Over the last 20 plus years of providing high quality firearms training all over the world I’ve learned a few things about traveling with firearms. The first thing I will say is that it is not as difficult as you might think. There are some hard and fast rules to follow, but there is a lot of common sense you can use. If you do a little bit of preparation and research, you can find yourself minimally impacted. Traveling with a concealed firearm requires careful consideration of legal and safety aspects, particularly as laws can vary significantly between jurisdictions. Whether you’re planning a road trip or flying to a new destination, understanding and adhering to the rules is crucial to ensure a smooth and lawful journey. I have found that a smile, patience and helpful attitude will get you a long way. Here are a few basic guidelines.
One of the reasons I recommend everyone who intends on carrying concealed obtain a concealed carry permit, is to take advantage of a state’s reciprocity laws. It provides a good measure for carrying legally while you travel. You want to start by visiting the website or calling the governing body that oversees this issuance of a state’s permits. Many states have very informative websites that answer a lot of questions, and believe it or not, I have called and gotten answers to more specific questions over the phone. You want to brush up on the differences between your state’s carry laws and the laws of the visiting state. They may be similar, but there will probably be differences you need to know. Once you are more familiar with the state laws, consider some instances where you might have to interact with law enforcement and how you will respond.
When traveling by car, the primary consideration is what to do if pulled over for a traffic citation. The most important consideration is whether you are legally required to inform law enforcement you are carrying a concealed firearm. Then also, consider if law enforcement has the legal ability to disarm you in the process of issuing a traffic citation, for their safety. These can both be tricky if you are not prepared in advance. If the state does not have a legal requirement to inform law enforcement of the concealed firearm, it can be a judgement call. As far as being disarmed, I’ve always had issues with this from a safety point of view. While under the guise of public safety, it is incredibly risky to remove a loaded firearm from a holster and attempt to transfer it to law enforcement. There are so many possibilities that could go wrong it seems an unnecessary risk. My best suggestion if you must be disarmed is to ask the officer if you can remove the holster together with the firearm. This will ensure the trigger is protected from any inadvertent contact. More accidents happen with the unnecessary handling of firearms than on the range, but you may not have a choice so proceed with caution.
Your pre-trip research should also consist of prohibited locations outside those commonly known. Pay attention to “gun-free zones” like schools, government buildings and private businesses that may prohibit firearms. You may find you are not legally able to carry concealed no matter how many valid licenses you possess. You may still choose to travel with the firearm off body so you will need to do additional research to familiarize yourself with transportation laws, such as whether you can keep the firearm loaded or if it needs to be secured in a particular manner (e.g., in a locked container separate from ammunition). Pay particular attention to the language and how to define the occupant compartment and storage. It is a good idea for these situations and others to travel with a secure storage device that can be physically tethered to an anchor point in your vehicle or hotel. In addition, pay attention to the transportation of ammunition and type of ammunition. Some states have specific laws prohibiting the common hollow point defensive ammunition. Other states instruct you to travel with the firearm and ammunition separated. Forewarned is fore armed.
I get this question all the time about flying with firearms. It is less complicated than many think, but I can understand the reservations. There is an implied dread for doing things wrong and getting in trouble. It was nerve racking the first couple of times I flew, but I literally was flying less than a week after 9/11. My biggest suggestion is to give yourself plenty of time to navigate the process, then as you get more comfortable, you can trim down your airport arrival time. I suggest in the beginning to plan for an additional 90 minutes on top of the estimated arrival time per the airlines or airport, not to exceed four hours. The four-hour mark is the earliest you can check in at the counter with most airlines. My second biggest suggestion is to be patient and courteous, then throw a smile on top of everything. I have had plenty of run-ins with anti-gun airline employees. I’ve even been criticized for knowing more about the regulations than the airline employees—that’s another story. But it is all good if you don’t allow yourself to get frustrated and smile. I find the golden rule is in play here big time. Treat others as you wish to be treated, with courtesy and respect. And, if you feel something is going wrong or bad, politely ask to speak with a manager.
The next suggestion is to visit the TSA website and read up on how to travel with firearms and ammunition. I’m not going to go into detail because the whole point of this article is to learn. I even travel with a laminated printout of the requirements equipped with a TSA logo and all. That part is easy; however, each airline has their own interpretation and spin on traveling with firearms. Visit each airline’s website and search for traveling with firearms. All will require for the firearm to be unloaded. You can travel with a barrel flag inserted to help with this process. It can reduce the number of times they want to inspect the firearm to confirm it is unloaded. On that note, there will be a declaration that must be signed that specifically states the confirmation of the firearm being unloaded, punishable with fines and even jail time. It boggles my mind why some still want to inspect the firearm, not to mention most don’t know what they are looking for in the first place. Most of the airline regulations are utterly useless and designed to inconvenience, and maybe even dissuade traveling with firearms, but that is for another day. If you still have questions, call the airline to get the answers you seek. Remember, none of this is legal advice. Do the research and be prepared.
The next challenge is traveling with an appropriate case suitable for air travel. Basically, the firearm must be secured in a hard-sided container that denies access when locked. I typically place my handguns in smaller, hard-sided cases and place them in my soft-sided roller bag. It keeps the presence of a firearm somewhat discreet. For my long guns, I travel with them in larger, lockable boxes that look more like equipment than a traditional rifle case. The bottom line is it has to be hard sided and locked. If you use TSA-friendly locks it means they can gain access to inspect without the keys. Depending on your travel itinerary, this can be a problem, but if you’ve planned for extra time, it is not a major issue. I’ve had my bags inspected plenty of times and at this point I take a picture of the contents of the luggage along with an itemized inventory of all the high dollar items for insurance purposes. My bags have been misplaced plenty and something I do now is to include an Apple AirTag in each piece of checked luggage so I can keep track and rely less on the airlines. The other thing I highly recommend is to know your rights when it comes to lost, damaged or delayed luggage. You are entitled to fair compensation if the luggage is delayed and you incur expenses as a result. Consult with the airline for details.
To summarize, if you plan to travel with your firearms, start by planning ahead. Research all applicable laws, and when in doubt, err on the side of caution. Contact the governing agency for clarification if you are determined to travel with said firearm and don’t forget laws pertaining to the type of ammunition. Whether traveling by automobile or airline, use proper storage. Hard-sided containers that are lockable are hard to beat. Don’t forget if traveling by auto, you might have to not only separate the ammunition from the firearm, but also place them in different compartments within your vehicle. If you travel to another state and intend on taking advantage of their reciprocity, make sure to have your license to carry, and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to screenshot the lists of states covered from their website. The most important aspect of traveling with firearms is to know the laws of your final destination. There is no defense in “I didn’t know” type responses. You will be held to a higher standard in the eyes of the court. Lastly, remember to be polite and smile. Traveling with firearms allows all of us to exercise our constitutional rights. A right not exercised is a right soon lost.