Last week when I was returning from a trip and on the way out of the airport we had to get our checked luggage tagged and then give it to the TSA Agent for screening. They asked if there were any firearms in the luggage and if the bags had been out of our possession. The answers were no and no, but it got me thinking about how do you fly with firearms. I know they are verboten in carry on, but somewhere in the back of my mind I know there is a means to put them in checked luggage so off to the TSA website I went.

It actually seems pretty simple. Firearms must be unloaded in a locked hard-sided container and declared to the airline at check-in. Ammunition must be in a container designed to carry ammunition in your checked luggage and does not have to be declared so long as it is allowed by the airline. Seems pretty simple all things considered.

Item Carry-On
 Checked
Small arms ammunition, including ammunition up to .75 caliber and shotgun shells of any gauge- Check with your airline or travel agent to see if ammunition is permitted in checked baggage on the airline you are flying. Small arms ammunitions for personal use must be securely packaged in fiber, wood or metal boxes or other packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition. Ask about limitations or fees, if any, that apply. No Yes
Firearms – firearms carried as checked baggage MUST be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided container, and declared to the airline at check-in. No Yes

Now there is a blog post linked in the photo below which indicates your luggage will be handled better if there is a gun in it. Makes me think I may have to think about flying with a gun if I have some valuables in my luggage.