Traveling With Firearms
Have you ever considered traveling with your self defense tools? Like many others, you may have assumed you couldn’t fly on an airplane or even travel out of state by car with your firearm. The truth is that depending on the issuing state, there are many other states that will recognize your concealed carry permit, as well as safe and legal ways to travel by air with your firearm. Here’s how to make the most out of your travel opportunity:
The first step is to check your state’s concealed carry reciprocity. You can find a comprehensive map on the www.USCCA.com that will help you determine if you can utilize your permit in the state you are traveling to. Some states even have “constitutional carry” which means you don’t need a permit at all to carry concealed there.
Once you’ve determined whether or not you can legally carry at your destination, you just have to worry about getting it there safely and legally.
If you’re traveling by car, check the laws for the state you’re visiting, but ALSO remember to check the laws in each state you will be passing through. Some states (like California for example) do not offer reciprocity for other state’s concealed carry permits. However, you can still travel through them without a permit as long as the firearm is securely stored in another area of your vehicle and has the proper locks, follows magazine capacity restrictions, and is stored separately from ammunition.
If you’re traveling by plane, no need to worry about any state laws except the ones in your destination state. If you have connections, the airline will handle the transfers for you and it does not matter whether concealed carry is legal in your connection states unless you plan on collecting your luggage and leaving the airport during a layover.
When you arrive at your departure airport, make sure your firearm is locked inside a TSA approved hard case and is separate from all ammunition and magazines. You may travel with no more than 300 rounds, and they must be kept neatly inside their original manufacturer’s packaging. Place the hard case inside your checked luggage and tell the gate attendant that you would like to declare a firearm before handing them your bag. You will be asked to fill out a form with your flight number, arrival, and departure locations that will be taped to the outside of your firearm’s hard case. You may also be asked to wait for clearance before you can make your way to TSA so that they can take your luggage back and make sure the firearm is packed safely. The gate attendant will tell you if you need to wait or not.
Once you arrive at your final destination, your luggage may be waiting at the carousel with everyone else’s. If you don’t see it, it is most likely being kept off to the side at your airline’s counter. Once you have your luggage and you’ve determined it is legal for you to carry concealed wherever you are, you can start carrying like normal. Keep in mind that all states have different requirements when it comes to what areas you can carry in, whether or not you have duty to retreat, and whether or not you can consume alcohol while carrying so pay attention!