I have done the gun trick (I used a 22cal derringer)many times when traveling with camera gear I didnt want TSA touching. Once the LEO looks at it and clears it the locks go on(there the type that are hard to get on the case and not cutable with bolt cutters).

If your going to put something in check luggage that you dont want harassed do it. Even TSA isnt dumb enough to mess with Federal Firearms Rules and Regs.

My favorite traveling with a firearm was when traveling with a group of my dads friends who are all avid outdoors-man, and competition shooters. The TA were being onry and wanted proof the guns were unloaded (no verbal declaration like normal), so after a couple of minutes of back and forth he was like F it. pulls out the key unlocks and grabs the pump shot gun and racks it twice. Oh your should have seen the look on the TAs face it was priceless (half way between shock and deer in headlights). Only problem is there were 9 weapons in the case. So after that one grabbed the M4 loaded ( as in rails, lights, lasers, and optics) pulls out the mag and pulls the charge handle back and lets it go. He goes to grab another and the one when the desk manager comes running over and ask the heck is going on. Gentlemen explains the situation to the manager and the manager has a side bar with the TA. After that the verbal declaration was all that was needed as if this group had to physically show they were unloaded it would have taken a while and probably scared every sheeple and kettle in the building.

I thought the TSA screeners 5 feet from the TA were going to code brown themselves during this as they were frozen with fear, mean while the other 6 of us in the group are on the group laughing our butts off at the stupidity before them. The first time in 10+ years of traveling with different firearms has the verbal declaration been not enough. Meanwhile the commotion has gotten the interest of two state troopers who after one person stops laughing explains it to them and they start laughing as well after talking to the TA and manager as well. After that they did there std check of a gun case to see whats in there (1 shotgun, 4 rifles, and 4 pistols). The troopers were impressed as some of the M4s were better outfitted then what the state issued them.

Needless to say made a good end to a long multi competition trip, and we had no problems with TSA at the CP or gate nor having luggage rummaged through like it normally is.

A armed society is a polite society