Concealed Carry & Re-Arming at Airport?

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Wolfpackin

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I will be traveling to S. Florida, where my CCW permit is valid, in the near future. My carry gun will be packed, and secured, in checked baggage as required by law. After doing a search here I've discovered that airport concealed carry is legal on a state by state basis in the non-secured areas, such as lobbies or baggage claim, and is OK in FL. Is that correct?

My real question is: Where should, can, I reload and holster the weapon after retreiving it from baggage claim? My concern is being in the parking lots or car rental areas unarmed. Nothing says "tourist" like renting a mini van at the airport :uhoh: . Should I just take a small bag with the gun to the bathrooms and load up in a stall?

Any good ideas?
 
I've done the bathroom stall thing, but it always seems a bit awkward. Also, I've found it's pretty hard to load a magazine, chamber a round, then top off the magazine without making all sorts of clackety sounds that carry really well in the restroom.

Lately, I've taken to rearming in the front seat while my rental warms up. At least then I can do the job w/o being paranoid about every little click.

So far I haven't been mugged walking out to the rental...so far.
 
musher,

Also, I've found it's pretty hard to load a magazine, chamber a round, then top off the magazine without making all sorts of clackety sounds that carry really well in the restroom.
Click to expand...

I've considered that...so I'm taking a revolver.

Thanks for the response!


blade5,

I'll be traveling with my wife & two boys, both under three years old, and my in-laws. Hence, the mini van.

Thanks for nothin! :evil:
 
FL laws/details...

This is an interesting subject. I was thinking how I would deal with an incident like the NASA woman going postal and attacking the other woman at OIA(Orlando's airport). OIA is under OPD(city of Orlando police) patrol and I'm not sure if legal CCW/license holders can carry/conceal loaded weapons at that point on OIA property. I'm sure the FAA or DHS(Homeland Security) have some BS federal laws about it, :cuss: .

For details about FL check the Div of Licensing's website at www.myflorida.com or go to www.handgunlaw.us . Florida's Div of Licensing has free booklets they can mail you about use-of-force/deadly force, concealed weapons, etc. :D

You may also contact www.firstgov.gov or your own state's main website.

Have a safe trip and feel free to PM me if you have any other FL related ?s.

RS :cool:
 
If it is legal to carry in the unsecured parts of the Airport then I see no problem with you loading a revolver in the restroom and then picking up your rental.

If you would be so kind, when you find out for sure can you post it here since I might be flying into FL in the summer.
 
I saw someone unholster, unload and put a gun in his bag at the ticket counter. But that was pre 9/11. He wasn't making a big scene but if you looked in his direction you could clearly see it.
 
Be careful and understand the law!

In the scenario you descibed at the ticket counter, revealing a concealed weapon in a public environment could be construed as branishing - a big no-no in Virginia - best to contact local law enforcement on how best to address the scenario on arrival.

Pk
 
brandish:
1. To wave or flourish (a weapon, for example) menacingly.
simply removing your weapon from the holster to pack it in your bag shouldnt be... but then some people would be very uncomfortable with the sight of a firearm and freak out...:(
 
As explained during the CCW course, as laid out in Virginia law, branishing a weapon will get you arrested and your weapon confiscated. The problem is that of perception.

The example used during the course - you take your initial nacho and ammo buying at Wal-Mart event. You pause to bend down to pick up a toy that fell off a lower shelf - during that motion, another shopper sees the muzzle of your CCW peering out from under your concealment garment. She / He reports you to the store manager who calls the local law enforcement folks and you're going to be running late for dinner...

The discussion got my attention.

Pk
 
As explained during the CCW course, as laid out in Virginia law, branishing a weapon will get you arrested and your weapon confiscated. The problem is that of perception.
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Someone in the Virgina Dept. of Justice needs to buy a dictionary. :rolleyes:

The word brandishing implies an intent. Someone merely seeing your holstered firearm is most certainly not brandishing. I'm sure even a court appointed lawyer with a simple desk reference set could get you off on that one.

http://dictionary.reference.com

bran·dish (brān'dĭsh)

1. To wave or flourish (a weapon, for example) menacingly.
2. To display ostentatiously. See Synonyms at flourish.


n. A menacing or defiant wave or flourish.
Click to expand...
 
I'm not a lawyer, nor did I stay in the Holiday Inn Express.

While I respectfully would agree with the dictionary quotation cited, there is a distinction between open carry and concealed carry. With a CCW, your presumed intent is to keep it concealed.

Establishing someone else's intent is not always clear. I took away two items from the CCW discussion and example used during the class:

(1) Knowledge of the law is your responsibility
(2) If you carry concealed, keep it that way unless you intend to use your weapon.

If you've had that scenario discussion with your attorney, then the rest of the folks in NC should find it comforting.

Thank you for the discussion here - it has prompted more thought and I have a few calls to make to clarify my understanding! :)
 
790.06 License to carry concealed weapon or firearm.--
...
(12) No license issued pursuant to this section shall authorize any person to carry a concealed weapon or firearm ... inside the passenger terminal and sterile area of any airport, provided that no person shall be prohibited from carrying any legal firearm into the terminal, which firearm is encased for shipment for purposes of checking such firearm as baggage to be lawfully transported on any aircraft; ...
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IANAL, but the Florida statute appears to ban carrying in the passenger terminal. It does make an exception for cased firearms being transported as baggage.
 
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Better be careful in VA guys. REsearched this a while back and CCW in the terminal building is major bad ju-ju. I don't know for sure about open carry but don't CCW in the terminal.
 
I have never had a problem checking fully loaded magazines as long as they were secured in something like a magazine pouch, case, or solid foam etc. Just pack your mags preloaded and lock and load when you get a chance. I fly around 50 - 120 flights a year and dont recall a single issue checking firearm. I have checked loaded magazines and unloaded. Read the TSA regulations they are actually pretty relaxed about ammo its the unloaded gun they are concerned about.
 
When I was assigned as airport security after 9/11, any firearm was to remain bagged and locked until you have cleared the airport concourse. We were told to detain and arrest anyone who breached these regs. So basically it was to remain bagged till you got on the tram to go to the rental car site. Hope that helps.
 
Also, I've found it's pretty hard to load a magazine, chamber a round, then top off the magazine without making all sorts of clackety sounds that carry really well in the restroom.
Click to expand...

i've yet to travel with my CCW so bear with me...

is it ok to place your gun in one locked case and the loaded mags in another locked case or does TSA insist on the mags being unloaded? Thanks!
 
In Virginia, it is illegal not only to carry firearms but also many other weapons in an airport terminal, whether open or concealed. See Va. Code 18.2-287.01.
 
To clarify my last post, this does not prohibit bringing a firearm in baggage to be checked, if in compliance with the federal regs.
 
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