If you must fly, here's what to do:
I discovered this accidentally, because I usually take at least one pistol whenever I fly anywhere, and have been using it ever since. If I'm going some place anti-gun, like Chicago or CA, I take a firearm component, like a barrel, which still has to be checked the same way, but can't get me into trouble on the trip.
- Buy a hard plastic or metal suitcase with locks.
- Buy a pistol, if you don't have one already. (A starter pistol, which has no legal restrictions on ownership or purchase in any state, works just as well).
- Put your pistol in the suitcase, check-in at the counter, and tell the airline rep you have a firearm to declare.
- Fill out the card that says your firearm is unloaded, put it in your suitcase, and lock it (with real locks, not TSA-approved ones), while the airline rep watches.
- Walk down to the TSA screener with the airline rep, and hand your bag over.
- The TSA screener will scan your bag while you wait. If there's a need to open it, the screener will have you open it, and will look through the bag while you watch.
I discovered this accidentally, because I usually take at least one pistol whenever I fly anywhere, and have been using it ever since. If I'm going some place anti-gun, like Chicago or CA, I take a firearm component, like a barrel, which still has to be checked the same way, but can't get me into trouble on the trip.
Nelson Santiago-Serrano stole $50,000 worth of electronics from airline travelers. If you travel with something valuable on a flight (confidential data? laptop computer hard drive?), print out a copy of the TSA's page that details how to fly with firearms, and follow the instructions below, courtesy of a helpful Slashdotter.
How to avoid the TSA thieves (Score:5, Interesting)