Flying with Firearms

At DEFCON 17, Deviant Ollam discussed flying with firearms. His talk is available on YouTube here: DEFCON 17 - Deviant Ollam - Packing and the Friendly Skies. 

Deviant Ollam is now presenting a 3-part series about Flying with Firearms, on the Firearms Blog.  The first two articles in the series are available below, and the third article will be published soon.

Packing in the Friendly Skies - Basic Training for Flying with Firearms

When Things Go Pear Shaped - Packing in the Friendly Skies - Article 2

The NRA-ILA webpage "Flying with Firearms - Get the Facts" is also worth reading.   As is their web-page "Guide To The Interstate Transportation Of Firearms".

I travel frequently with firearms, and generally don't have any problems, but it pays to fully understand the procedures for transporting your firearms and to plan ahead for dealing with security procedures, and in some case violations of your rights be over-zealous law enforcement and security personnel.  Although most travel will go smoothly, be prepared for surprises. TSA may clear your guns at departure, only to have some other TSA agent  cut your locks off somewhere between your departure gate and your final destination. They’re not supposed to do that, but it happens.

A CNN analysis of passenger property loss claims filed with the TSA from 2010 to 2014 shows 30,621 claims of missing valuables, mostly packed in checked luggage. The rest occurred at security checkpoints. Total property loss claimed: $2.5 million.

So, should you travel with your firearms? Yes, absolutely! But, understand how to do so securely.