Take empty holster onto airplane?

[chief38]

While I doubt it's illegal, I also doubt you will get through security without being hassled. If you intend on carrying when you get to your destination, I'd suggest mailing it out ahead of time. If it's a place you frequent - leave one there and save the hassle.

This following actually happened to me 12 years ago - I kid you not.........

We were going on a Cruise and boarding a flight to Puerto Rico to meet the ship. My friends 16 year old son was on the security line right in front of me and was pulled out because he was wearing a Belt Buckle with a picture of an 1961 Colt Black Powder Revolver. They made him take it off and surrender it - or they were going to not let him board the plane! I even tried standing up for the kid and said - HEY - IT'S ONLY A 2 inch PICTURE..... They were about to call the Police! He relented, took it off and we boarded - but if I had not seen that with my own eyes I would not have believed it!! A PICTURE!!! If we had time to call over a supervisor from the TSA we might have been able to get this moron off our backs - but we didn't have time and it was obvious to me the TSA guy wanted it for himself!

 

[Bugkiller99]

I forgot I had a rifle magazine in my carry on. An AR15 mag that was still in the original sealed wrapper.
I got invited into a special back room and was asked a lot of questions. And they kept the mag.
They said something like “gun part” can not be taken on the plane.
I would not try a holster.

This was happening so much in Dallas at the end of the NRA convention they were asking everyone before they got into the lines if they had any magazines in the carry on luggage.

And Ill be part of the chorus. Put the holster in the check in bag.

 

[Onomea]

Re the worry about the airlines losing your bag, I have traveled a fair amount by air in the US and there have been a couple of times when the airlines misplaced my bag for a while. But they always returned it to me eventually.

Plus, if your bag is lost, or something stolen from it, you are probably covered either through the airline’s own insurance or via your credit card used in payment for the ticket.

(I think re the particular holster taking a while to replace, well, if worse came to worst, which is very unlikely, and it was lost or stolen, use another holster until you can replace the lost article.)

I think a holster in your carry on would probably get through, but it would not be surprising if it attracted TSA interest. And, having attracted TSA interest, it would not be surprising if the TSA agent decided to make life difficult for you.

I think some people enjoy conflict, especially when they believe they are in the right. But most people, including me, do not. I’ll drop the hammer if I must, but on the whole I prefer to mosey along, avoiding conflict to the extent possible.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Being "technically right", and being "legally correct", should make you feel so much better about the body cavity searches and delays in your travel plans.

 

[X1M3]

Will be flying to visit grandkids and plan to take a 442 and ammo in checked luggage - I have a CCW permit for the destination, so why not? The flight is on Southwest - I've checked guns with them before with no hassles, so don't expect any this time.



But I'm wondering if anyone has experience taking a holster and (empty) ammo pouch onto the plane, either on the belt or in carry on luggage? I wouldn't think this would be a problem, but I ask because I was refused admittance to the Bush Presidential Library in Dallas as I went through the very TSA-like screening line with an empty holster on my belt. The (again, TSA-like) signs with the list of no-nos said nothing about holsters, but the guy at the door with the gun said I wasn't getting in with the holster.



I don't see anything about holsters on the TSA or Southwest web sites, but I sort of assume TSA guys can do the same thing as the library guard did - "it may not be on the list, but I'll make sure you miss your flight if you want to make an issue out of it."



I know I can just put the holster and ammo pouch in checked luggage, along with the gun, but the holster in particular would take a while to replace if it gets "lost", so I'd rather keep it with me if it's allowed.



So - anybody have any experience with this detail?

Why would you want to do this? Like a free prostate exam from the TSA? Just put the stuff in checked baggage. Why cause a hassle for yourself?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[kwselke]

For some reason I'm wondering if Bigride surrenders his pants when going through airport security. Excuse the drift, I'll behave.

 

[fordson]

The threat situation and the fine points of TSA threat interpretation change daily. What was good yesterday is restricted today. Put the holster in your Checked luggage. You won’t need it till you get your gun anyway.

 

[Golddollar]

I would guess the easiest way to get through security is to not bring attention to yourself

I think this sums it up very succinctly. While I try to accomplish a portrayal of a certain type of character while in SASS events or at chili cookoffs, when I know I am going to be subjected to scrutiny I try to make my appearance as neutral as possible. And for good measure I check all my pockets before leaving my vehicle or home even if I have a pre-issued clearance because I've been in too many places where the clearance wasn't honored. And it's a good thing I do, because last year I was going to San Diego from Baltimore and in the airport parking lot before I got on the bus to the terminal I checked all the pockets in my pants, shirt and vest and found an empty .38 shell casing in my vest. I don't know how the shell casing got there, but I was sure glad I found it and left it in my car before I went through airport security. Even though a pistol shell casing is about as volatile as a water pipe, I can just imagine the fun and games I would have been in if I hadn't found it first.

 

[RobertJ.]

I've done exactly that, fairly recently.

In May we went to Arizona, and flew SW. I took a checked case with two handguns and ammo. I put my two Galco holsters in my carry-on. They aren't restricted. I went right through, both there and back.

I know some would say to err on the side of caution, but they are not restricted, and had I needed to, I would have told them the handguns they fit were in checked baggage.

Had I been detained by TSA over non-restricted items, the media would have heard about it.

My Bible's gold-edge pages got me flagged and searched once. I told the TSA employee, "I've wondered when this would start happening!"

 

[LittleCooner]

Put the holster in your checked luggage or leave it at home and buy another. Who wants to deal with a bored TSA agent near the end of their shift?

 

[ParadiseRoad]

For some reason I'm wondering if Bigride surrenders his pants when going through airport security. Excuse the drift, I'll behave.

...I'm picturing the TSA trying to get his pants back on him...

 

[Alpo]

I'm just puzzled that someone is MORE worried about their holster being lost/stolen than they are their gun.

I'd have them both in the same locked hard case.

 

[jeffsmith]

I've done exactly that, fairly recently.

SNIP

Had I been detained by TSA over non-restricted items, the media would have heard about it.

SNIP

if you've noticed General Media Coverage of this type of thing Lately

Your Portrayal may have been less than Positive

 

[sigp220.45]

Empty piece of leather in your checked bag: No big deal.

Empty piece of leather in a carry-on bag: Probably no big deal.

Same empty piece of leather on your belt: You look like a nut. Probably a big deal.

I stopped running headlong into brick walls of my own volition a while ago.

 

[CalmerThanYou]

I was worried last time I flew because I had on the sneakers I often wear to the range. Those dam'n sniffing dogs have no sense of humor.
I would for sure send the holster with the gun, checked.

 

[hoc9sw]

Let's think this through. OP is checking gun and ammo, but concerned about the holster going missing. Is the holster really that much more valuable than the gun? If I'm a malcreant who is about to steal a holster, wouldn't I take the gun as well???? They don't scan leaving the property.

Put the holster in the secured box with the gun and be done with it.

The real issue in TSA-land (and I'm not giving up a secret here) is the case of the guy who picked up his checked bag, took it to the restroom, got the firearm out, and started shooting. The idea that you are so ready to re-arm is on the bitter edge ...

 

[Muley Gil]

A friend of mine was home on leave from working security in Afghanistan. He went to the range. On his way back to the land of sand, he was using his range bag as a carry on. TSA found a single round of .40 S&W. No gun, just a round of ammo.

He received a $1000.00 fine.

 

[Golddollar]

A friend of mine was home on leave from working security in Afghanistan. He went to the range. On his way back to the land of sand, he was using his range bag as a carry on. TSA found a single round of .40 S&W. No gun, just a round of ammo.

He received a $1000.00 fine.

Now I don't feel so paranoid about checking all my pockets and finding the empty .38 casing in my vest before I got on the plane to San Diego.

 

[policerevolvercollector]

Just put in the CHECKED bag.

I fly frequently with handguns in my TSA approved gun case locked with TSA approved locks in my checked baggage. Sometimes the folks at the ticket counter, where you declare your firearm, and the TSA folks are really good and make things go smoothly. Other times..... not so much

I flew twice in the past several days and am often surprised where the most gun friendly airports are. Saturday , I flew out of Boston and the folks were unusually easy to deal with on this trip. NYC was not bad either (I'm a LEO & can carry there.)

The trick is to be aware of the rules in advance and abide by them.

 

[jeffsmith]

I was worried last time I flew because I had on the sneakers I often wear to the range. Those dam'n sniffing dogs have no sense of humor.
I would for sure send the holster with the gun, checked.

Not to Hijack but I have two Prosthetic Legs
and get "Thoroughly Checked" Every time I Fly

One year I was going to fly right after my B-day
and mentioned about going to the Range as a present to myself

My Wife Yelled at me "NO DON'T !!!!"