Originally Posted by
motytrah
That gun thing really happens. There was a reddit thread on checking a starter pistol. Apparently when you declare a firearm you go to a special TSA station for inspection and then you can use a giant padlock to keep the case secure. Supposedly, inspected fire arms cannot be opened again and are kept track of very well.
Declared firearms in suitcases use the same bag sortation systems as regular bags. Firearm cases share the same systems with oversize items like skis and golf bags.
There is only 1 small indication that a domestic bag
might contain a firearm, and a baggage handler would have to specifically look for it on the bag tag since it's normally out of view. "CAGPT" is naturally hidden around the handle because of how the bag tag is applied and where it's printed.
International firearms are much more heavily marked and secured.
Locks are the responsibility of the passenger, so how secure the lock is depends on the passenger.