Erik, I have worked for the FAA at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center headquarters in Oklahoma City, twice, on contracts, though the most recent was in 1991. At that time there were no regs regarding loaded firearms in the UNSECURED area of an airport. I am unable to find any current regs. In fact federal law makes no differentiation between a loaded or unloaded gun except that it requires the firearm to be unloaded when surrendered to the contract carrier for transportation. The MMAC is federal property and it is generally illegal to carry concealed on federal property for illegal purposes, but an airport terminal is NOT federal property. It usually is the property of the city which the airport serves.
This is the law that I know of:
TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 44 > Sec. 930. Prev
Sec. 930. - Possession of firearms and dangerous weapons in Federal facilities
(a) Except as provided in subsection (d), whoever knowingly possesses or causes to be present a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a Federal facility (other than a Federal court facility), or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.
Subsection (d) that is the exception:
(d) Subsection (a) shall not apply to -
(3) the lawful carrying of firearms or other dangerous weapons in a Federal facility incident to hunting or other lawful purposes.
This is also the reason that you can carry a firearm into a postal facility. Of course you can, otherwise you wouldn't be able to mail a firearm. The only way this can be construed to not permit concealed carry is if the stance of the federal govt is that self defense with a firearm is not lawful. That is NOT true.
If what that DOT SA knew what he was talking about then it would be illegal to take a gun into an airport to transport it in checked baggage. See my response below to spankaveli for the law pertaining to contract carriers.
If there is a federal law then find it here and tell me where it is:
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/
spankaveli, firearms are transported in checked baggage following FAA regs and USC Title 18, Sec. 922, (e) (an airline is a contract carrier)
(e) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to deliver or cause to be delivered to any common or contract carrier for transportation or shipment in interstate or foreign commerce, to persons other than licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, or licensed collectors, any package or other container in which there is any firearm or ammunition without written notice to the carrier that such firearm or ammunition is being transported or shipped; except that any passenger who owns or legally possesses a firearm or ammunition being transported aboard any common or contract carrier for movement with the passenger in interstate or foreign commerce may deliver said firearm or ammunition into the custody of the pilot, captain, conductor or operator of such common or contract carrier for the duration of the trip without violating any of the provisions of this chapter. No common or contract carrier shall require or cause any label, tag, or other written notice to be placed on the outside of any package, luggage, or other container that such package, luggage, or other container contains a firearm.
I load in the baggage claim bathroom. The entrances to the terminal are posted, BUT only from the front of the terminal. I have yet to see a 'no concealed carry sign', or 30.06 sign in Texas, when I come down the jet way at the gate nor in the baggage claim area. Therefore, under Texas law it is not considered posted because I am entering the terminal through an unposted entrance.
Heat Miser, you are in for a treat if flying out of Chicago. Since you must declare the guns you will be escorted into a room with an airline rep and two Chicago police officers. Handguns are illegal in Chicago, but you are covered by the FOPA '86 codified as USC Title 18, Sec 926A.
