Checking Your Pistol At The Airport

I'm in Florida, and for a variety of reasons, I decided to bring a pistol with me on this trip.
The procedure usually is:
- Unload your gun
- Empty any magazines you might have
- Pack your ammo in a factory box
- Pack it in a locked, hard side case
- Bring it to the "Special Services" desk, show them that it's unloaded
- Fill out a "declaration" form that goes in the case
- Bring the case to ANOTHER checkpoint where they check inside your case again
- When you arrive at your destination, pick up your case at the special services desk.

Except that this time, when I got to Florida, there was my pistol case, on the regular baggage carousel. Anyone who knows what a pistol case looks like could have grabbed it.

I shoudl follow my own advice and fedex my stuff to myself next time.

Martin

If what I have been told is correct, you can place the locked hard-sided container inside your regular luggage once you have gone through the proper declaration and disclosure. Obviously this will only work with a handgun. This is what I was told when I contacted one of our airlines. In the future, check with the airline that you're using.

Steve