Thats a load of ****! Federal laws are supposed to protect you when you are transporting your firearms. Just like the guy in NJ arrested at the airport for having hollowpoints cause his flight got deverted into NJ. Spent the weekend in Jail. NRA is filing a 3 million dollar lawsuit on his behalf. And why did the TSA joker have to get a officer for? You followed prescribed laws.
The Firearm Owner's Protection Act (18 USC §926A) only protects if you can legally possess the weapon at both points of your journey. Unless the poster rangermonroe could demonstrate that his trip started elsewhere (e.g. somewhere up Rt. 7 in Vermont) then there was nothing s**ty about what happened at the airport.
Like it or not, New York is the only state in the union where you need a license to simply possess a handgun, even if you otherwise eligible to purchase and possess one under Federal law.
While New York tried to hassle out of state gun owners who drove to NY-area airports (particularly at JFK, LaGuardia and Albany airports), they've been warned by the US Attorney General and this seems to have come to an end. If you hunt around (I haven't posted on this board in a while) I am sure that you can find a copy of the letter from the office of the AG about this.
As for police checking licenses at the airport, this is a common occurence at just about every airport in the state. When I flew out of Islip to go to Florida, the counter girl had to radio for the Town of Islip police to do a weapons check. Not because they're looking to arrest someone, but it's against the law for the counter agent to handle my pistols. Of course, they asked to see my shield or a pistol license the moment they arrived.
Even though we are drifting way off-topic, you would think that someone from out of state would try the "Dred Scott" argument in a federal court -- even though you need a license to possess handguns in New York, the process is cumbersome, not instant (the law allows for and it frequently takes 6 months in many parts of the state), and failure to comply can result in a lengthy prison sentence (possession outside of your home or business, concealed or otherwise, is a felony). Since there is no way for non-residents to possess their pistols in New York (beyond transportation, sanctioned matches, and as part of gun exhibitions) for any meaningful period of time, they are being deprived of a constitutional right *and* their property.
Even states like NJ offer owner ID cards to non-residents to cover technical problems with non-sporting possession, so NY is virtually alone.
But hey, everyone's perspective is different -- I look at some of the restrictions in free states (e.g, no churches, bars, banks, restaurants that serve booze, etc.) and think that it's crazy.
in an airport terminal!
