Jump to content
Brian Enos's Forums... Maku mozo!

How to label gun case to avoid theft when travelling


Recommended Posts

Any biological specimen ("live piranha", "hemorrhagic fever virus", "frozen pit viper sperm", etc) is subject to very specific packaging, labeling, handling and transportation requirements. Attempts to be "cute" may get your bag hauled off the conveyor, and you tied up for hours with humorless bureaucrats.

Hide in plain sight -- the old, beat up, LOCKING gym bag; get something non-descript at Goodwill; consider a pink "Hello Kitty" suitcase (looks like it belongs to some 10-year-old).

Remember that TSA WILL be inspecting the bag. What you want is something that the baggage handling system won't give a second look. Make it boring ....

Hey Fran,

In case it's getting by you, I believe a majority of these comments where in "jest" and an attempt at humor. I hardly think anyone is really going to put any of these stickers on their bags.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I like the kids suitcase idea. Spongebob or Hello Kitty would work great :)

Prior to that I was thinking "Equine Artificial Insemination Kit #2" labels might work. Not Bovine because I figure cows wouldn't warrant flying in that sort of specialist, but some horses would.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Simple solution.

Place guns in cases labeled FIREARMS.

Place cases in trunk of car.

Place key in ignition, turn, point car in the desired direction, drive.

On arrival, retrieve cases from trunk of car.

No TSA, No Baggage handlers, No Airport Security, No Extra Baggage Charges, No limit on Ammo carried.

Caution, do not attempt if traveling to Hawaii.

Jim

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Caution, do not attempt if traveling to Hawaii.

Or Alaska, the Mounties have no sense of humor about these things, eh?

Edited by Vlad
Link to comment
Share on other sites

American Airlines allows up to 11 pounds of ammo, in a hard case box (cardboard, plastic, etc...) AND most importantly IT CANNOT BE IN THE SAME BAG AS YOUR GUN!

Ammo can go in the same bag as you gun. I just flew with 2 guns in separate cases and 2 boxes of ammo from Tucson to Dulles this week. I decleared at the American counter, the sent the bag to the back, and the TSA didn't search it (I have the indicator locks that tell you when the TSA opens them with their key).

That's odd, I've been flying American Airlines in/out of TX since 2005 almost on a weekly basis and I've ALWAYS had to put my ammo in a separate bag from my gun. I guess it's like the TSA rules, each area/airport/check-in employee has their own interpretation of the rules.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In seriousness there are essentially two trains of thought on this issue.

#1 Label it as what it is "Firearms" or let the case look like what it is. Although to us it announces the value and temptation but keep in mind that airport theft has a lot riper pickins than guns and only truly serious thieves want to deal with the penalties and trouble involved with getting said firearms out of airport property.

#2 Disguise it as something else. The problem here is related to the above in that with the exception of a relativeley sophisticated theft ring, most items sought for theft need to be easily turned around for their value. So in your mind which is easier to get rid of an Open 2011 or band instruments and construction tools.

Personally if traveling to a pistol match it is plenty easy to just place the my locked pistol box in my regular luggage and just go forward as one of the herd. However, regardless of how I disguise it a pelican1750 screams high value items inside...in that case letting folks assume it is a firearm, and therefore much harder to deal with as a stolen item seems to have an advantage.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...