There is some debate on the Internet (and definitely some confusion at the airport) about where the firearms declaration card is supposed to go when you carry a pistol in a locked, hard-sided case inside your checked luggage. I think I can answer definitively that the declaration card is supposed to go outside your locked pistol case but inside your bag.
I would place it right next to the case. If you are paranoid about the card getting inadvertently lost as they rummage through your stuff, then maybe put a rubber band around the case and slip the card under the rubber band.
I also tape my name and cell number on the case in the event they have to call me. The lock on the hard-sided pistol case should have a key or combination that only you have. The checked baggage should have a TSA approved lock.
This is how I flew the last time with American Airlines, and I had no problems. But since there is a huge debate, I looked up the TSA website only to find this:
All firearms must be declared to the air carrier during the ticket counter check-in process.
Not very helpful about exact placement of the card. In fact, all the information on the page seemed more geared to a checked gun case instead of a pistol case located inside checked baggage. So, I e-mailed the TSA for clarification, and this is the answer I got:
Thank you for your e-mail regarding travel with firearms in checked baggage.
On flights that originate in the United States, passengers may transport a firearm in accordance with 49 CFR §1540.111 under the following conditions:
- the firearm must be unloaded;
- it must be in checked, not carry-on, baggage;
- it must be in a locked, hard-sided container; and
- it must be declared to the airline.
If these conditions are met, the airline will place a declaration tag inside the checked baggage containing the firearm. This notice alerts Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) to the presence of the firearm if the bag must be opened for inspection.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is required by law to electronically screen all checked baggage that goes aboard commercial passenger flights. If electronic screening cannot verify that a bag and its contents are safe to bring onboard, TSOs will inspect the bag by hand. Therefore, TSA encourages (but does not require) passengers to keep their checked bags unlocked to facilitate the process and reduce the need to break locks.
TSA recommends that passengers place the locked, hard-sided container containing the firearm inside a suitcase or bag before checking it with their airline. This allows passengers to keep their suitcase unlocked, yet to comply with the requirement that the firearm is secured in a locked container.
Passengers may use a hard-sided locked suitcase as the sole container for a firearm; however, this can lead to one of the following complications if a bag requires hand inspection:
- If TSOs can determine from the screening equipment that the bag contains a firearm, they will not open it. Rather, they will make an attempt to locate the bag’s owner and obtain the key or combination so that they can inspect the bag. If the owner cannot be located, the bag will not be allowed onboard the aircraft.
- If the TSOs do not determine that the bag contains a firearm before they open it, they may force open the lock to inspect the bag. Once the lock is forced open, the bag cannot be allowed on an aircraft until it is relocked. TSA will attempt to locate you and make suitable arrangements.
These potential inconveniences can be avoided by following TSA’s recommendation that you pack your firearm by itself in a separate, hard-sided, locked container and pack the container inside your suitcase. If TSOs need to open your bag to inspect it, they will be able to do so without breaking a lock on the bag. Once the TSOs open the bag, they will see the declaration in your suitcase and will not open the locked container encasing the firearm. They will proceed to search the bag, close it, and (presuming the bag is free of prohibited items) will be able to allow it onboard your flight.
We encourage all travelers to familiarize themselves with TSA Travel Tips prior to their trip. Our Web site, www.tsa.gov, has information about prohibited and permitted items, the screening process and procedures, and guidance for special considerations that may assist with preparing for air travel. Passengers can go directly to these tips at www.TSATravelTips.us.
We hope this information is helpful.
TSA Contact Center
So I hope that clears things up about placement of the firearms declaration card when you have a small pistol case inside your checked bag. Of course, if all you have is a big gun case that is being checked by itself, then I don’t think there is any other place to put the card except inside the big, checked gun case.
