TSA approved padlock and flying with gun

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Gildas

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I have a TSA certified ("Travel Sentry") luggage lock that basically is a combination lock with a slot for a skeleton key which supposedly only the TSA has. It is designed so that you can lock your luggage but allow the TSA to getin if they need to.

Leaving aside questions about the efficacy or otherwise of the TSA and likelihood of the TSA being the only ones to own such keys, my question is would such a lock be legal if used to secure a cased firearm on a plane journey or would the fact that it was not solely openable by me make it insufficient to meet the relevant regulation?

I'm not planning on going anywhere right now, just wondering for the future before I open this thing whether I will end up needing to buy somthing else if I ever travel with a firearm.
 
This has been discussed before. In my opinion, a TSA lock is not appropriate* for the inside case. Use a standard combo or key lock(s) and put the TSA lock on the outer suitcase.


*Many will debate the legality of this, but there is no good reason to use a TSA lock on the inner hard case.
 
*Many will debate the legality of this, but there is no good reason to use a TSA lock on the inner hard case.

If they do they are crazy.

I'd agree with HB, it's clearly the wrong thing to use.

From the FAQ at their website:

.....you provide the key or combination to the security officer if he or she needs to open the container. You should remain present during screening to take the key back after the container is cleared.
 
I completely agree with the above that a TSA lock does not meet the requirements. There are others here that disagree.
 
Guess what, it doesn't matter what lock you use. They know how to pick all of them. A guy posting on another forum found a little 'love note' from the TSA inside his gun case...that was locked with a non-TSA Master. I had the same note inside my bag, but not the case.

Personally I just used a TSA lock on my Pelican case. He asked me to open it, poked around a bit with a few questions and that was it.

When I got to my destination, some TSA tape was around my ammo case and the bag was set aside from the normal ones coming out of the conveyor belt. I sat there for 45 minutes wondering where the $#@ my bag was.
 
They have done some social engineering on their website to make it look like its a requirement you hand over your key or combo. I can't remember the exact wording of the laws covering this but when TSA ask you to hand over your keys or combo they are in violation of their own regulations and Federal law.

DO NOT use a TSA lock on your gun case. I have a TSA key. It came in the lock I bought. Might have been a mistake but...
 
Title 49: Transportation
PART 1540—CIVIL AVIATION SECURITY: GENERAL RULES

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 114, 5103, 40113, 44901–44907, 44913–44914, 44916–44918, 44935–44936, 44942, 46105. Source: 67 FR 8353, Feb. 22, 2002, unless otherwise noted.

Subpart B—Responsibilities of Passengers and Other Individuals and Persons
§ 1540.111 Carriage of weapons, explosives, and incendiaries by individuals.
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(a) On an individual's person or accessible property—prohibitions. Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, an individual may not have a weapon, explosive, or incendiary, on or about the individual's person or accessible property—

(1) When performance has begun of the inspection of the individual's person or accessible property before entering a sterile area, or before boarding an aircraft for which screening is conducted under this subchapter;

(2) When the individual is entering or in a sterile area; or

(3) When the individual is attempting to board or onboard an aircraft for which screening is conducted under §§1544.201, 1546.201, or 1562.23 of this chapter.

(b) On an individual's person or accessible property—permitted carriage of a weapon. Paragraph (a) of this section does not apply as to carriage of firearms and other weapons if the individual is one of the following:

(1) Law enforcement personnel required to carry a firearm or other weapons while in the performance of law enforcement duty at the airport.

(2) An individual authorized to carry a weapon in accordance with §§1544.219, 1544.221, 1544.223, 1546.211, or subpart B of part 1562 of this chapter.

(3) An individual authorized to carry a weapon in a sterile area under a security program.

(c) In checked baggage. A passenger may not transport or offer for transport in checked baggage or in baggage carried in an inaccessible cargo hold under §1562.23 of this chapter:

(1) Any loaded firearm(s).

(2) Any unloaded firearm(s) unless—

(i) The passenger declares to the aircraft operator, either orally or in writing, before checking the baggage, that the passenger has a firearm in his or her bag and that it is unloaded;

(ii) The firearm is unloaded;

(iii) The firearm is carried in a hard-sided container; and

(iv) The container in which it is carried is locked, and only the passenger retains the key or combination.

(3) Any unauthorized explosive or incendiary.

(d) Ammunition. This section does not prohibit the carriage of ammunition in checked baggage or in the same container as a firearm. Title 49 CFR part 175 provides additional requirements governing carriage of ammunition on aircraft.

[67 FR 8353, Feb. 22, 2002, as amended at 67 FR 41639, June 19, 2002; 70 FR 41600, July 19, 2005; 71 FR 30507, May 26, 2006]
 
I don't see why not a TSA lock. All of these locks are easily compromised anyway if someone has bolt cutters, hack saw or the know how to pick one. Maybe on some of the actual "gun vaults", but a generic aluminum case or even a pelican case would be opened in a short time by a determined individual with basic tools.

If someone crawls down into the belly of the plane to access a firearm he can do it within minutes. Let's not fool ourselves here, 99% of all locks and cases are only going to keep honest people honest anyway. Just follow the rules and don't worry about it.
 
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