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Question:
Is TSA required to locate an airline passenger who declared a firearm in order to unlock the case for inspection?
In other words, if they want to open a locked firearm case that a passenger has in his checked luggage in order to verify compliance with packing requirements, can they just unlock the case and handle the firearm without the owner’s consent or involvement?
I was thinking they were required to page the airline passenger and have him/her unlock the case for inspection.
The reason I ask is because this morning, my wife and I flew out of Philadelphia International and I declared my Springfield XDM Elite Compact 10mm with two empty mags and 20 rounds of ammunition.
It was packed with the slide open and both mags beside the firearm. This Springfield has a notoriously stiff slide release that almost requires two hands to close the slide.
When I returned home I opened the case and found the pistol with the slide closed. No way it closed due to routine baggage handling at the airport. This is a small hard sided case with foam on top and bottom (like a pelican case) with no room for movement inside the case.
My thinking was that TSA is prohibited from opening a locked firearm case and must have the traveler open the case for inspection.
I Googled it and found one article from 2020 that reinforces my thinking but I’m still not sure or maybe the rules or laws changed.
Anyone on here have any specific knowledge regarding this subject?
Thanks.
Edit: I forgot to mention that I did open the case for the American Airlines ticket agent at check-in so she could verify that the pistol was in compliance and the slide was still locked in the open position.
Is TSA required to locate an airline passenger who declared a firearm in order to unlock the case for inspection?
In other words, if they want to open a locked firearm case that a passenger has in his checked luggage in order to verify compliance with packing requirements, can they just unlock the case and handle the firearm without the owner’s consent or involvement?
I was thinking they were required to page the airline passenger and have him/her unlock the case for inspection.
The reason I ask is because this morning, my wife and I flew out of Philadelphia International and I declared my Springfield XDM Elite Compact 10mm with two empty mags and 20 rounds of ammunition.
It was packed with the slide open and both mags beside the firearm. This Springfield has a notoriously stiff slide release that almost requires two hands to close the slide.
When I returned home I opened the case and found the pistol with the slide closed. No way it closed due to routine baggage handling at the airport. This is a small hard sided case with foam on top and bottom (like a pelican case) with no room for movement inside the case.
My thinking was that TSA is prohibited from opening a locked firearm case and must have the traveler open the case for inspection.
I Googled it and found one article from 2020 that reinforces my thinking but I’m still not sure or maybe the rules or laws changed.
Anyone on here have any specific knowledge regarding this subject?
Thanks.
Edit: I forgot to mention that I did open the case for the American Airlines ticket agent at check-in so she could verify that the pistol was in compliance and the slide was still locked in the open position.
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