What to Know About Traveling With Your Gun
Traveling Resources
The key to traveling with your firearms is knowing the laws in all of the states you will be passing through. Your responsibility as a firearm owner is to understand the laws and regulations of the places you visit. The laws in that state apply to you if you are within the borders. Educate yourself with the resources available so you can avoid doing anything illegal or getting into unnecessary trouble.Before you travel, ask yourself these questions:
- Can you lawfully possess firearms in your state?
- Can you lawfully possess firearms in the state you are traveling to, or your destination?
- Do you have a Concealed Carry Permit/ License to Carry?
For each state, you can access the primary sources for the laws by looking at the government webpages. The National Rifle Association has a few great resources if you would like questions answered at a glance. The gun laws can be found here as an interactive map. These can give you an idea on what the firearm community looks like in those areas. If you like books more, the Traveler's Guide
Traveling by Car
When traveling across state lines it is up to you to know the laws and regulations of the state you are traveling to. Some states require you to store the firearm and the ammo in separate locked containers. When traveling you will need to make sure you are in compliance with all traveling rules and regulations. Especially, if you do not have a concealed carry permit with reciprocity.
H.R. 131 can be referenced for interstate travel with firearms.
If you would like to deep dive into more information on traveling with firearms, check out Handgun Law US. They have articles that cover RV and car carry as well. They have articles listed on the left side of the page for you to browse on topics that may be relevant to your travel plans.
Traveling by Plane
Follow all Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations. Firearms and firearm parts must be in checked baggage only. Replica firearms must be transported in your checked baggage. All firearms must be unloaded, in a locked container. The locked container must not be able to be pried open to a finger width worth of space. The locks you use do not need to be TSA locks and should be a lock that only you have access to. If you have a larger case, make sure all of the places that a lock can be placed, have a lock. (If you have six lock holes, you need six locks.) If you are unsure, you can bring extra locks for your case to be safe.Most airlines require ammunition to be in the manufacturers box and stored in a locked container. Most airlines limit the ammo to 11 pounds.
Once your bags are packed, and you make it to the airport, declare your firearm at the ticket counter. Some airlines have specific counters specifically for checking firearms. The staff will help you find the correct counter to check everything in. They will hand you a slip of paper. The paper is your firearm declaration. The declaration is normally taped to the case or put inside the case.
Check In Step by Step
Links to common airlines' firearm regulations.Southwest United AirlinesFrontier AirlinesDeltajetBlueAmerican Airlines
Summary
The key to remember is to check all of the rules and regulations before you travel. You are responsible for following these, and they do not give leeway for not knowing the rules. Outside of special circumstances like competitions or events like the Olympics, do not take any ammo or firearms out of the country. There have been instances of individuals getting into trouble because they had a casing or a few rounds of ammo in their bags. Additionally, it is worth noting that cruises also do not permit firearms on board.
Rebby Donnelly
Author