Any Issues Flying with Pre-Ban 17rd pistol mags at Denver Airport

[Evergreen]

I am going to be moving to Denver, Colorado and leaving my car at the airport as I will be driving from Charlotte, where I live now. I do know that Colorado has there high-cap magazine ban and that it applies to all magazines manufactured after the date the ban went into effect. However, I purchased my S&W M&P 9mm and have 2 spare mags before the magazine ban went into effect. My worry is that when I go to the airport to check it with TSA that I may either get hassled by an ignorant officer, whether it be a TSA agent, themselves or the local Denver police for having a magazine over 15 rounds.

I'm wondering if anyone thinks I could run into any problems when I go to the check-in? When I flew from Charlotte, NC to Seattle, WA I had no problem at all checking in my gun and I think I know the whole process now. However, I've never flown out from Denver or Colorado and not sure what kind of hassle I can run into, especially from ignorant police or agents. I cannot assume my smooth TSA check-in Charlotte could be the same way at Denver.

I do have a S&W M&P 45 that use to be my only carry gun and only has 10 rd capacity. I thought about leaving my 9mm behind and just bringing the S&W M&P 45, that way I won't have to worry about it. However, I'd just like to hear other people's experiences if they ever were in this situation and what they think about flying with checked firearms from Denver International, in general.

Thank you.

 

[BSA1]

Anything is possible with TSA. I had a very negative interaction with them once that frankly I expected to have been detained over. Talk about someone with a little authority overreacting.

I have a metal replacement knee that I expect to get a lot of harassment over when we fly to Maryland during Thanksgiving. I have already printed the medical disability card from the TSA website and I am calling ahead to request the assistance of a Passenger Support Specialist (PSS).

Is USPS Priority Mail to your new residence or employer a possibility?

 

[CapnMac]

I'm just a dude on the internet.
What you need is someone with Colorado legal experience. And, specifically, expereince proximate to Denver, the airport, and its surrounds.
It's my understanding that Colorado rules are a hdogepodge, with some of the cities being different than the State; and the State stuff being complicated enough as is.

As to TSA, their primary concern is at the boarding airport, not the destination airport. Despite being federal employees, they are entirely local; so local is what they know. Just because TSA in Charlotte lets you on the plane does not mean you are "legal" at the other end.

Which is why you need somebody qualified to cite CO, and Dnver metro, laws, regs, and rules. Note, this is unlikely to be LE, they have their own concerns.

 

[Evergreen]

I appreciate people's responses. I have to say that there is nothing illegal by Colorado law about my S&W M&P 9mm or the magazines. In fact, I still have the GunBroker receipt for when I won the bid on the NIB pistol w/ 2 magazines + 3 bonus magazines from S&W in 2010, which is before the 2013 ban. I think, it may be a good idea for me to print this receipt out, just for the heck of it. I will be carrying this gun in my car concealed, which is legal by Colorado law. I have, in fact contacted various Colorado sheriffs and read the DOJ website and confirm that it is legal for even non-CHL/non-reciprocal CHL holders to conceal carry as long as you are in your vehicle. However, if I do bump into some crazy anti-gun cop in Denver, if I have the receipt to show with the mags, hopefully it will be an extra layer of security. There is enough of a paper trail of this gun, if they decide to try to screw with me. After all, if they blatantly violate their own laws, laws will eventually cease to exist. Of course, the city of Boulder, Colorado has yet to get that concept with their illegal , unconstitutional (by state law) Assault Weapon Ban.

With all that being said, I think I will take what you guys say to heart. WHo knows what kind of nutty TSA agent I will have. Just because the TSA agent in CHarlotte was so kind and polite to me, doesn't mean I won't get a nutjob who will haul me away in handcuffs because he just is having a bad day or just hates gun owners or guys who like to "legally" check their guns into the flight.

I think I will try two different options. One, while I am in Colorado I may see if I Can purchase some 15 round magazines for my S&W M&P 9mm.. I have been told they sell them in Colorado somewhere, I think. If that is not possible, then I will leave a couple 17 rd mags back home and store my 17 round mags I brought with me in Colorado.. I do have a place I will be storing my guns in Colorado, so most of my guns will not be coming back to North Caorlina, just my CCW(s). I also have my S&W M&P 45 I will bring with me and it is 10rd capacity, so it should not be an issue.

I appreciate people's help. I may also call some gun stores in Colorado and ask if they had any experiences flying with guns w/pre-ban mags. I have found people at Colorado gun shops pretty friendly and honest about this stuff. They don't like their customers getting hauled away in handcuffs.

One way or another though, I will try to avoid flying with the 17rd mags out of Denver International. Most experiences I read online though about dealings with Denver International have been positive and without hassle. It is New York, New Jersey and a few other "2A restricted" states that seem to have the largest number of horror stories I am reading.

 

[MachIVshooter]

TSA is a federal airpoirt security agency (hard to say that with a straight face, but I digress...); as long as your firearm is being transported according to the federal regulations (properly declared, unloaded and in a locked container), they really don't care what it is. They're not ATF, and they have no business with state and local laws.

As for state and local LE, they really couldn't care less. To my knowledge, exactly one person has been charged under that law about 3 years ago, and it was a pile-on later used in plea bargaining his case. Some shops will break magazines down into "repair kits" before sale, but many don't even bother. There's zero enforcement, and it was sheriffs in the state who participated in filing suit challenging the ban.

 

[Evergreen]

TSA is a federal airpoirt security agency (hard to say that with a straight face, but I digress...); as long as your firearm is being transported according to the federal regulations (properly declared, unloaded and in a locked container), they really don't care what it is. They're not ATF, and they have no business with state and local laws.

As for state and local LE, they really couldn't care less. To my knowledge, exactly one person has been charged under that law about 3 years ago, and it was a pile-on later used in plea bargaining his case. Some shops will break magazines down into "repair kits" before sale, but many don't even bother. There's zero enforcement, and it was sheriffs in the state who participated in filing suit challenging the ban.

Thanks MachIVShooter for your post.. I am glad to hear from somebody in Colorado. I have heard that this mag ban is hardly enforced and that there has hardly even been any arrests over it. Maybe, I will just go to the airport and not worry about it. As you say, most TSA guys are just there to make sure you are abiding by the federal regulations. The last TSA agent praised me for how prepared I was. I have hard Cabelas (Pelican like) case , two locks and also put gun cabela locks through both firearms I put in the case and the ammo I was travelling with in hard case. The agent even thanked me. I also have an additional bike style cable lock I attach the case to the suitcase for additional security, so somebody cannot quickly just grab the case.

I guess I always have a bit of anxiety though being at an airport and having to deal with law enforcement, especially if the city has some type of gun and magazine bans in place. Another question could be how do people fly with their AR-15s out of Denver International Airport with Denver's AWB in place? However, I was told there is safety of passage laws even in COlorado that forbid Denver for penalizing people traveling with their "banned firearms" ANd, again, I have heard anyone has yet to even register any of their "Assault Weapons" with the city of Denver, despite their AWB that pre-dated the pre-emption laws in the state. However, that is whole other subject, but also crossed my mind..

 

[Dr.Rob]

You move here you can bring any property you have. Specifically exempted.

 

[Stubert]

Why don't you UPS them to your new location?