Flying with Firearms
Tips on Air Travel and Shipping Firearms


NEWTOWN, Conn. –-(Ammoland.com)- NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane passes along information on relevant issues related to airline travel with firearms.
Disclose to the carrier if contents includes a firearm or ammunition.
I read a case about an individual who was criminally prosecuted by the federal government for shipping two guns and some ammunition via a common carrier. The federal government also seized and forfeited the firearms and ammo. Why? Because he “knowingly” failed to disclose to the carrier in writing that the contents of the package contained firearms and ammo. He violated Section 922(e) of the Gun Control Act. So, I thought this would be a good “teaching lesson” for all of us who may, for example, ship a firearm to ourselves for an event rather than check the firearm as luggage.
But you MUST declare the contents to the common carrier in writing (on the carrier’s form, check the box/fill in the line).
It is a crime to “knowingly to deliver or cause to be delivered to any common or contract carrier for transportation or shipment . . . to persons other than a licensed [importer, manufacturer, dealers, or collector], 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.”
Name on airline reservations and picture ID must be identical.
An important new change is taking place for everyone who travels. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has launched a program called “Secure Flight,” which will require travelers to provide their full name as it appears on the government-issued identification they will be traveling with (i.e. passport, driver’s license) when making airline reservations. With this change, you will no longer be able to travel under an abbreviated name or nickname (i.e. Scott vs. W. Scott, Liz vs. Elizabeth or Bill vs. William).
This change in airline procedure may affect you and require you to make changes to how your name appears in your travel documents including profiles with your travel agency.
About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 5,500 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.