Flying to DC area with handgun

Status
Not open for further replies.
A

Alex45ACP

Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2005
Messages
1,464
Location
USA
I'm flying into one of the DC area airports (Reagan, BWI or Dulles) and want to bring a Glock 19, mags and hollowpoint ammo in my checked baggage. Other than following the airline and TSA rules, are there any other laws I should be aware of?

Normally I wouldn't worry too much about it but I expect there to be more hysteria than usual at the airports in this area. I know they have very strict laws in MD and DC. Reagan and Dulles are both in Virginia (and I have a FL CWL which has reciprocity in VA) so I will probably try to book my flights in and out of one of those airports, but if I have to go through BWI (Maryland) are there any extra precautions I should take?
 
VA airports shouldn't be a problem, but I wouldn't cross into DC or MD on a bet unless my qualification was current for LEOSA carry...

DC could/would nail you on ammo possession alone, let alone the handgun. MD could probably get you on transporting a handgun, even in luggage, unless you are attending a shooting event there...

Nick
 
Double check that Reagan National is not under the regulation of the District of Columbia. It makes a big difference.
 
Didn't even think of that, thanks for bringing it up. I will try to book both flights through Dulles just to be on the safe side.
 
First of all, DC and Maryland aren't even on the same page when it comes to gun laws. In DC, a single shell casing is a felony. 'Nuff said. If I were you, I'd avoid DC at all costs and just fly into BWI.

Once in BWI, collect your gear as you would any other time, and put it in your trunk. Ammo and guns can be in the same case, just not loaded into mags or in guns. *Edit* Mags CAN be loaded. Whoopsie.

When you leave the airport, go directly to your final location. Transport laws in MD allow you to transport from your residence to a range, gunshop, gunsmith, or "privately organized exhibition". This means that your drive from the airport to your family's place would technically be against the law. HOWEVER - if you drive decently and don't give anyone a reason to pull you over, you'll be fine. And even if you are pulled over, MD cops are generally pretty laid back. I've been pulled over by cops for various things before, and ended up talking guns for a bit before they let me go. Explain what you're doing, and that you're headed directly there, and you'll likely get off with a warning at most.

As for ammo - we don't care. Hollow-points are legal.

Have a good trip!
 
Last edited:
kingpin008 said:
In DC, a single shell casing is a felony.
Click to expand...

Really? Are you sure?

If you have brass casings in your car in DC you are in trouble? Also, by extension, ammo is also a problem?
 
From http://koehlerlaw.net/drug-offense/weapons/:


Unlawful Possession of Ammunition (UA): It is illegal to possess ammunition in the District of Columbia unless the person is: (1) a licensed dealer, (2) a federal or city law enforcement officer acting within scope of duties, or (3) holder of a valid registration certificate of same gauge and caliber as ammunition in possession. It is also illegal to possess, sell or transfer any “large capacity ammunition feeding device.” A person guilty of this charge can be sentenced to a maximum fine of $1000 and/or up to a year imprisonment. D.C. Criminal Code 7-2506.01.

There ya go. And regarding shell casings - DC police seem to regard empty casings as "ammunition".
 
Last edited:
Double check that Reagan National is not under the regulation of the District of Columbia. It makes a big difference.
Click to expand...
It's not. Most of the cops you'll see will be Arlington County, VA.
 
wow. oh wow.

I need to go through my car then. There is always ammo there. I keep my ammo separate from my gun box (to keep weight down, and space is an issue in the box of course).

I always keep track of the box, but I never gave a thought to the ammo/targets/etc. bags.

Thanks for the heads up.

(oh, and the obligatory "DC laws are even more pathetic and simple-minded than I thought") :)
 
Yeah me too, I always find casings after I go shooting; take it out of my pocket and put it in the cup holder.
 
I flew in to DCA, claimed my baggage, and carried in VA without issue. Going back home is kind of a different story. I flew us airways, and the ticketing agent had no idea about a checked firearm in luggage. I told her to give me a firearms declaration tag, and then TSA wanted to verify that my gun was unloaded. He was pretty insistent of having my key to "inspect" it, but he did not even know how to check if it was unloaded without me giving him instructions. I had ammo and handgun in the same lockable case, and cable locked it to the inside of my duffel bag.
 
I see the pdf showing that loaded mags in the car is okay in MD. Thanks for that.

However, I can't find anything about ammo in cars in DC being okay. I found a link that indicates some guy was arrested for ammo in his home, which was overturned according to this link. http://volokh.com/2010/11/04/d-c-s-highest-court-holds-ammunition-ban-violates-second-amendment/

(However, it seems it is for ammo in the house only. And that ammo must be only for a gun that is registered and that you are allowed to have in DC)
 
That is the case I was referring to. I agree it seems to address possession in the home. I do not know about a vehicle. The Court explained that the ruling explicitly addressed ammo in the home for a properly registered gun.I said, avoid DC at all costs.
 
Last edited:
I've flown in and out of Dulles with firearms a number of times. I haven't had any problems, although they are a little more thorough than other airports--they always seem to want to hand-search a bag with firearms once it has been through the X-ray. Everyone I've encountered seems to regard checking firearms as routine though.

Just wait to load your firearms until you're out of the airport rather than doing it in the airport bathroom--carry is illegal even in non-sterile areas of airports per Virginia law.
 
swinokur said:
Check www.handgunlaw.us to see if you can carry on the Dulles toll road. IIRC it's WMATA property and is prohibited.

Be safe
Click to expand...
I don't think WMATA can restrict carry due to Virginia's preemption of firearms laws. As far as I am aware, you can even carry on the Virginia portion of Metrorail.
 
1. Reagan National Airport, is located in Va., and under the authority of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, not Arlington County. Aside from the TSA rules regarding firearms on airports property, everything else falls under the Preemption Code of Virginia., where open carry is the law of the land, concealed handgun carry is possible by permit. The same applies to Dulles International Airport.

2. The Dulles Toll Road is intermittently patrolled by the Virginia State Police, The US Park Police, and occasionally Fairfax County Va. Police.

3. Don't even think of bringing a firearm of ANY type, into the confines of the District of Columbia. Or ammo, empty brass, primers, powders, or bullets. All of it carries a felony possession charge, and the zealously pursue them in the city courts.

4. Maryland is a slightly different animal - while it's considerately more strict than Va., it's not as tight assed as DC. I know that in the past, I have travelled to coworkers houses to go shooting, but have had to unconceal, unload, and basically do the Border Hokey-Pokey just to go into MD. They have a law which basically states that if you're travelling to a known range or event, you may bring your firearms unloaded in your car, not conceal on your person, and go shoot.

There have been several instances cited above - From our own Senator Webb, to a southern Baptist minister, and ordinary citizens who have been carrying in DC in the past, and been 'detained'. I hate having to disarm to go to work, but unfortunately, it's the current law, and I like buying/owning firearms too much to get caught violating it...

Good Luck,

-tc
 
I
don't think WMATA can restrict carry due to Virginia's preemption of firearms laws. As far as I am aware, you can even carry on the Virginia portion of Metrorail
Click to expand...

I think at one time handgun law had a warning about the Toll Road and Federal Property. I see it's gone so I guess preemption overrides any other regs.

If you are going to a legal shooting event in MD, the weapon must be unloaded and in an enclosed holster or case. See MD 4-203
 
I've included information below from the Virginia Citizens Defense League homepage regarding the GW Parkway and several smaller roads immediately north of Reagan National Airport (DCA) between Theodore Roosevelt Bridge and the 14th Street Bridge being in DC. Until I read this I would not have thought this was the case as it was land on what I had thought to be the Virginia side of the Potomac River.
The airport may or may not be a problem, but the drive home could be if you pick the wrong road...


"Now that gun carry in National Parks is governed by the substantive law of the state which encompasses the National Park, we expect many Virginia residents as well as visitors will choose to exercise their right to carry as they drive the George Washington Parkway.

As illustrated on the above map, there is a small portion of the GW Parkway which actually runs through DC. Consequently, those carrying firearms would subject themselves to arrest and prosecution under DC's draconian gun laws if stopped on this short stretch of highway."
 
CZsp01 said:
Yeah me too, I always find casings after I go shooting; take it out of my pocket and put it in the cup holder.
Click to expand...
Yup have had that happen many times. They just fly into your pocket at the range. Especially if you wear a coat because it is cold. Make sure you are not carrying that into DC. :D
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

A
  • Locked
traveling with firearms and Flying into Dulles,DC
Replies
7
Views
484
admar2
A
C
  • Locked
NRA Stabs Virginia Gun Owner's in the Back
Replies
4
Views
1K
MicroBalrog
M
BigSteve57
  • Locked
Recent experience flying with firearms
2 3
Replies
53
Views
4K
Elkins45
Elkins45
I
  • Locked
WASHDC Airport Areas: Guns/Carry LEGAL on Dec 1, 2004
Replies
1
Views
446
Billmanweh
B
D
  • Locked
Transporting a gun through DC and Maryland
Replies
16
Views
1K
DaddioDan
D
Back
Top