Ex-worker at airport pleads guilty to stealing firearms

[jbrawny]

Ex-worker at Minneapolis-St. Paul airport pleads guilty to stealing firearms from luggage
http://www.startribune.com/local/226311851.html

I once flew to a hunting trip with my rifle in an obvious rifle case that I checked in. The guy seated next to me was a golfer going on vacation and had checked in his golf clubs. At our destination, he got his golf club through a special baggage claim window. My gun case was on the carousel spinning around giving everyone an opportunity to just grab it and walk away without being checked.

You'd think that after all the hoops you have to run through when you declare a firearm in a checked luggage, that they would give it a little extra security. If its serious enough for them to require you declare it, they they should take its seriously enough to not leave it unsecured until I claim it.

[photogpat]

Various airlines are all over the board and inconsistent with how they handle firearms. The only thing staying the same is that it must be checked, declared unloaded, in a hard-sided, locked case with you controlling access to it (either by key or combination). No sticker or other indication of contents is allowed on the outside of the case. Ammunition must be stored in original factory boxes, or other packaging - may be stored in magazines separately from firearm per TSA letter.

Delta's Ticket Agents at various locations through-out the US have told me:

A) I need you to open it and show me its unloaded
A+) Ticket Agent opens the case and checks if firearm is unloaded
B) I DON'T need you to open it and show me its unloaded
C) Ammo is ok loaded into magazines (still separated from firearm)
D) Ammo is NOT ok loaded into magazines, must be in original factory box
E) Ammo is ok in plastic case
F) Ammo is NOT ok in plastic case
G) Place the "FIREARM UNLOADED" declaration inside the locked case
H) Place the "FIREARM UNLOADED" declaration outside the locked case
I) Put a "CAGPT" (Check and Give Protection To) sticker on the outside of my case.
J) Put a "CAGPT" sticker on the inside of my suitcase.
K) Pick up at carousel
L) Pick up at Baggage Services
M) Pick up at Airport Police

My standard travel kit for handgun. Pelican 1200 case, cut out foam interior. Pistol slide removed from frame, stored in separate cut-outs. Ammunition removed from magazines, stored in factory 50rd tray/box (closed). Ammunition box slides into its own cut out within the locked case. 2 combination padlocks (1 for each locking point on the box), left unlocked until after "unloaded" declaration to ticket agent. Locked by me prior to handing over bag.

Nearly 50 trips and counting with zero issues other than at the ticket counter/bag check. Then again, I avoid traveling through NY, NJ at all costs....and I did clench up a little bit when this story came through last year. I try to make it as inconvenient as possible to steal my firearm while its traveling.

[BigDog58]

This is why I ship my firearm to my destination ahead of time. I ship it to myself in care of whomever I happen to be hunting with. I have also shipped my ammo ahead in a similar fashion. Never had a problem, except with "know it all" Fedex agent, that had no idea of what he was talking about, snd he was supposed to be their "Go Too Guy". Luckily, I had printed thnot only their regulations but the federal regs, where I then educated their "expert". As a note, I have NEVER even had so much as a question from UPS. Their people appear to be well trained in this area.

[OldmanFCSA]

I still remember the day I walked/ran thru security to catch my plane with a loaded firearm in a shoulder holster.
Ended up sitting next to an Air Marshall for the flight.
Luckily that was back in 1984 when things were a bit more relaxed.
We both, air marshal and myself, were going to same place to re-qualify with our firearms required by Federal regulations at the time.
Rode in same taxi from airport.
Qualified.
Rode in same taxi back to airport.
He put me on correct Flight and said "Don't ever do anything that stupid again", as I sat there with my pistol in my shoulder holster, loaded magazine in my pocket.
Other than that, we had a great time together.

This is only time I ever shipped a firearm on a plane.