Flying with a Firearm

S

SkariSpeak

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Hi my boyfriend posted this on another thread at another forum. but this is his question:



I am going on vacation in Hawaii, and I would like to bring 2 of my firearms for protection, and a little compition shooting.

I am flying United Airlines out of my city, and connect with Northwest Airlines at LAX.

As I understand it, to fly with firearms they must be:
-Unloaded
-Locked in a Hard Sided Case (an OEM case will work)
-Apart from ammuniton.
-In your suit case
-Declared at luggage check-in

A few question still remain:
Should the magazines be seperate from the firearm?
Should ammunition be in its own seperate container, or is it ok to leave them in the manufactures box, outside the locked firearm, but somewhere inside the suitcase.

Are you required to have a CCW license to do this in the first place?

I know to stand by for security to call me to inspect the locked firearm box, and to be present when they check the firearm.

Is there anything else I should know about?

Any suggestions or comments would be great.
 
check www.packing.org for the firearms laws in Hawaii

or you might start here

Hawaii firearms laws

http://www.honolulupd.org/info/gunlaw.htm

also keep in mind that sometimes websites may not have the latest info posted....

not to mention the brady website gives then an A- grade

"Every person arriving in the state is required to register their firearms within 3 days after arrival of the person or of the firearm, whichever arrives later."

Sounds like another state that aint going to get my travel dollars.......Florida anyone :D
 
I've done this several times.
Your handgun must be in a locked hard case. This does not need to be in another suitcase.
The agent may believe that the special firearms tag goes on the outside. In fact it can be inside your locked case. Don't need a red 'steal me' flag on the outside, do we?
Magazines can be in same case.
Ammo must be in seperate case.

They have never checked my firearms state. Don't pull it out or even offer unless told.

All of the above is done during check-in at the counter.
Don't forget to lock it with the tag inside before giving them the case.

Hawaii is a tough state for firearms. Check the packing.org site mentioned and any contacts on the other end.
 
I'd highly recommend checking your airline's website. I've always found this helpful. I fly with firearms fairly regularly, and it's never been a problem, although you'll find some differences in procedure between the airline (and this is where it can be helpful to have read their SOP online).

On one occasion I had to show "weapons clear" to a ticketing agent who obviously would not have known a clear 30/30 from anything, but she was perfectly cheerful.

A couple of times flying with long guns has turned into a fun experience, including once when flying to Michigan for deer season. Seems several other people in line were doing the same thing and, laughing, the airline people had to intervene before the whole line dissolved into one big happy "what do YOU have in your big aluminum case?" party.

I'd also advise you to ensure you take your sense of humor to the airport, occasionally you encounter security people who:

A) Don't know what they're supposed to do
B) Don't want to screw up anything involving firearms
C) Have an initial impulse to say "we can't do THAT!"
 
The airport and the airlines are not the problem here....

Its Hawaii

any state that gets an A- from the Brady folks is not gun user friendly. Hopefully I am wrong.
 
Taking guns to Hawaii is just a bad idea... all guns must be registered, and you're going to get hassled up and down just for having one.
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol03_Ch0121-0200D/hrs0134/HRS_0134-0003.htm

§134-3 Registration, mandatory, exceptions. (a) Every person arriving in the State who brings or by any other manner causes to be brought into the State a firearm of any description, whether usable or unusable, serviceable or unserviceable, modern or antique, shall register the firearm within three days after arrival of the person or of the firearm, whichever arrives later, with the chief of police of the county of the person's place of business or, if there is no place of business, the person's residence or, if there is neither a place of business nor residence, the person's place of sojourn. A nonresident alien may bring firearms not otherwise prohibited by law into the State for a continuous period not to exceed ninety days; provided that the person meets the registration requirement of this section and the person possesses:

(1) A valid Hawaii hunting license procured under chapter 183D, part II, or a commercial or private shooting preserve permit issued pursuant to section 183D-34;

(2) A written document indicating the person has been invited to the State to shoot on private land; or

(3) Written notification from a firing range or target shooting business indicating that the person will actually engage in target shooting.
Click to expand...
 
All advice above is good. Might I add that the best way to carry the ammo is in its original box. I have had to leave ammo behind because it was loose or in a box that did not keep ammo separated. They are most concerned about rounds bumping and grinding against each other in flight. I read one airline website that said it was alright to carry the ammo in mags. At the airport I had to empty the mags and leave the ammo behind.
 
I think the little ammo boxes that reloaders use is good too. Plastic boxes with covers that have seperations like those that store bought comes in. Good if you don't have the original box or it came in the box without one of those holders (alternating up and down).
Loose ammo is definitely a bad idea.
 
If you carry in Hawaii for protection or any other reason and get caught you are in a heap of trouble and your gun is gone.

With the registration issue I'm not sure you could even use your guns on the range if the range happens to check whether you followed proper procedures on arrival.

When you go to leave and have to declare the gun at the counter, if a PO happens to wander by and ask to see your registration and you can't produce it you have just admitted to violating the state firearms laws during your stay.

There doesn't seem to be any upside.
 
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