Before the Check Point - Traveling with your Firearm

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Bringing a firearm through a TSA passenger screening checkpoint is a violation of TSA security regulations.  Discovery of a firearm results in significant disruptions to the screening checkpoint and puts the traveling public, law enforcement, TSA employees and other airport and airline personnel at risk.

PREPARE - Know what you can and cannot bring to the airport before you begin packing.  Please review the list of prohibited items on Tsa.gov to ensure you have a seamless experience at the security checkpoint.  Remember, firearms are never allowed to travel through the passenger screening checkpoint.  Firearms may only be transported in checked baggage.

PACK - If you are planning to travel with a firearm, ensure it is completely unloaded and packed in a locked, hard sided case before coming to the airport.  Only the passenger may retain the key or lock combination.  Small arms ammunition not exceeding .75 caliber for a rifle or pistol, magazines, and shotgun shells of any gauge may be carried inside a magazine or container in the same hard sided case as the firearm but never stored in the firearm itself.  Locked cases that can easily be opened do not meet the requirements for transporting in checked baggage and are not permitted.  Passengers may use any brand or type of lock to secure the case, including TSA-recognized locks.  Under no circumstances will TSA open a firearm contained.  In the event a firearm is improperly packed the passenger will be notified by the airline to return to the ticket counter and the firearm will not be allowed to travel until the correction is made.

DECLARE - Firearms and ammunition are prohibited at TSA passenger screening checkpoints.  If you are traveling with a firearm, you must take it directly to the airline ticket counter and declare it to the counter agent.  If the firearm is a pistol in a small, hard sided case that is contained within another piece of checked luggage, the airline must place the declaration form on top of or within immediate proximity of the case.  If the firearm is in a long gun case, not contained within another piece of checked luggage, the declaration tag should be placed inside the case with the firearm.  Airlines may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.  TSA recommends travelers contact their airline for carriage policies prior to arriving at the airport. 

PASSENGER RESPONSIBILITIES - When a passenger is discovered with a firearm at a TSA passenger screening checkpoint, transportation security officers will stop screening and contact local law enforcement.  Local law enforcement will take control of the property, verify and secure the firearm and process the passenger in accordance with local laws.  In addition to law enforcement action, TSA fines passengers who bring firearms to a TSA checkpoint with a civil penalty up to about $15,000 removes the passengers TSA PreCheck eligibility for at least five years, and may refer the matter for federal prosecution.  

States and localities, airlines and foreign countries have their own regulations and laws concerning the possession for firearms.  Prior to departure passengers are responsible for learning and following application firearm laws, regulations, and policies from the airline, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and all local authorities at arrival and departure locations.