---
**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:** [January 7, 2017, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-states-allow-firearms-to-be-carried-on-flights-from-checked-in-luggage/776518/12 "2017-01-07T20:58:35Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > California will have similar restrictions on showing up in the state with a firearm, either in your car or via an airplane. Cite? I’ve been to/go to CA frequently. Not only have I never had any legal problems arriving/departing with my pistol in my luggage, I’ve never seen any rules/laws posted that are any different than any other place. It’s no big deal. As goofy as their laws are it’s still legal to own a handgun and there are people with CCW permits there. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-states-allow-firearms-to-be-carried-on-flights-from-checked-in-luggage/776518/13 "2017-01-07T21:10:09Z")
Just to point out the obvious, the method of shipping the firearm didn’t have much of anything to do with this shooting. Baggage claim generally isn’t part of the secure area of U.S. airports and it certainly isn’t at the Ft. Lauderdale airport. A shooter there does not need to be a passenger on any flight. You could just as easily drive to the airport, walk into baggage claim or the ticketing area and start shooting. It is no different from any other soft target where lots of people congregate like a shopping mall or nightclub. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-states-allow-firearms-to-be-carried-on-flights-from-checked-in-luggage/776518/14 "2017-01-07T21:21:18Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Cite? I’ve been to/go to CA frequently. Not only have I never had any legal problems arriving/departing with my pistol in my luggage, I’ve never seen any rules/laws posted that are any different than any other place. It’s no big deal. As goofy as their laws are it’s still legal to own a handgun and there are people with CCW permits there. It shouldn’t effect you because you fall under LEOSA but California recently enacted tough gun laws on top of their already tough gun laws. ---
**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:** [January 7, 2017, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-states-allow-firearms-to-be-carried-on-flights-from-checked-in-luggage/776518/15 "2017-01-07T21:38:54Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > It shouldn’t effect you because you fall under LEOSA but California recently enacted tough gun laws on top of their already tough gun laws. I have never ever ID’d myself at any airport in California, neither arriving nor departing. Nobody has ever bothered me in the least when I picked up my luggage nor when I declared when leaving. And I’ve flown in/out of several different airports there, including LAX 2 months ago. ETA: > [@Loach](#): > > California recently enacted tough gun laws on top of their already tough gun laws. [Here](http://www.kmir.com/story/32359315/new-gun-laws-explained) is a list of those laws. Other than, perhaps, the 10-round magazine nonsense, which of these prevents a visitor from bringing a handgun to California? ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-states-allow-firearms-to-be-carried-on-flights-from-checked-in-luggage/776518/16 "2017-01-07T23:57:37Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Cite? I’ve been to/go to CA frequently. Not only have I never had any legal problems arriving/departing with my pistol in my luggage, I’ve never seen any rules/laws posted that are any different than any other place. It’s no big deal. As goofy as their laws are it’s still legal to own a handgun and there are people with CCW permits there. Read what I posted again. I said California will have similar restrictions on showing up in the state with a firearm, either in your car or via an airplane. I didn’t say they would prevent either of them. IF they prevent one, they would prevent the other. You said you can easily bring guns to CA in your luggage. It would be just as legal and easy to bring a legal, unloaded and locked firearm into the state on a road trip. On that note, it also appears TSGB is incorrect, and California will allow you to also ship guns to yourself into the state, just like most others. So like I said before, if the state prevents you from doing one method, they will have similar restrictions for the others. Pretty sure you can’t drive into New York with a gun which explains why you can’t fly there with one. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2017, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-states-allow-firearms-to-be-carried-on-flights-from-checked-in-luggage/776518/17 "2017-01-08T05:00:20Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > One requirement is that you must be able to legally possess your firearm at the destination. Folks have gotten into trouble if a flight originally destined for say Georgia gets diverted to New York City where they can’t possess their firearm. > > Sent from my LG-V495 using Tapatalk Thanks GaryM. So what happens to the firearm? Is it confiscated by the police? Is it mailed back to the owner? ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2017, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-states-allow-firearms-to-be-carried-on-flights-from-checked-in-luggage/776518/18 "2017-01-08T05:32:40Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Pretty sure you can’t drive into New York with a gun which explains why you can’t fly there with one. How in the world does New York (state OR city) stop you from driving into either with a gun? It’s not like they have roadblocks and mandatory searches… :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2017, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-states-allow-firearms-to-be-carried-on-flights-from-checked-in-luggage/776518/19 "2017-01-08T07:07:30Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > How in the world does New York (state OR city) stop you from driving into either with a gun? It’s not like they have roadblocks and mandatory searches… :dubious: They can’t actually stop you from driving in with a gun. Just like they cant actually stop you from flying into LaGuardia with one in your checked baggage. But that doesn’t mean it’s legal for you to possess it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2017, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-states-allow-firearms-to-be-carried-on-flights-from-checked-in-luggage/776518/20 "2017-01-08T09:52:06Z")
Just like they don’t have road blocks checking incoming drivers for coke, heroin, etc, but if they catch you with it, it’s an offence. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-states-allow-firearms-to-be-carried-on-flights-from-checked-in-luggage/776518.md?page=2)