# Gun question in GQ **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 13, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-question-in-gq/596173 "2011-09-13T17:37:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-question-in-gq/596173/141 "2011-09-18T11:59:11Z")
> [@Triskadecamus](#): > > You need to get yourself an ilk, like Frank has. Ilk hunting is very limited in this state. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-question-in-gq/596173/142 "2011-09-18T12:02:53Z")
> [@Triskadecamus](#): > > Ooooo! Frank has a ilk! My doctor says that if I stay on my meds, it’ll go away in four to six days. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-question-in-gq/596173/143 "2011-09-18T17:42:02Z")
pkbites, I’ve been quiet, but now I have to step in. I’m a New Yorker, and I own a gun. A shotgun, not a pistol, as the licensing is effing exorbitant. I tell you this in your own interest, because I don’t want you to get screwed over. What you do with this information is your own damn business. Everything I say here is rule-of-thumb, but based on me asking some retired city cops I shoot with. First, the odds are about one in a hundred your gun will disappear from your luggage, thanks to handlers and the TSA. The odds are, if it does not, some minimum wage earner will err on the side of caution, and you will be the cause of a news story for emptying the airport due to the discovery of a gun. I figure there’s a 3 in 20 chance of that. If you manage to keep your gun and get it into the city, there is a fifty fifty chance that any interaction with the cops will wind up with them noticing the gun. Yes, only fifty fifty. There are a lot of police precincts built into subway stations, by the way. If they notice the gun, there is about a one in five chance it will wind up poorly. You will not get that gun back for years, and that’s the best outcome. So, really, the odds are you could probably take this gun on a trip to NYC just fine, but I think it’s probably not worth it. You’ll feel naked, like I do when I’m not wearing my big-ass watch, but it’s probably a better idea than doing it. But you’re the only person who can make that choice. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-question-in-gq/596173/144 "2011-09-18T18:06:52Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > You might also assume, based upon past history of the NYPD, that, in NYC, you might be arrested and then sodomized with either your phone, or the handle of a toilet plunger. Possibly both. Just to show you how to keep your place, you uppity peasant. > > Come see the violence inherent in the system! Ah, Guiliani Time. Who could forget? ---
**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:** [September 18, 2011, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-question-in-gq/596173/145 "2011-09-18T18:29:55Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > The odds are, if it does not, some minimum wage earner will err on the side of caution, and you will be the cause of a news story for emptying the airport due to the discovery of a gun. I figure there’s a 3 in 20 chance of that. :rolleyes: It doesn’t work that way. Have you ever checked a bag at the airport and declared a firearm in it? Well, I have, several dozen times. Nobody “discovers” a declared gun in checked bags. There is an orange tag that goes in the luggage that indicates that the gun is in there, it is unloaded, and that it had been declared upon check in. This is actually very, very routine in airports, and airport/TSA/airline employees are all aware of this. It’s when some idiot tries to get on a plane with an undeclared gun in his checked luggage, or, even stupider, in their carry on that major problems arise. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-question-in-gq/596173/146 "2011-09-18T19:01:18Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Not going to need to anyway. My pistol is not going to be stolen out of my luggage like you wish it will. > [@E-Sabbath](#): > > pkbites, I’ve been quiet, but now I have to step in. > > First, the odds are about one in a hundred your gun will disappear from your luggage, thanks to handlers and the TSA. pk has everything in under control. Then there is this fairly recent news story: [http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Airline-Loses-Luggage-of-Israeli-Security-Detail-4-Guns-Missing-97874104.html](http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Airline-Loses-Luggage-of-Israeli-Security-Detail-4-Guns-Missing-97874104.html) ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-question-in-gq/596173/147 "2011-09-19T00:50:13Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > :rolleyes: > > It doesn’t work that way. Have you ever checked a bag at the airport and declared a firearm in it? Well, I have, several dozen times. Nobody “discovers” a declared gun in checked bags. There is an orange tag that goes in the luggage that indicates that the gun is in there, it is unloaded, and that it had been declared upon check in. Yes, and that will be entirely true if that orange tag is on your bag. You’re neglecting to allow for mangling and incompetence. The law is on your side, man. I’m just trying to report the practical side. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-question-in-gq/596173/148 "2011-09-19T12:16:45Z")
> [@R.P.McMurphy](#): > > pk has everything in under control. Then there is this fairly recent news story: > > [http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Airline-Loses-Luggage-of-Israeli-Security-Detail-4-Guns-Missing-97874104.html](http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Airline-Loses-Luggage-of-Israeli-Security-Detail-4-Guns-Missing-97874104.html) That whole article is clearly a stealth brag that the Israeli security guys have Glocks. Besides, there’s no statistical evidence that armed security details prevent crime so why did they bring them anyways? ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-question-in-gq/596173/149 "2011-09-19T14:03:53Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > That whole article is clearly a stealth brag that the Israeli security guys have Glocks. Besides, there’s no statistical evidence that armed security details prevent crime so why did they bring them anyways? Is this a whoosh? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-question-in-gq/596173/150 "2011-09-19T20:48:29Z")
> [@R.P.McMurphy](#): > > Is this a whoosh? Only to you, probably. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-question-in-gq/596173/151 "2011-09-20T05:56:51Z")
> [@Kevbo](#): > > Any and all comments on the referenced thread are welcome here, and fuck fuck fuck. Yeah, “fuck fuck fuck” whatever. I broke a rule, and got my warning for it. Fine. It’s been a week, and y’all are still talking about it. He trolled and won. ---
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-question-in-gq/596173/152 "2011-09-20T14:09:14Z")
> [@Darth\_Nader](#): > > He trolled and won. Warnings Pkbites = 0 Darth Nader = 1 R. P. McMurphy = 2 I’d say he is kicking your asses fair and square. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-question-in-gq/596173/153 "2011-09-20T14:18:38Z")
> [@Hbns](#): > > I’d say he is kicking your asses fair and square. And he didn’t have to troll to do it. Win Win. ---
**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:** [September 21, 2011, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-question-in-gq/596173/154 "2011-09-21T03:51:20Z")
> [@Darth\_Nader](#): > > He trolled and won. No! > [@Hbns](#): > > Warnings > > Pkbites = 0 > Darth Nader = 1 > R. P. McMurphy = 2 > > I’d say he is kicking your asses fair and square. \*\* NO!\*\* > [@D\_Odds](#): > > And he didn’t have to troll to do it. Win Win. 3 times\*\* NO!\*\* What the hell? It was a legitimate question, albeit maybe in the wrong forum. But I swear to whatever gawd some of you dinks worship I meant no trollment or anything else. I’ve carried a pistol/revolver off duty for almost 30 years, and in every state. I just wanted to get an idea of what might happen when I arrive in NYC. I just wanted to be prepared to deal with the local gendarmes. I’ve been on 6 web sites now and haven’t received an answer that makes me comfortable, but this is one of the only ones that I’ve been attacked like this. Of all the things that have been posted on these boards under my user name, I’m completely stunned that this is the one thing I’m attacked over the most. I promise you all it was a legitimate and honest question. I shit you not. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-question-in-gq/596173/155 "2011-09-21T07:16:30Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > I meant no trollment or anything else. I’ve carried a pistol/revolver off duty for almost 30 years, and in every state. I just wanted to get an idea of what might happen when I arrive in NYC. I just wanted to be prepared to deal with the local gendarmes. I’ve been on 6 web sites now and haven’t received an answer that makes me comfortable, but this is one of the only ones that I’ve been attacked like this.\ For what it’s worth, I believe you. I read your OP as a completely honest question. The criticisms of trolling and machismo seem completely fabricated. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-question-in-gq/596173/156 "2011-09-21T07:38:29Z")
It just seemed to me that the only responses that would have been accepted by you would have to come from NYPD officers or from other non-NYPD LEOs who had carried a concealed weapon off duty in NYC. As someone who lives in NYC I found the “New York’s got a hard on for guns” comment offensive. You clearly could pass judgement on the city of New York but our hands were tied to pass judgement on your attitudes towards gun control. ---
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-question-in-gq/596173/157 "2011-09-21T13:41:34Z")
I believed **pkbites** asked the question in good faith. I also found it amusing that those most vociferously accusing **pkbites** of bad behavior were themselves guilty of bad behavior. If it were me, I wouldn’t bother even going to New York if that were an option. Just not high on my “gotta see it” list. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-question-in-gq/596173/158 "2011-09-21T14:01:11Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > It just seemed to me that the only responses that would have been accepted by you would have to come from NYPD officers or from other non-NYPD LEOs who had carried a concealed weapon off duty in NYC. > As someone who lives in NYC I found the “New York’s got a hard on for guns” comment offensive. You clearly could pass judgement on the city of New York but our hands were tied to pass judgement on your attitudes towards gun control. As someone who lives in NYC, I find the comment accurate (though it really should have said “New York’s got a hard on _against_ guns”). As someone who doesn’t own a firearm, has never owned a firearm, and does not foresee wanting to own a firearm, I approve of NYC’s handgun stance. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-question-in-gq/596173/159 "2011-09-21T14:06:40Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > And he didn’t have to troll to do it. Win Win. > [@pkbites](#): > > 3 times\*\* NO!\*\* I was saying that you didn’t troll. I thought your question legitimate, though more IMHO than GQ. So we agree on two places. However, as a NYC resident, I personally would prefer you leave your sidearm home. I’d also like to see less NYC police with assault rifles. I’d also like to legally own my ferrets here. I’m 0-for-3 right now. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-question-in-gq/596173/160 "2011-09-21T16:31:24Z")
Bloomberg’s got a hard-on against guns. … actually, that sounds worse than ‘hard on for guns’. Still, the point being, any harassing actions done by police against gun owners pretty much has the support of the Mayor. As a NYC commuter, I think I don’t give a rat’s ass if pkbites brings his gun or not. In fact, I support him standing up for his rights by doing so. More people should. I just think the odds are that it’s going to wind up being expensive as hell for him. You can own an illegal handgun in NYC pretty easily. You can even walk around with it without much trouble. The thing is, entering and traveling hither and yon with it puts you in conflict with what I like to call ‘points of friction’, or points of enhanced scrutiny. This is going to be a pain in the ass. Still, keep us updated. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-question-in-gq/596173.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-question-in-gq/596173.md?page=9)