# Flying with a flare gun in your guitar case. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 23, 2016, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-a-flare-gun-in-your-guitar-case/763771 "2016-08-23T22:49:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-a-flare-gun-in-your-guitar-case/763771/21 "2016-08-24T15:37:56Z")
Once, several years ago (2005?) coming back from Europe I had a cellphone with charger, etc. in a Ziploc baggie in my luggage. (Remember flip-phones?) At the time, it was a SIm-card GSM phone so only useful in Europe, no need to have it in carryon in the USA. Well, my luggage was locked with one of those simple cheap travel locks. Instead of opening the suitcase by cutting the lock (I’m sure they had the tools), they broke the tab off the zipper on the suitcase, basically wrecking the suitcase. My conclusion over that - TSA will wreck things just because they can, they’re on a power trip, and it’s fun for them to be dicks. They then thoughtfully left a piece of paper saying they had been in there. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-a-flare-gun-in-your-guitar-case/763771/22 "2016-08-24T15:53:00Z")
Worth noting that, if you decide to “protect” your luggage by packing a gun, you should check that your destination won’t cause you any problem regarding the gun itself. [This guy](http://www.guns.com/2012/06/13/university-president-delta-airlines-nyc-gun-possession/) from South Dakota packed his gun properly for his flight and informed the TSA and his airline (Delta) about it, but when he landed in New York he was arrested for illegal possession of a firearm. He tried to sue the airline, arguing that they should have informed him about NYC’s strict gun restrictions, but i don’t think his lawsuit went anywhere. [This guy](http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/01/18/traveling-mans-gun-arrest-appealed-supreme-court.html) was arrested after his connecting flight in New Jersey was delayed, and he was left in the state with a gun, but without the required New Jersey license. He spent ten days in jail, and didn’t get his gun back for three years. ---
**Author:** ![Bones\_Daley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@Bones\_Daley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bones_Daley)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-a-flare-gun-in-your-guitar-case/763771/23 "2016-08-24T17:21:15Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Worth noting that, if you decide to “protect” your luggage by packing a gun, you should check that your destination won’t cause you any problem regarding the gun itself. Which is why the discussion (as in the thread title) is about flare guns, which still need to be declared, but don’t require a license. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-a-flare-gun-in-your-guitar-case/763771/24 "2016-08-24T17:24:41Z")
> [@Bones\_Daley](#): > > Catchy thread title, huh? > > There have been several reported instances of musicians having their guitars trashed by over-zealous TSA goons forcing the case open and mistreating the instrument. > > Apparently, and I am recounting what was said on the Facebook conversation, if you pack a flare gun (or any firearm, but let’s leave weapons requiring a license out of the equation) and declare it when checking the case, the TSA are by law prevented from opening the case and examining the contents unless the owner is present. Don Ross’ case was forced open by the TSA goons with a wrecking bar or some such implement, without him being present. > > Now this advice sounds good to me, but I am sure that there are many on the forum who have an in-depth knowledge of airline regulations and TSA protocols who could either confirm or qualify the validity of this procedure. > > And just to keep the thread on topic … yes, I am well aware that most guitar damage incurred while flying is inflicted by baggage handlers, not by TSA inspections … that is a separate issue, and not what this thread is about… How do they know it was TSA? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-a-flare-gun-in-your-guitar-case/763771/25 "2016-08-24T17:25:47Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > At the same time, Amazon reviews - a lot of them - say the TSA still cuts the locks or otherwise damages cases to get into them, even with the supposed accessible padlock. Again, how do they know it was the TSA? ---
**Author:** ![Bones\_Daley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@Bones\_Daley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bones_Daley)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-a-flare-gun-in-your-guitar-case/763771/26 "2016-08-24T17:45:41Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Again, how do they know it was the TSA? I surmise they know it was the TSA because the TSA leave a note inside saying they have inspected the contents. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-a-flare-gun-in-your-guitar-case/763771/27 "2016-08-24T17:48:33Z")
> [@Bones\_Daley](#): > > I surmise they know it was the TSA because the TSA leave a note inside saying they have inspected the contents. And, so? That note can’t be left by baggage handlers looking for goodies to steal? The baggage handlers cant break in after TSA inspects? Look, altho the TSA is a bad idea in general, sure- , we KNOW Baggage handlers have had whole rings of thieves at various airports. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-a-flare-gun-in-your-guitar-case/763771/28 "2016-08-24T20:40:14Z")
Thieves are people who _take_ things. People who simply break things open and also break the contents aren’t called thieves, they’re called TSA. Of all the things to steal as a baggage handler, I would rate a full-sized guitar as one of the more inconvenient to sneak out with, unless it’s prime top-of-the line expensive. If your ukulele goes missing, maybe its the baggage handlers. If things are just all randomly broken and there’s a note inside- blame the TSA. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-a-flare-gun-in-your-guitar-case/763771/29 "2016-08-24T20:46:41Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > Thieves are people who _take_ things. People who simply break things open and also break the contents aren’t called thieves, they’re called TSA. > > Of all the things to steal as a baggage handler, I would rate a full-sized guitar as one of the more inconvenient to sneak out with, unless it’s prime top-of-the line expensive. If your ukulele goes missing, maybe its the baggage handlers. If things are just all randomly broken and there’s a note inside- blame the TSA. Yes, but thieves check inside to see if there is anything _worth_ stealing. And people do keep other stuff in their guitar case. Stash is pretty common. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-a-flare-gun-in-your-guitar-case/763771/30 "2016-08-24T23:04:38Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > But it all started with Tom Paxton and [Thank You Republic Airlines](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwV8ozElNjk) Are you suggesting that a 1985 song inspired a 1973 song? ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2016, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-a-flare-gun-in-your-guitar-case/763771/31 "2016-08-25T03:03:01Z")
Some stupid with a flare gun burned the place to the ground. No idea what kind of guitar it was, though. ---
**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:** [August 25, 2016, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-a-flare-gun-in-your-guitar-case/763771/32 "2016-08-25T04:58:07Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > you should check that your destination won’t cause you any problem regarding the gun itself. I decided to do just that when we were going to NYC. Even though I’m covered by federal law I still wanted to know if I might run into any problems there. My [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=623979) asking about it was a doozy. Bugged the living shit out of some, allowed others to say stupid things and ask stupid questions. Drove the Mods nuts. In the end absolutely nothing happened, I had no problems. But if you’re not legal to do so I don’t recommend it. I’ve heard a zillion nightmare stories about New Yorks ridiculous gun laws. I don’t think you should pack a flare gun or declare a gun in your luggage if you’re going to NYC. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-a-flare-gun-in-your-guitar-case/763771.md?page=1)