ETCss Phil McCrackin
Member
I recently flew from Seattle-Tacoma to Dallas Love field and back again for my leave period. My Springfield 1911 was locked in a Lifejacket case and I had, as always printed out every bit of documentation I could find. (TSA Regs, Carrage requirements, Southwest rules, etc.) The initial declaration was uneventful but when I got to the TSA booth, the guy behind the counter said. "No, I'm sorry, we can't accept this. The gun can't be exposed." To which I responded, "Actually, nothing in regulation x, y, or z, indicates anything about exposure."
He promptly said that he would get his supervisor and I waited about 20min until he arrived.
The supervisor took one look at the lifejacket enclosed .45 and said the same thing, "The muzzle can't be exposed." I again responded, "Look, I know I'm that pain in the butt traveler that thinks he knows more than you do, but I have all the applicable regulations printed out right here, and the only requirements are that the firearm be in a locked, hard-sided case, and only I may retain the key. I understand what you guys are saying, but there is no, repeat, no requirement that the muzzle be enclosed." He hemmed and hawed a few minutes, until he called the TSA certification guy to the counter. This last guy took one look at the lifejacket and said, "Oh yeah, that's fine."
Now, all those guys were polite and in no way do I have a problem with any of them. I mean, how would any of us respond if someone showed up to our place of work and started telling us that we were wrong about something? But, the moral to this story is the importance of doing your homework and/or having documentation when you are in any situation where your butt may be on the line.
Dallas Love Field had no issues, this or any of the other times I have used the lifejacket as a case. Of course, neither did SEATAC until now.
He promptly said that he would get his supervisor and I waited about 20min until he arrived.
The supervisor took one look at the lifejacket enclosed .45 and said the same thing, "The muzzle can't be exposed." I again responded, "Look, I know I'm that pain in the butt traveler that thinks he knows more than you do, but I have all the applicable regulations printed out right here, and the only requirements are that the firearm be in a locked, hard-sided case, and only I may retain the key. I understand what you guys are saying, but there is no, repeat, no requirement that the muzzle be enclosed." He hemmed and hawed a few minutes, until he called the TSA certification guy to the counter. This last guy took one look at the lifejacket and said, "Oh yeah, that's fine."
Now, all those guys were polite and in no way do I have a problem with any of them. I mean, how would any of us respond if someone showed up to our place of work and started telling us that we were wrong about something? But, the moral to this story is the importance of doing your homework and/or having documentation when you are in any situation where your butt may be on the line.
Dallas Love Field had no issues, this or any of the other times I have used the lifejacket as a case. Of course, neither did SEATAC until now.