LEO FLYING WHILE ARMED

[snowman.45]

LEOFA

There is an LEOFA course that is presented by a verified officer within the department. After it's completed, all it takes is an administrative message through NLETS listing the officer, ID number, Department, etc., and each flight number and airport by federal designator abbreviation. You receive confirmation and a specific number for the paperwork to be submitted at each boarding. I'm in California, and it just isn't that hard.

Further, as a full-time LEO with credentials, HR 218 allows on and off-duty carry in all States. Don't know of anywhere in California where this has been challenged. I've been told to watch NY and NJ though.

 

[Ronald617]

Thanks for everyones help and advice.

I just returned from my trip. Flew Southwest out of San Antonio. Check in at San Antonio was a breeze. I used a lockable box from a long sold Keltec. Flying back from LAX I unlocked the case at the request of the lady at the coutner and showed her my unloaded J frame and I was good to go. I actually had a harder time flying with my CPAP as a carry-on than I did with my wheel gun as checkied baggage. After spending many hours of my free time sightseeing in Southern California, I felt quite at ease knowing my Bodyguard and 2 speed strips loaded with 135 grain Gold Dots came along for the ride.

 

[The Big D]

Thanks for everyones help and advice.

I just returned from my trip. Flew Southwest out of San Antonio. Check in at San Antonio was a breeze. I used a lockable box from a long sold Keltec. Flying back from LAX I unlocked the case at the request of the lady at the coutner and showed her my unloaded J frame and I was good to go. I actually had a harder time flying with my CPAP as a carry-on than I did with my wheel gun as checkied baggage. After spending many hours of my free time sightseeing in Southern California, I felt quite at ease knowing my Bodyguard and 2 speed strips loaded with 135 grain Gold Dots came along for the ride.

Glad it went well, but what the heck is a "CPAP?" And, why should we be wary of flying with one/them/it?

Be safe.

 

[WC145]

Glad it went well, but what the heck is a "CPAP?" And, why should we be wary of flying with one/them/it?

Be safe.

CPAP = Continuous Positive Airway Pressure

It's a machine (basically an air pump) that uses either a nasal or fullface mask (or nasal "pillows") to provide positive pressure to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea. By maintaining a low level of positive pressure (blowing air in) it keeps the airway from obstructing allowing the OSA patient to sleep instead of being woken up over and over due to severe snoring/brief suffocation.

 

[The Big D]

Thank you, WC145! 'Tis only 0657 and already have learned something new today.

Be safe.

 

[Ronald617]

CPAP

Thanks WC145, you gave him better explanation than my doctor did when he gave me the darn thing!

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

When I checked in a pistol at SFO, I asked the desk agent if he wanted to check that it was unloaded - at least his answer of "heavens no, I'm afraid of guns!" was honest.

I might have reassured him: "Hey, they're not that complicated. If you're smart enough to be afraid of them, you're smart enough to learn how to operate them. It's the other folks that are dangerous."

 

[WC145]

Thanks WC145, you gave him better explanation than my doctor did when he gave me the darn thing!

Originally posted by The Big D
Thank you, WC145! 'Tis only 0657 and already have learned something new today.

You're welcome guys. It's about time all these years as a respiratory therapist paid off!

 

[OLDFED]

Hawaii

I flew from Seattle to Hono to Hilo last year with my KEL-TEC P3AT. Seattle was cool. Hono wanted to know why I needed to carry anything and did I have a permit. I told them I was an HR-218 retired Fed and they (ticket agents) didn't know what that was and sent me to TSA. TSA #1 didn't know what to do, so he called TSA#2, who said as an HR-218, I was OK. No. 1 wanted to know what that meant, so I took a few minutes and told him. Leaving Hilo, I explained to the TSA agent that I had a pistol. She said she'd like to see it as she's never seen a handgun before. One split second after seeing it, she continued to poke thru my two bags. I asked her what she was looking for and she replied, "Fruit and vegetables...I have to look for fruit and vegetables." Guess Hilo doesn't have much of a terrorism concern. Bottom line: Depends on where you are/who you get/what they know or don't know. TSA hasn't impressed me generally.

 

[ldausmc1369]

Flying with guns

I have had both positive and not so positive experiences flying with guns, both long guns and handguns. The application of the rules and the zealousness of the TSA officers enter the equation. Just this spring, in Killeen, TX, put the guns through the check in procedure with no problems, locked the heavy duty padlocks and put the key in my pocket. Had an over-zealous TSA agent threaten to cut the locks, confiscate the guns and throw me in jail. I told him I couldn't keep him from it, but I definitely could make him wish he hadn't. He wanted to know if I was some smart ***ed attorney. Told him only one way find out! Then an airport policeman intervened, got his idiot's supervisor to come over, supervisor listen to both sides of the story, reamed the TSA agent a new bunghole, inspected the guns in a gentlemanly fashion and said to have a nice day. I did get the idiot's badge number and write a letter of complaint to the TSA Director with copies to each of my congress critters who wrote personally to the Director of the TSA. Stand your ground with these A-holes and let them know they work for you, they are not the Waffen SS as a lot like to try to be!

 

[jag312]

I have had interesting contacts with TSA agents in San Francisco, San Jose, and Los Angeles. SFO, by the way, is not in San Francisco. It is in San Mateo County. Anyhow, the TSA agents in SFO treated me like I was one of them. Very friendly and courteous. In San Jose, I was bringing my Mamiya RB-67 camera on board. The woman TSA agent wanted to examine it. No Problem, but I asked her to be careful with the camera and the lenses because they were very expensive. At least I thought I said that. Maybe I told her that the camera was more indestructible than an NFL football. I asked her again to be very careful with the camera, and she called a supervisor claiming that I was interfering with her inspection. Without even asking me what was happening, he very loudly threatened to have me arrested. When I was allowed to say something, I said that the camera was not being handled carefully and would he please stay there and observe the inspection to assure that the camera was not damaged. If he could read my mind, he would have seen me laughing at him. Call San Jose Police Department to arrest me? I think maybe I just might know one or two people with SJPD.

In Los Angeles. a very delightful young lady TSA agent (with an IQ somewhat lower than her age) asked if my badge and department credentials with my photograph was an official government identification.

 

[Frank237]

Several years back I observed the TSA Agent "inspecting" a pair of AR's I assume to check if they were loaded. She was CLUELESS as to what she was looking at or looking for. The owner had pulled the bolt back and locked it.

As she was looking at gun #2 she hit the bolt release...a loud KACHUNKKK resulted.....she then dropped the gun from about three feet onto the floor..... Should have seen the look on the owners face.

I've flown many times with checked firearms and even at the same airports the "drill" of check in or pickup can and does change.

FN in MT

 

[george minze]

Fly with prisoners sometimes. I can't speak about now and when I had to do it. TSA was a trucking company I think. Creds had to be right and a letter in advance to airlines just about did the trick...except Delta...They wanted no part of it. It was an experience, one reason was you had to remove the obvious restraints. You could use a leg brace. I brought a guy out of Hilo that was a major fugitive in the murder of the president of Continental Phone company.....He knew as we knew he wasn't going to escape at 47000 ft. We had LAPD escort at LAX and the whole flight was ok except when he had to go to the restroom.....Some Captains wanted our personal firearms in the cabin....Jeez what a potential disaster...Then, most pilots were ex military and their curiosity of what you were carrying got the best of them. I always said and prayed I hope the Co-Pilot or flight Engineer doesn't accidentally shoot the pilot, or cause rapid decompression...Times change I guess the TSA does the best they can. Some of them look like they never saw a firearm before,,,/as some one on this thread mentioned,,,Isn't that cute,,,,?WOW I feel safe now....Is Greyhound still running???? Been a long time .....I think I would just fly naked and pray. I was in one crash already at my age I don't need another one......Good thread and a lot of diverse information. Long retired so I'm just a casual observer....O I flew before Con-Air the real Con=Air not the movie.....A C123 man Hollywood must have been hard up for cash....

 

[WC145]

Fly with prisoners sometimes. I can't speak about now and when I had to do it. TSA was a trucking company I think. Creds had to be right and a letter in advance to airlines just about did the trick...except Delta...They wanted no part of it. It was an experience, one reason was you had to remove the obvious restraints. You could use a leg brace. I brought a guy out of Hilo that was a major fugitive in the murder of the president of Continental Phone company.....He knew as we knew he wasn't going to escape at 47000 ft. We had LAPD escort at LAX and the whole flight was ok except when he had to go to the restroom.....Some Captains wanted our personal firearms in the cabin....Jeez what a potential disaster...Then, most pilots were ex military and their curiosity of what you were carrying got the best of them. I always said and prayed I hope the Co-Pilot or flight Engineer doesn't accidentally shoot the pilot, or cause rapid decompression...Times change I guess the TSA does the best they can. Some of them look like they never saw a firearm before,,,/as some one on this thread mentioned,,,Isn't that cute,,,,?WOW I feel safe now....Is Greyhound still running???? Been a long time .....I think I would just fly naked and pray. I was in one crash already at my age I don't need another one......Good thread and a lot of diverse information. Long retired so I'm just a casual observer....O I flew before Con-Air the real Con=Air not the movie.....A C123 man Hollywood must have been hard up for cash....

I've been to nine county fairs and a couple of state ones, I've seen monkeys **** in the wild and sharks do it in the waves, been around the block til I'm dizzy and I'm functional in english and ebonics but I'll be damned if I can figure out what you're talking about.

 

[george minze]

Forget it. It is just the observations about flying armed or with prisoners in the old days....Was hard for me to write probably hard to read. those who transported prisoners before the hi-=jacking of the 70s will probably understand......In other word regulations were as diverse as there were airlines, The only constant was prisoner could not be shackled....FAA regulations....Things change depending on the circumstances. Sorry you couldn't understand and at 72 as of today I'm to old to explain it any better than I did.I don't go to state fairs, know jack about monkeys or sharks. Just spent 40 years dealing with AH criminals. Both here and in other countries on rare occasions. I'll try to do better in the future.........Thanks for the correction I still can learn from my betters...

 

[akviper]

I had an interesting experience at Sea-Tac shortly after 9/11. A young TSA couldn't find my declared H&K P7 as they X-rayed my luggage and asked me to produce it. As I unlocked the pistol case he grabbed the gun by the end of the butt and stared intenty into the inverted gun's muzzle held at his eye level. TSA are not supposed to handle your fire arm but I guess he slept through that part of training. Perhaps that was his method of checking to see if a round was in the barrel?

Other than this incident, I've never had a problem in my many flights with firearms.

As an old dinosaur, I simply showed my badge and ID back in the 70s and waltzed onto the airplane with my Model 19. I flew mostly on the West Coast and never heard of a problem with the many officers that flew armed.

 

[HIPunch]

Hilo mentioned twice!!

Nothing to add except impressed that Hilo is mentioned twice in this thread...
Anyone fly here give me a ring and we can go shooting

Aloha,
HIPunch