Guns in the Air

Many years ago my father told me a story of how he flew on a trip with a shotgun for hunting. He put it in a cloth case and carried it right to the plane. It was handed to a crew member for safe storage during the flight, and returned once back on the ground. Can you imagine the panic that would cause in today's world?

My first of 3 experiences with traveling by air, with a firearm, was when my father passed. As I recall I called the airlines, got their rules and complied. I don't remember if the 38 revolver was there or not, but I do remember the long gun case for the shotgun I brought home. After all the inspections and stuff, I just picked it up at the destination as normal luggage, I think. Anyway, that was maybe 13 years ago. The requirements today are much the same as then. James has a good description of the requirements for travel with a gun.

I have traveled by air with a firearm twice since then. It's really not that big of a deal as long as you follow the rules to the letter. On both occasions the bag was hand searched in my presence and marked as searched after going through the x-ray. So unlike other baggage, that one can be locked. One time I had 2 handguns with us, one for me and one for the Boss. I can tell you from experience that you DO NOT want to forget to unload one before going through the security. Eight years ago that stupid lapse of memory cost me a lot of embarrassment and a $300 fine.

Since then I've avoided air travel as much as possible, but not because of any problem with having a gun in my luggage. I simply don't tolerate being cramped in an airplane seat very well, and I hate the feel good security BS. And BS it is. Most technically competent engineers can smuggle knives and a firearm onto an airplane right through all their security.