So first I set out to blast SATTSO for being abrasive in his post so I wrote a snotty response.

Then I sat back and edited it, and I re-read the airline policy I had (the FARs dont address where the tag goes and in fact dont even require a tag)

I knew that FAR 108.203 required a declaration o a firearm in the bag. Then I remembered a problem I had in LIT, but I forgot that my issue was the reverse of what I had typed.

So since this is an airline policy issue we are talking about and not a federal regulation here is the policy of one major airline:

Declaration Form
• Baggage containing firearms will -not- knowingly be accepted for transportation unless a -signed- and -dated- declaration form is completed.
• The form must be placed inside the container with the firearm. If the container with the firearm is inside another bag, the form must be placed near the container with the firearm inside the bag - not inside the container with the firearm.
• Applicable to both Domestic and International travel.



The only thing that I think people do that is a mistake is that they are using TSA approved locks. The only person that should have the key/combo to your bag is you. If the TSA wants to open it you can provide them with the key while they open it and then they hand it back to you after they lock the bag.

As a matter of practice what happens is that the ticket agent goes with you to give the bag to the screener. After it goes thru, then you walk away.

In the case of airports where you cannot see the bag screening the airline agent will go back with the bag and let you know if it was cleared or if TSA wants to open it (with you present).

The only airports ve had an issue with are the NYC airports. They police were notified by the Attorney Generals office that they were operating outside of the firearm owners protection act (FOPA) by no allowing persons to trvel through with their firearms in accordance with the federal act.

In JFK,LGA, and EWR the airline agent will not allow you to check in your bag until they have a PAPD officer come by and verify you can have a weapon in NYC. If not, you get arrested, charged, and booked.

Even though it is not the airlines job to determine if you are or are not in compliance with NYC laws, this is exactly what they are doing. They should be checking your bag through.... but they detain you there until they can get a PAPD officer to come over.