U.S.A. –-(Ammoland.com)- An airline passenger organization used the anniversary 9/11 to push for new regulations that would ban ammunition in checked luggage.
FlyersRights.org, which claims to be the largest US airline passenger organization with 40,000 members called on Trump to close the “ammunition loophole.” The group claims that ammunition in checked bags could lead to more 9/11 style attacks in the future.
During flights, checked bags are not accessible to passengers on planes. The 9/11 terrorists used box cutters to take over the airplanes. The Al-Qaeda members used the aircraft to attack the World Trade Center Twin Towers, and the Pentagon. Passengers resisted the hijacking of a third plane that crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
“We are alarmed that the Trump Administration is hiding and failing to correct past inadequacies and compounding them by pursuing newly misguided policies,” said Paul Hudson, President of FlyersRights.org. “Ignoring and hiding a rulemaking petition filed by FlyersRights.org in 2017 to fix the ammunition loophole that allows and even encourages carrying of guns and ammunition with no added security in checked baggage.”
The advocacy group pointed to the shooting in January 2017 at the Fort Lauderdale airport in the baggage claim area of Terminal 2. Esteban Santiago-Ruiz, an ISIS influenced combat veteran, suffering from schizophrenia shot and killed five people and wounded six others. Santiago-Ruiz used a Walther PPS 9mm semi-automatic pistol.
FlyersRights.org falsely claims that Santiago-Ruiz used an automatic firearm in the attack and further took issue with the fact that the TSA didn't ban firearms and ammunition together in bags the days after the rampage. They even claimed that the TSA was encouraging people to bring guns in their checked bags.
The group further calls on the Trump administration and the TSA to implement additional security measures for people flying with guns. At the same time, FlyersRights.org wants to end pat downs by TSA agents on transgendered flyers because such pat downs are instilling fear in these passengers.
The flyers group believes that by making the rules to flying with firearms publicly available, the TSA is encouraging future mass shootings. FlyersRights.org did not list how commercial airline passengers would find out the rules to flying with guns and ammunition if the TSA did not make the information public.
Currently, passengers flying with guns and ammunition have to check their firearms in a TSA approved lockable case. The flyer has to declare their guns at the airline counter with the airline representatives. Ammunition must also be in a locked case in the original box. The traveler must ensure the checked firearms are not loaded.
The agent will not mark the luggage carrying the firearms. This policy is to reduce the chance of a targeted theft by baggage handlers, or other people at the airport. FlyersRights.org would change this effective policy.
FlyersRights.org accused the TSA of “dangerous aviation security policies.” The group used examples of attacks in Europe, which are not under TSA control. At the same time, the group is calling for the end of policies that are not in use in Europe in other places around the world.
Paul Hudson formed FlyersRights.org in 2015 to fight for legroom on flights and fight airline policies that lead to flight delays. The group then morphed to battle against knives on flights.
AmmoLand reached out to FlyersRights.org for comment, but our request went unanswered.
About John Crump
John is a NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. He is the former CEO of Veritas Firearms, LLC and is the co-host of The Patriot News Podcast which can be found at www.blogtalkradio.com/patriotnews. John has written extensively on the patriot movement including 3%'ers, Oath Keepers, and Militias. In addition to the Patriot movement, John has written about firearms, interviewed people of all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and is currently working on a book on leftist deplatforming methods and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss, on Facebook at realjohncrump, or at www.crumpy.com.
Dear John, re. this article – we didn’t receive any contact from you at FlyersRights.org.
To clarify, FlyersRights is not anti gun. After 9/11 we supported allowing pilots to carry in cockpits while the union and airlines and FAA opposed.
Also, we supported armed guards at TSA, and armed airport security but not making it easier for anyone to carry in airports.
Again, we’re not anti-gun in general nor anti-NRA.
Sincerely,
FlyersRights
does flyersrights realize that the Fort Lauderdale attack could have just as easily been perpetrated by somebody who walked in from the curb? That it was perpetrated outside of the sterile area? that the fact that the ammunition had been carried in the cargo hold of the plane had absolutely no bearing on the attack?
FlyersRights.org, you do realize that the Fort Lauderdale attack occurred in the baggage claim area, outside the sterile area. That anyone with a gun could walk in from outside on the curb and commit the same Act.. That thousands of guns, along with their ammunition, are safely transported on airlines every day and this is the first time something like this has ever happened in the entire history of American Aviation, right? and then if gun owners were not able to fly with their ammunition that that would leave them defenseless on the continuation of their trip in their vehicles or at least until they could find a gun store to buy ammunition perhaps not even vents in some states won’t sell pistol ammunition to people from out of state. Depending on the time of arrival perhaps not until the next day even if they can. And for what perceived gain in safety for the flying public?
There will always be “what if” scenarios so the libtards will never run out of things to complain about. One thing for sure, you can never answer the question “What if?” We have many issues in this country to address, but those who wish to put us in bondage will always be in the forefront.
This “what if” scenario that you described is in fact true, however, if any of our elected or appointed officials are working on “what if scenarios” rather than hardcore, what IS REAL issues, then they need to be removed from office because nowhere in the Constitution does it give them the power to work on things based on fairy dust and unicorn tales.
Mark,
Most LEO’s are required to be on duty 24/7 so your statement is incorrect and I am sure you can outshoot most LEO’s maybe.
The term civilian relates to federal military service, therefore city, state, municipal cops and sheriff’s deputies are civilians. Words mean things. Has nothing to do with who is on duty or when.
When and where will this idiocy stop?
The advocacy group pointed to the shooting in January 2017 at the Fort Lauderdale airport in the baggage claim area of Terminal 2.
Eedjits fail to realise that almost all airports do NOT restrict firearms in the hands of the public at the baggage claim areas. When folks come to visit, we all go right in thjere, no TSA circus intervening, to meet our arriving guests, hug them, help schlep their stuff out to our car. I’ve done this many times, lawfully armed as I am elsewhere. In other words, the Ft. Lauderdale nutjob did not have to jump on an airplane and check his guns in his baggage to enable himself to be armed at th Flroida end of his trip.
This incident has led to many airlines tagging the luggage with checked firearms thus making it easily identifiable as it moves through the handling equipment. Haven’t seen any reports about checked arms disappearing mysteriously en-route…. something I’m quite certain would be well hidden. I HAVE read of package handlers at a Texas airport getting busted for stealing NEW firearms in transit via UPS in their mandated Priority Overnight service for ALL handguns. Never heard how badly these gun thieves got slapped, but at least they no longer work for UPS and likely won’t be able to work for TSA, though they do seem to be after just that sort of employees, the better to harrass the flying public.
Only the dumb-ass DEMOCRATS could come up with this.
TSA is a mess anyway. I was doing background checks a few years back and a bunch of them at Boston Logan couldn’t even fill out an application. Secondly, I believe that all LEO’s and retired LEO’s should be able to retain their weapons on board with their ammo like in the old days before 9/11. I am not saying that many civilians are not capable to carry on board. Lastly, TSA always puts a slip in the bag and if the bags are opened after they leave TSA someone has access to the guns. TSA MUST allow you to be present when they check your bag. I have been in airports where I had to tell TSA what to do. I have also gotten past, not intentionally, TSA security with pepper spray.
LEO’s are, by definition, civilians as they are not serving in the military. This is a common error, but an error none the less. I am a retired USN officer, and out shoot most of the civilian LEO’s that I compete against.
Ammo does not have to be locked in a separate case. It just has to be separate from the gun. The checked in bag must be locked though.
There are a couple incorrect statements in this article. The storage of ammunition depends on the airline. Most require it to be in the original packaging or other hard sided case that doesn’t allow the cartridges to touch one another. Also, they do mark the luggage containing a firearm, and you have to show ID and get it from the baggage service office upon arrival, at least American does.
Waiting for them to propose the Barney Fife Protection Act, we’ll only be permitted to carry one bullet in our shirt pocket,
while the criminals will be armed with as many as they can carry.
Hell no. I can see how this would prevent access to cartridges in state once you land for your hunting trip. NOPE!
Paul Hudson offends me and hurts my feelings,he with what he writes. I demand he be made to stop communicating with our elected officials in fear of his causing further harm to my rights and liberty!
Not one mention of box cutters being declared in your luggage at the check-in counter?
Back in the day, these looney bastards would have been tossed into a rubber room at a mental hospital and pumped full of Thorzine.. Was there some change in the state tax dollars that stopped funding the state mental hospitals and their practices?
It’s too bad he and Flyer’Rights.org isn’t being charged and prosecuted for frivolous waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars by wasting the time of our elected officials on their cheap and unsubstantiated fears and BS!
They morphed into firearm issues because they couldn’t get Bloomberg funding for legroom.
You got that right exactly. Money! Oh, and making rules for others to follow but not themselves. Typical liberal BS.
Who is passengers advocacy group? Do they represent me?
I never heard their complaints about this during the previous administration. These imaginary “loopholes”didn’t just appear in the past year and a half. But I encourage them to keep talking. It’s good entertainment.
They have no access to the ammo while in flight, they are going to throw it at you when they pick up their checked baggage.
This fits perfectly with the current trend. The new trend is to ban ammo. Look at the leader in life restrictions, California! They are trying to progressively add restrictions on ammo. Serial numbers, full background checks, limited quantities, and even permits to purchase.
So ban it on planes, cars and trains, then make it impossible for anyone but criminals to obtain, and you now have full military control over the population.
Hope they issue brown shirts to their followers.
FYI the article is incorrect about ammunition storing requirements. TSA, per their website, only mandates that the ammo be stored securely in a locked hard sided container. There is no requirement that ammunition be in its original packaging as your article would suggest.
Hmmm, couldn’t this SAME ammo STOP what happened on 911 ???? IF it could be gotten to in the baggage compartment and IF you KNEW what pile it was in…
Typical libtard “the sky is falling” BULLSHIT !
Wow, do these people have working brain cells. You can’t access checked baggage while it is on the plain, period. These people should really actually look into these things before they open there mouths and spout out dumb sh*t!
Yet another example of bigotry against gun owners.
We should be calling out these busybodies as the bigots that they are.