Guns stolen from Delta checked luggage (flown FNT-MSP-SEA)
Sep 16, 2013, 10:54 pm
#16
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: New Jersey
Programs: Delta P, SPG G, Marriott S, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,007
I have 3 stickers on my laptop, "extreme shooter" (for a gunsmith), starbucks guns and coffee sticker, and an HK sticker.
Boy did that freak out a TSA agent in TTN when I flew frontier. She looked at the laptop, had a frightened face, then had to look left and right to her superiors if it was ok... I politely told her the checked bag with the 2 guns was right behind her getting checked by TSA. Priceless
Sep 17, 2013, 10:30 am
#17
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
HaHAHA..
I have 3 stickers on my laptop, "extreme shooter" (for a gunsmith), starbucks guns and coffee sticker, and an HK sticker.
Boy did that freak out a TSA agent in TTN when I flew frontier. She looked at the laptop, had a frightened face, then had to look left and right to her superiors if it was ok... I politely told her the checked bag with the 2 guns was right behind her getting checked by TSA. Priceless
I have 3 stickers on my laptop, "extreme shooter" (for a gunsmith), starbucks guns and coffee sticker, and an HK sticker.
Boy did that freak out a TSA agent in TTN when I flew frontier. She looked at the laptop, had a frightened face, then had to look left and right to her superiors if it was ok... I politely told her the checked bag with the 2 guns was right behind her getting checked by TSA. Priceless
Sep 17, 2013, 10:55 am
#18
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Either at the shooting range or anywhere good beer can be found...
Posts: 51,057
Crazy. I travel with guns quite often for matches, and instead of a big shooting bag, I started putting guns into a small pistol case with a lock, then put that into a checked bag, with another lock.
On one occasion I got the lock back where someone tried to get in.
Better idea, let gun owners bring unloaded guns on the plane, and ammo has to be checked.
On one occasion I got the lock back where someone tried to get in.
Better idea, let gun owners bring unloaded guns on the plane, and ammo has to be checked.
HaHAHA..
I have 3 stickers on my laptop, "extreme shooter" (for a gunsmith), starbucks guns and coffee sticker, and an HK sticker.
Boy did that freak out a TSA agent in TTN when I flew frontier. She looked at the laptop, had a frightened face, then had to look left and right to her superiors if it was ok... I politely told her the checked bag with the 2 guns was right behind her getting checked by TSA. Priceless
I have 3 stickers on my laptop, "extreme shooter" (for a gunsmith), starbucks guns and coffee sticker, and an HK sticker.
Boy did that freak out a TSA agent in TTN when I flew frontier. She looked at the laptop, had a frightened face, then had to look left and right to her superiors if it was ok... I politely told her the checked bag with the 2 guns was right behind her getting checked by TSA. Priceless
Sep 17, 2013, 12:13 pm
#19
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: A small town in North Georgia
Programs: DL Platinum Medallion, AA
Posts: 1,627
TSA is the number one cause of paranoina in airports!
The mere mention or image of weapons or ammo sends the TSA into a tailspin. A sticker on a laptop is just that, not a secret plot to bring down a plane. 
Sep 17, 2013, 12:26 pm
#20
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Portland, OR
Programs: DL MM Gold
Posts: 1,676
The TSA *requirement* is that the hard case be locked with a key or combination lock that ONLY you have the means to open. Once screened by TSA at the departure airport to make sure you conform to the rest of the requirements (weapon unloaded, magazines empty, ammo in factory containers only, not jumbled in zip-lock bags or coffee containers), you lock it up and neither they nor the baggage handlers can molest it.
Last two times I traveled with a handgun and 500 rounds of ammo, leaving SAN on Alaska, the TSA process didn't involve me opening the case (Pelican) in front of them and it just went on the conveyor and disappeared. At PDX, there was a lonely TSA guy at the oversize baggage check-in position with a swab machine, and after he looked inside in a cursory way, I locked it up and he made sure they weren't TSA-openable locks.
There is a group of folks who travel with high value gear who want to use their own pilfer-proof locks like the old days, and they've found that adding an unloaded *flare gun* to the case will trigger this relatively painless process and give them a good deal of peace of mind about the baggage pilfering thieves. The bad guys might steal the entire case, but the knowledge that it's being tracked carefully as containing unloaded firearms sounds like an effective deterrent.
Last two times I traveled with a handgun and 500 rounds of ammo, leaving SAN on Alaska, the TSA process didn't involve me opening the case (Pelican) in front of them and it just went on the conveyor and disappeared. At PDX, there was a lonely TSA guy at the oversize baggage check-in position with a swab machine, and after he looked inside in a cursory way, I locked it up and he made sure they weren't TSA-openable locks.
There is a group of folks who travel with high value gear who want to use their own pilfer-proof locks like the old days, and they've found that adding an unloaded *flare gun* to the case will trigger this relatively painless process and give them a good deal of peace of mind about the baggage pilfering thieves. The bad guys might steal the entire case, but the knowledge that it's being tracked carefully as containing unloaded firearms sounds like an effective deterrent.
Sep 17, 2013, 1:07 pm
#21
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
Do you need a gun license or carry permit for the flare gun? Can you take it into places like NYC with strict gun control laws?
Sep 17, 2013, 1:21 pm
#22
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Either at the shooting range or anywhere good beer can be found...
Posts: 51,057
I would guess black powder firearms would work in a similar fashion, as most of those can be purchased without a background check, IIRC.
Sep 17, 2013, 1:57 pm
#23
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Portland, OR
Programs: DL MM Gold
Posts: 1,676
Just to be clear, there is no Federal "license" involved. Each state has their own laws. That makes travel, especially involving NYC, a research challenge.
Apr 23, 2019, 9:45 pm
#24
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 2
Still happeninf
We just had a pistol stolen from our checked bag flying Delta. The issue is that they tagged our bag special which is like a giant neon sign that it has something of value in it. Then they placed a tsa tag in the bag. TSA reviewed video footage and say they did not open our bag. Meanwhile the airline has asked no less than 4 times for a list of the stolen items. No one seems to take it seriously.
Apr 23, 2019, 9:56 pm
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,046
We just had a pistol stolen from our checked bag flying Delta. The issue is that they tagged our bag special which is like a giant neon sign that it has something of value in it. Then they placed a tsa tag in the bag. TSA reviewed video footage and say they did not open our bag. Meanwhile the airline has asked no less than 4 times for a list of the stolen items. No one seems to take it seriously.
Apr 24, 2019, 5:11 am
#26
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 2
Apr 24, 2019, 5:57 am
#27
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
Welp. I guess I can't check guns anymore.
This is 100% Delta's fault for sticking DO NOT SEND TO BELT on every bag with a firearm. Any idiot can guess what's in that bag. Make it anonymous, as it should be.
This is 100% Delta's fault for sticking DO NOT SEND TO BELT on every bag with a firearm. Any idiot can guess what's in that bag. Make it anonymous, as it should be.
Apr 24, 2019, 7:34 am
#28
formerly jackvogt
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: Delta SkyMiles,
Posts: 822
I'm curious what one would do, ignoring the fact that an item of value was stolen. I guess you should report everything you know to the police ASAP just in case something were to happen with the gun, they would know it was no longer in your possession? Given the increasing difficulty to acquire a gun if you shouldn't have one, it makes sense that people would start to steal them (not a political comment).
Apr 24, 2019, 8:20 am
#29
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
I'd worry about the stolen gun being used to commit a crime. Make sure to report it to the police (not just DL) immediately and get proof that this was properly reported. I would guess that you'll also need to report the theft of the gun to your police back home or wherever it's licensed.