On a recent family vacation I decided to take advantage of the Concealed Carry Reciprocity between Texas and my home state of Pennsylvania. I made this decision not only for my family’s safety, but also as a way to take full advantage of the rights we enjoy – and fight to keep – here in the USA. I had never flown with a firearm before and the thought of trusting my gun, and potentially my vacation, to the TSA was a bit unnerving to say the least. After going through the process I learned how simple it can be and want to encourage other L2C (license to carry) holders to see if flying with a firearm can work for them.
Preparing for the trip took extra diligence on my part to ensure that exercising 2A rights didn’t inconvenience my family, or worse, land me in the slammer. There are serious consequences to ignorance of the law, just ask Shaneen Allen, who spent 40 days in jail before posting bail after carrying HP ammunition into New Jersey from Pennsylvania. Gun control activists will jump at the chance to make an example of you and your desire to protect life, liberty, and the pursuit of vacation. You must know all applicable federal, state, and local laws prior to taking your trip!
During my research, I came across this excellent article by the NRA-ILA about interstate travel with firearms. I highly recommend that any L2C holder planning to go interstate read through this article and its relevant links. While not comprehensive, it’s a great jumping off point to gain a fundamental understanding of what you need to be aware of as a L2C holder going interstate.
I also advise you to thoroughly read your airlines ‘Contract of Carriage’ for rules regarding firearms and ammunition. Airlines will likely default to the TSA Requirements, but it’s possible that they have additional requirements or information. It also won’t hurt to call them ahead of time to confirm that everything will go as you expect.
Declaring a firearm and ammunition in your checked baggage may seem like the most intimidating part of the whole process, but if you did your research it’s actually quite uneventful. You declare a firearm, sign a tag, they check your bag, and you move along. That’s it. Done. Do it once and you’ll be a pro.
I must admit it put a smile on my face when I dropped my gun into my holster in a city 1,500 miles from my home. I had taken the necessary steps to legally protect my family and exercise a right I hadn’t before. I encourage any serious L2C holder to do the same. It takes planning, preparation, and should never be carried out haphazardly, but it’s by no means difficult. They’re your rights after all…enjoy them!
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