Airport CCW

[Dorryn]

I have to pick up my future father-in-law from the airport later today.

Now, obviously, im not personally flying myself so I will never be going anywhere near security checkpoints. Im not trying to smuggle a weapon onto a plane. I have a valid CCW permit. But is it LEGAL for me to enter an airport with a weapon? I know you can fly with a weapon that you have checked and is "safely" stowed in the cargo hold by people who know nothing about guns... If airports are Federal property, then it is probably illegal... but then why not have a metal detector at the door?

Is the baggage pick-up area somehow verboten for firearms? You can just walk in off the street. And I know they wont CHECK me, but they might post a teeny-tiny sign that makes it a felony to walk into an airport armed. (Not that a criminal or terrorist would bother to obey such a sign, as you well know.) I dont want to break the law... but I CCW everywhere it is legal to do so.

Thoughts?

 

[TexasRifleman]

But is it LEGAL for me to enter an airport with a weapon?

Your state laws aside, it's OK to enter the airport on the "public" side while carrying. I do it all the time at DFW airport.

From a Federal standpoint you are OK.

 

[george29]

NY and Dallas may differ on this law, I would err on the side of caution. In NM we may also carry into the airport, I suggest verifying at packing.org and perhaps google.

 

[TX1911fan]

In Texas, you are prohibited only in the secure areas of the airport. Everywhere else is fine, unless posted with the proper sign.

I don't know about other states.

 

[RNB65]

Depends on state law. In VA, state law makes it illegal to enter any part of an airport terminal with a firearm. Of course, if you try to cross the security boundary into the federally controlled area of the airport, then you're violating federal law as well.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

Depends on state law. In VA, state law makes it illegal to enter any part of an airport terminal with a firearm. Of course, if you try to cross the security boundary into the federally controlled area of the airport, then you're violating federal law as well.

Are you certain it's VA state law? My understanding was that it's not against the law, but that the capital area port authority (or whatever they call themselves -- the folks who operate both Dulles and Reagan and BWI) tried to enforce that as a regulation -- and that they got shot down in court. Got a statutory cite, please?

 

[RNB65]

Got a statutory cite, please?

Sure. From the code of VA:

§ 18.2-287.01. Carrying weapon in air carrier airport terminal.

It shall be unlawful for any person to possess or transport into any air carrier airport terminal in the Commonwealth any (i) gun or other weapon designed or intended to propel a missile or projectile of any kind, (ii) frame, receiver, muffler, silencer, missile, projectile or ammunition designed for use with a dangerous weapon, and (iii) any other dangerous weapon, including explosives, tasers, stun weapons and those weapons specified in subsection A of § 18.2-308. Any such weapon shall be subject to seizure by a law-enforcement officer. A violation of this section is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor. Any weapon possessed or transported in violation of this section shall be forfeited to the Commonwealth and disposed of as provided in subsection A of § 18.2-308.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to any police officer, sheriff, law-enforcement agent or official, or game warden, or conservator of the peace employed by the air carrier airport, nor shall the provisions of this section apply to any passenger of an airline who, to the extent otherwise permitted by law, transports a lawful firearm, weapon, or ammunition into or out of an air carrier airport terminal for the sole purposes, respectively, of (i) presenting such firearm, weapon, or ammunition to U.S. Customs agents in advance of an international flight, in order to comply with federal law, (ii) checking such firearm, weapon, or ammunition with his luggage, or (iii) retrieving such firearm, weapon, or ammunition from the baggage claim area.

Any other statute, rule, regulation, or ordinance specifically addressing the possession or transportation of weapons in any airport in the Commonwealth shall be invalid, and this section shall control.

 

[Bailey Guns]

Definitely check your state laws in NY. Here in CO nothing prohibits lawful concealed carry into the non-secure area of airports.