While the crux of traveling with guns is fairly easy– unloaded, declared, checked with luggage (not carry on), locked in secure case– and there are lots of good guides around, there is the giant Admiral Akbar-smelling trap that is catching any sort of flight through New York City. There, local regs and police go seemingly out of their way to make it rough for legal gun owners, even charging those who have done the same thing that is legal in virtually every single other airport in the country.
Case in point from competition shooter and trainer Robert Vogel this weekend:
Had a very close call in New York City last night. Most all of us that have flown much with guns have heard the same things…… don’t fly to or even through specifically NYC with guns.
I was flying to LA from Ohio, was supposed to connect in Dallas. That got canceled so it was either connect in JFK airport or not make it and miss the class. I thought it’s just a connection, i’m not getting my bag so let’s see what happens. I boarded the flight (American Airlines) and my seat was in the very back. Everybody’s boarded when they called my name over the loudspeaker as two agents came and told me I needed to leave the plane. As I walked off the plane I was told the TSA agents were coming to talk to me as “weapons” were found in my bag and that was a real problem. Mind you I declared my weapons in Columbus OH and signed the proper forms as I’ve done many many times without issue…… and they knew my connection was at JFK.
Long story short I am still technically a reserve/auxiliary police officer and I still have a badge…… they made it sound like they were letting me squeak by. If it wasn’t for that I would have missed my flight, been arrested and it would have cost me A LOT of money…….(I truly think it’s a racket for mainly that reason) What’s weird in my mind is how New York City seems to be so unique for this……. So many other big cities I’ve flown to or through many times with no issue…….but NYC is apparently a different animal. I had heard this before of course but now I have a first-hand account…… i’m guessing some of you guys have stories too…… but I had to put this out there.
Yikes. Be safe out there, folks.
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