Practical Travel Safety Issues - Traveling with firearm out of DCA

I was planning on flying home with a handgun from DCA, (following all of the FAA/Airline rules, of course), but then I remembered that D.C. is basically a LEGAL gun-free zone (never mind all the criminals carrying).

So am I going to have a problem bringing that weapon, even locked, unloaded, and in a suitcase, through DCA, either going or coming back? Are they required to report me to D.C. cops or something? If you're wondering how I got it here, I drove it in from my home state to Virginia.

I doubt you'd have a problem anyway, since you have all required permits, but DCA is in Virginia, not DC. They need not even know you've ever had the gun in DC.

Do some Google searching on very similar incidents in NY/NJ recently. NY have similar gun-free laws to DC and someone with a totally valid permit for outside the city was ratted on by TSA at LGA. Not pleasant for anyone involved, so I suggest being super careful.

This is either a dumb idea or genius. Call the Airport Police at DCA and ask. You need to get the weapon home and you do not want to break the law. Cops will tell you you are in the clear or you are SOL. If you are in the clear, ask the officer what to do if TSA has a fit. Getting a name to drop would not be a bad idea. If you are told you will get in trouble, you may want to consider FedExing it home or to your local dealer.

From FedEx:
Firearms
FedEx Express will transport and deliver firearms as defined by the United States Gun Control Act of 1968, between areas served in the U.S., but only between:
Licensed importers; licensed manufacturers; licensed dealers; licensed collectors; law enforcement agencies of the U.S. or any department or agency thereof; and law enforcement agencies of any state or any department, agency or political subdivisions thereof; or

Where not prohibited by local, state and federal law, from individuals to licensed importers, licensed manufacturers or licensed dealers (and return of same).
If your shipment contains firearms, select the Direct Signature Required or Adult Signature Required Delivery Signature Option, depending on the requirements of your shipment. See the Delivery Signature Options section for details. Firearms shipments are not eligible for signature release or indirect delivery.

Firearms must be shipped via FedEx Priority Overnight service. FedEx Express cannot ship or deliver firearms C.O.D. Firearms shipments cannot be placed in a FedEx Express Drop Box.
Upon presenting the package for shipment, the person tendering the shipment to FedEx Express is required to notify FedEx Express that the package contains a firearm. The outside of the package must not be marked, labeled or otherwise identify that the package contains a firearm.
The shipper and recipient must be of legal age as identified by applicable law.
The shipper and recipient are required to comply with all applicable government regulations and laws, including those pertaining to labeling. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives can provide assistance.
FedEx Express will transport ammunition when packed and labeled in compliance with local, state and federal law, and the Dangerous Goods section of this Service Guide. Ammunition is an explosive and must be shipped separately as dangerous goods. You agree not to ship loaded firearms or firearms with ammunition in the same package.

Hope this helps.

as first reply said, DCA is in virginia, so no problem

re DC, its opening up, so not as bad as NYC/NY now

DCA is in Virginia but IIRC from some older threads on this board it has some extra-territorial status with DC.

Didn't congress pass some laws on that or the supreme court?

Not that that matters to the OP but I am curious now :o

Good luck OP

Post-mortem - part I - signed the form, no issues from DCA. We'll see how it goes on the return trip.

DCA is in Virginia but IIRC from some older threads on this board it has some extra-territorial status with DC.

Didn't congress pass some laws on that or the supreme court?

Not that that matters to the OP but I am curious now :o

Good luck OP

No, National Airport is 100% Virginia. No DC laws apply to National.

As an aside, in Virginia, e used to have a law that you could only purchase one handgun per month, but it was the #1 goal of our teabagger state government to nullify that law. So, as of July 1, this past Sunday, you can now buy as many pistols as you want on your next trip to Virginia and take them home with you.

No, National Airport is 100% Virginia.

Except the mailing address, which is DC...:D

It seems congress has intervened several times in managing the airport. The not so always accurate wiki even lists changes of control and laws about the airport but I'd like to read some facts.

Does anyone have any links to the specifics of the past cases on the airport management. I am very curious now. All I have read about is when the FAA gave up managing it in 84.

The Pentagon also has a DC mailing address but is physically located in Arlington Virginia like DCA is. The telephone numbers for DCA and IAD are 703 Virginia area code and all MWAA Airport vehicles are licensed and tagged for Virginia.

At DCA (and IAD), Virginia law and other applicable federal laws apply, MWAA Police Officers are certified in Virginia and will enforce VA laws. Washington DC laws are not applicable at either IAD or DCA.

On a side note, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority that operates metro buses and trains in the DC-VA-MD area (a separate authority from the airports authority) enforces laws depending on which section you are riding in. For example, concealed carry (and open carry) in the Virginia portions of the Metrorail/bus is perfectly legal as it falls under Virginia laws, but becomes illegal if you cross into the Washington DC, or Maryland sections of the metro.

The last few times that Congress intervened in the airport were for silly reasons. Shutting it down after 9/11, then the idiot 30-minute rule. Before that, in the late 90s, was renaming it "Reagan", which was very much against the wishes of Arlington County, where the airport is.

Around here, only Republicans, visitors and recently-arrived residents call it "Reagan". If someone asks me about flights at "Reagan" or parking or anything, I tell them I have no clue what airport they're talking about. So, whatever the OP does with his guns, just make sure to call it "National Airport", it's original and true name.

The Pentagon also has a DC mailing address but is physically located in Arlington Virginia like DCA is.

Yeah I know, I used to work there. :rolleyes:
My point, somewhat in jest, was based on the comment 100% of DCA was Virginia.