jimpeel
Member
Well, I won a gun battle but not the kind with flying lead. I won a battle of the type we, here, fight every day.
I went to CA on a flight out of DIA, Denver and took my firearm with me. I went to the ticket counter and satisfied the person there that it was unloaded, signed the obligatory safety orange "FIREARM(S) UNLOADED" tag and was told to procede to TSA with the nice lady who had taken possession of the bag I had just relocked.
She stated that they would need the key and I told her that I would not relenquish it. She told us to follow her to the area where they do the inspections and we did.
When we got there, a man in TSA garb told me they would need the key and I told him that if I gave it to him we would both be felons so I would not do so pursuant to TSA regulations. I showed him the regs I had brought with me and he asked where I got them. I said "From the TSA webpage." He said he would have to call a supervisor and I agreed. I also told him I had all day (that being 1 3/4 hours but he didn't know that) and that we could look up the regulations if need be.
He went back inside and I heard him relay the above to someone else. I did give them the key to the suitcase but told them that I would not relenquish the gun case key.
A few minutes later, a very nice gentleman appeared and told me that they needed the key to do the inspection. I showed him the regs and told him that there has been quite a bit of discussion on the gun boards about the TSA officers at airports violating the law and thus causing us to be in violation as well. I told him that if I were to give him the key, he would be committing a federal felony for taking it and I would be committing a federal felony for handing it to him.
I illustrated the problem by using the combination number as an example. I told him that if I were to be in possession of the combination and gave it to him, how do I get it back? "Now you have it, he has it, your wife has it, everyone has it; and it is out of the very control the law was enacted to prevent."
He got the point.
I then told him that if he were to hold the box and I would turn the key that would be acceptable to me. He stated that that would also work for him.
He got the box, held it up, and I unlocked it. He then took it to the table and instructed the inspector to complete his inspection, close the box, and hold it for me to relock it. This he did and we all parted friends.
I gave the copy I had of the regs to the supervisor and told him that I was not trying to yank his chain or be a p---k. I was merely trying to stay in compliance.
He stated that he understood and that he was going to have some discussion about this with his superiors as well. He asked about the regs and I pointed out the code sections for him and told him to look them up in the hard copy just to be sure. He assured me that he would and thanked me for the information and my cooperation.
We caught our flight without further incident and all in all it was a pleasant trip.
What needs to happen is for the law to be modified to read "With the exception of momentary periods wherein the TSA inspectors may take possession of the key or combination of the locked case for inspection purposes ..." if this were to be done, we would be protected and so would they. I had no problem with the inspection, I had a problem with the violation being forced upon me.
I think I will call my legislator when I get back and see what can be done about this as it is unacceptable as it is now written. I don't want to go to jail for the lack of a simple amendment that could have prevented it.
I went to CA on a flight out of DIA, Denver and took my firearm with me. I went to the ticket counter and satisfied the person there that it was unloaded, signed the obligatory safety orange "FIREARM(S) UNLOADED" tag and was told to procede to TSA with the nice lady who had taken possession of the bag I had just relocked.
She stated that they would need the key and I told her that I would not relenquish it. She told us to follow her to the area where they do the inspections and we did.
When we got there, a man in TSA garb told me they would need the key and I told him that if I gave it to him we would both be felons so I would not do so pursuant to TSA regulations. I showed him the regs I had brought with me and he asked where I got them. I said "From the TSA webpage." He said he would have to call a supervisor and I agreed. I also told him I had all day (that being 1 3/4 hours but he didn't know that) and that we could look up the regulations if need be.
He went back inside and I heard him relay the above to someone else. I did give them the key to the suitcase but told them that I would not relenquish the gun case key.
A few minutes later, a very nice gentleman appeared and told me that they needed the key to do the inspection. I showed him the regs and told him that there has been quite a bit of discussion on the gun boards about the TSA officers at airports violating the law and thus causing us to be in violation as well. I told him that if I were to give him the key, he would be committing a federal felony for taking it and I would be committing a federal felony for handing it to him.
I illustrated the problem by using the combination number as an example. I told him that if I were to be in possession of the combination and gave it to him, how do I get it back? "Now you have it, he has it, your wife has it, everyone has it; and it is out of the very control the law was enacted to prevent."
He got the point.
I then told him that if he were to hold the box and I would turn the key that would be acceptable to me. He stated that that would also work for him.
He got the box, held it up, and I unlocked it. He then took it to the table and instructed the inspector to complete his inspection, close the box, and hold it for me to relock it. This he did and we all parted friends.
I gave the copy I had of the regs to the supervisor and told him that I was not trying to yank his chain or be a p---k. I was merely trying to stay in compliance.
He stated that he understood and that he was going to have some discussion about this with his superiors as well. He asked about the regs and I pointed out the code sections for him and told him to look them up in the hard copy just to be sure. He assured me that he would and thanked me for the information and my cooperation.
We caught our flight without further incident and all in all it was a pleasant trip.
What needs to happen is for the law to be modified to read "With the exception of momentary periods wherein the TSA inspectors may take possession of the key or combination of the locked case for inspection purposes ..." if this were to be done, we would be protected and so would they. I had no problem with the inspection, I had a problem with the violation being forced upon me.
I think I will call my legislator when I get back and see what can be done about this as it is unacceptable as it is now written. I don't want to go to jail for the lack of a simple amendment that could have prevented it.
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So if someone else had picked the thing up and walked out with it they would have gotten a firearm in the deal and the TSA would have "put a gun on the street".
