ROTC rifle as baggage
Jun 4, 2008, 9:15 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 7
ROTC rifle as baggage
My brother (15) will be traveling alone on Southwest airlines. He's on the NJRTOC rifle team and wants to bring his rifle along to practice. This is a demilitarized springfield 1903 , it is incapable of firing and has white tape on it.
I called at southwest and completely threw the rep for a loop. She believes it should be treated like a firearm (locked plastic case), but was very unsure. In the end she said it was up to the desk agent.
If we can just throw in in a suitcase, that would be best, he doesn't have a case for it and we don't want to address the issue of a 15 year-old traveling with a "firearm".
Does anyone have any experience with this? Is it possible to call someone at the local airport and get a verdict?
I called at southwest and completely threw the rep for a loop. She believes it should be treated like a firearm (locked plastic case), but was very unsure. In the end she said it was up to the desk agent.
If we can just throw in in a suitcase, that would be best, he doesn't have a case for it and we don't want to address the issue of a 15 year-old traveling with a "firearm".
Does anyone have any experience with this? Is it possible to call someone at the local airport and get a verdict?
Jun 4, 2008, 9:38 am
#2
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I don't know the answer, but I would think if he can field strip it and put it in a checked bag it would be treated like any other firearm. Or even put it into two separate bags.
Jun 4, 2008, 9:45 am
#3
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action8, welcome to FlyerTalk! Let me move this to our Southwest Rapid Rewards Forum for more focused assistance. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.
Last edited by Ocn Vw 1K; Jun 4, 2008 at 1:18 pm Reason: Correction of forum name
Jun 4, 2008, 9:51 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2001
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Even if the rifle is incapable of firing (something I wouldn't expect the TSA or the CSA to verify), it is still a rifle and must be treated according to policy:
http://southwest.com/travel_center/guns.html
http://southwest.com/travel_center/guns.html
Firearms must be encased in a hard-sided, LOCKED container that is of sufficient strength to withstand normal handling, as follows:
- A firearm in a hard-sided, locked container may be placed inside a soft-sided, unlocked suitcase.
- A firearm placed inside a hard-sided, locked suitcase does not have to be encased in a container manufactured for the transportation of firearms.
- Only the Customer checking the luggage should retain the key or combination to the lock. No exceptions will be made.
Jun 4, 2008, 10:00 am
#5
Join Date: Nov 2007
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I think I'd rather have the CSA check it than I would the fine folks with TSA.
Jun 4, 2008, 10:12 am
#6
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I thinks it's safe to say that the rifle can't be a carryon--even if it is unable to fire. Many graduates of boot camps are awarded with inert hand grenades and these aren't allowed as carryons either.
As to checked baggage, I would imagine that it will have to comply with all firearms procedures that curbcrusher has linked to above. All checked baggage is subject to TSA inspection, and if they find a firearm without the proper packing/procedures, whether working or not, the bag probably isn't going anywhere.
Brian
As to checked baggage, I would imagine that it will have to comply with all firearms procedures that curbcrusher has linked to above. All checked baggage is subject to TSA inspection, and if they find a firearm without the proper packing/procedures, whether working or not, the bag probably isn't going anywhere.
Brian
Jun 4, 2008, 10:18 am
#7
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Join Date: Jun 2008
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Thanks curbcrusher, that's the best info I've received yet. What do you think about the part where
I don't see an age restriction there, will that be an issue?
Our Customers must declare the gun to the Customer Service Agent at the ticket counter
Jun 4, 2008, 10:24 am
#9
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Join Date: Jun 2008
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El Boocho - Good suggestion. I was thinking along those lines if we would be forced to buy a case for it. I wish there was someone I could ask directly, but I think the only option is to drive to the airport (1500 miles away for me 
Jun 4, 2008, 10:25 am
#10
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Jun 4, 2008, 10:30 am
#11
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I'm not aware of any age limits. The idea to ship it UPS or FedEX might be a good one if you don't have a rifle case, and it would probably be significantly cheaper--especially if you ship ground ahead of time.
Jun 4, 2008, 11:18 am
#13
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This brought up memories from my youth and i scoured the web to make sure my suspicion was correct. My father had several larger guns for the police force he kept in his closet and they all had cases/covers that were locked when he left them at home.
Most rifle cases aren't hard sided. Othewise they're big and cumbersome and you look like you're some sort of assasin. That's way too much for a gun that's unable to fire.
FedEx or UPS it - the best i found was a crappy looking (read: cheap, flimsy) case for like $85 dollars.
The irony is that you could probably break that hard case open in a few seconds despite the lock while the locked softcases are near impossible to open as they're meant not to be ripped/cut/torn.
Most rifle cases aren't hard sided. Othewise they're big and cumbersome and you look like you're some sort of assasin. That's way too much for a gun that's unable to fire.
FedEx or UPS it - the best i found was a crappy looking (read: cheap, flimsy) case for like $85 dollars.
The irony is that you could probably break that hard case open in a few seconds despite the lock while the locked softcases are near impossible to open as they're meant not to be ripped/cut/torn.
Jun 4, 2008, 11:25 am
#14
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I actually had the same exact thought. I remember hunting many years ago with a hard case and I leaned back on it, while it was lying closed and flat on the ground, and snapped a plastic hinge. I probably weighed 120 pounds dripping wet at the time.
Jun 4, 2008, 11:44 am
#15
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Hey guys, the point of the hard case isn't to prevent firearms from being stolen or even opened, it is to protect Ramp Agents from idiots who check loaded weapons. Every year, you read oif a rifle or a pistol discharging in a checked bag, and many times, this has fatal results for Ramp Agents. In my previous career as a Ramper for a major carrier, I worked one six-month shift bid at the International bag drop. This was during the first Gulf War and we had to x-ray all international bags. On our flight to MEX, the screeners would average finding a loaded pistol every day. I gave checked bags a healthy respect after that. For a rifle, the hardside container provides more protection than a softside one. I would imagine that even with today's enhanced security it is possible that a loaded weapon slips by in checked baggage every now and then.