flying out of LGA, JFK, Newark international airport with firearms

[Sleepertruckguy]

I am a CT resident. 99.9% of my flights leave from NY. Has anyone ever crossed state lines to catch a flight and claim a firearm at the ticket counter?
I understand all the TSA rules. I understand this is no big deal if you live in Florida and crossed the line into Alabama. How ever entering NY with any rifle, even properly stored can be questionable. Has anyone ever traveled from CT to LGA, JFK, Newark airport and flown out successfully with there rifle?

 

[Blue Sky Country]

La Guardia and JFK???

Don't do it... Really. Don't. New York City is "special" when it comes to out of staters with firearms of any kind. Like, short bus special...

Chief source of income for NYC legislative system is basically find as many out of staters who are naive about the current state of gun politics in the city as they can, confiscate their weapons, arrest them, and then drop the charges only after the defendant has been bled dry in attorney and trial fees. And no, nobody has gotten their firearms back either.

Try to find an alternative route. If you can go to your destination by road, go that route instead. Even if you have to pass through NY or NYC, the authorities may be more lenient with you if you can convince them that you are just passing through and your long guns are unloaded, cased separately from ammunition and locked in the trunk etc... Airports? They will find a reason to confiscate your stuff, even if you have the correct paperwork and end up not getting arrested or charged...

 

[Sleepertruckguy]

Are you from the area? What about westchester county airport?

 

[Blue Sky Country]

I am from upper metro NY, (Poughkeepsie) now residing in Brooklyn. Grew up in Brooklyn too. Westchester may be a better option, as they are not subject to the same laws that govern NYC metro. Long guns in NY State, outside of the 5 boroughs and not semi-automatics, can be purchased and owned by anyone with a clean record over the age of 18 with no more than a Form 4473. In the 5 boroughs, long guns entail a $170 application fee, $99 NYPD fingerprint fee, a waiting period of anywhere from 1 week to 2 months, and an interview at the police command central. Yep, you see the difference, right?

The only potential issue that you may have in Westchester as a CT resident may be related to your out of state status. Theoretically, if you meet the legal requirements to own a firearm in CT, you should be GTG in NYS... However, do not take this post as legal advice and seek further information from a Westchester LE office, as they will be able to tell you exactly how to proceed.

 

[DaveM]

Why not find a way to ship your rifles to wherever you’re going?

You could always fly out of Manchester, NH.

 

[striped1]

clearly someone failed geography.

 

[DaveM]

clearly someone failed geography.

Care to be more specific?

 

[Lowlight]

Don't do it

Fly out of Westchester,

Don't cross into the city regardless of what they tell you

I lived in Greenwich before moving out west, Westchester is the airport in NY to use

 

[Blue Sky Country]

Don't do it

Fly out of Westchester,

Don't cross into the city regardless of what they tell you

I lived in Greenwich before moving out west, Westchester is the airport in NY to use

This right here...

 

[striped1]

Care to be more specific?

Manchester, NH is 220 miles away. There are airports in New Haven, Providence and Boston that are all closer, better alternatives that you will pass by driving to Manchester, NH.

 

[DaveM]

None of the airports you mentioned are in “free” states. They are marginally better than NYC in regards to gun laws, marginally. If I were flying with firearms, I’d drive up to several hours to avoid them.

I live just north of Boston and drove New England for a living for 10 years. I’m quite sure I know the geography. More importantly, I know the firearm laws in those states. Do you?

 

[lts1ow]

Year or so ago I flew out of JFK as a NJ prisoner

Flew out of JFK with a bolt gun and two mags, 5 and 10 rd. At the main check in area I was asked to wait, and then was surrounded by four cops and three TSA guys. Cop took my license number, and wanted the SN off my rifle, he also checked mag capacity. This was all done in front of the waiting line, felt like a terrorist After some fiddling, they locked case back up, and it went to behind counter and I was escorted to front of security line (only upside here)

Flying home out of DFW, little old lady said here is the tag, toss it in the case, and another little old lady took the locked case to examine. Couldn't have been simpler.

Had no issues grabbing my cased rifle at JFK.

 

[Sleepertruckguy]

Seems to be what I thought. I just drove down to baker FL to shoot at altus because I was afraid to fly with the rifle. I guess I made the right choice. My inlaws live in Memphis, only an hour from K&M. We fly back and forth all the time but I'm too afraid to bring the rifle. I spoke to Shanon at K&M, he does not have his FFL so I can't ship it to him. Crazy that I have to worry about getting arrested/fined/confiscated, just for wanting to fly out of NY. But I agree with blue sky country, its not worth it.
So far I've called TSA and asked them, they told me to ask the detectives office in the area. Called the dectective, he told me to call TSA. Explained to the detective "TSA told me to call you." He said, "let me call you back." That was 6 months ago.

 

[DaveM]

Seems to be what I thought. I just drove down to baker FL to shoot at altus because I was afraid to fly with the rifle. I guess I made the right choice. My inlaws live in Memphis, only an hour from K&M. We fly back and forth all the time but I'm too afraid to bring the rifle. I spoke to Shanon at K&M, he does not have his FFL so I can't ship it to him. Crazy that I have to worry about getting arrested/fined/confiscated, just for wanting to fly out of NY. But I agree with blue sky country, its not worth it.
So far I've called TSA and asked them, they told me to ask the detectives office in the area. Called the dectective, he told me to call TSA. Explained to the detective "TSA told me to call you." He said, "let me call you back." That was 6 months ago.

How far are you from Manchester, NH? Driving a couple hours on this end might be worth it.

 

[MtnCreek]

You can mail the rifle to yourself at your inlaws address.

 

[Sleepertruckguy]

How far are you from Manchester, NH? Driving a couple hours on this end might be worth it.

That's too far out of the way

 

[Sleepertruckguy]

You can mail the rifle to yourself at your inlaws address.

I would love to do that. But that's not legal. You are only allowed to ship a firearm directly to the manufacturer who built it, without going through an FFL. If this is not the case please explain in detail.

 

[lts1ow]

I would love to do that. But that's not legal. You are only allowed to ship a firearm directly to the manufacturer who built it, without going through an FFL. If this is not the case please explain in detail.

How to Mail Guns (Legally and Without Going to Jail)

If you've ever wondered about mailing firearms across state lines, we've got you covered. Each state has different rules and regulations you need to know.

www.pewpewtactical.com

https://www.atf.gov/resource-center/docs/0501-firearms-top-10-qaspdf/download

 

[striped1]

None of the airports you mentioned are in “free” states. They are marginally better than NYC in regards to gun laws, marginally. If I were flying with firearms, I’d drive up to several hours to avoid them.

I live just north of Boston and drove New England for a living for 10 years. I’m quite sure I know the geography. More importantly, I know the firearm laws in those states. Do you?

Sorry you are butthurt but a recommendation to drive from CT to Manchester to catch a flight is asinine. I have flown out of Logan (bos) dozens of times with firearms with ZERO problem. Providence, again, not a problem. Portland, super easy. And yes, I have flown out of Manchester. I am quite familiar with the gun laws in ME, NH, MA, CT, RI and NY, but thanks for your concern. I fly 100-125 times a year, many of those with firearms. So yeah, I know the geography, the laws and have more than a little experience actually doing it. But by all means, give silly advice.

Why not Bangor instead of Manchester, even better gun laws and a nice drive if you have nothing better to do than waste time driving past a number of airports.

The one thing I will say about Manchester is that they hold your gun cases and have you go to the baggage special handling counter (Delta) versus just dropping them on the luggage belt. After the first, I rather appreciated it and wished more airports did that.

 

[MtnCreek]

I would love to do that. But that's not legal. You are only allowed to ship a firearm directly to the manufacturer who built it, without going through an FFL. If this is not the case please explain in detail.

Federally, you can mail to yourself out of State. Thats not considered transferring. I don't know your State laws and should have been more specific that I was only talking about fed law.

 

[DaveM]

Sorry you are butthurt but a recommendation to drive from CT to Manchester to catch a flight is asinine. I have flown out of Logan (bos) dozens of times with firearms with ZERO problem. Providence, again, not a problem. Portland, super easy. And yes, I have flown out of Manchester. I am quite familiar with the gun laws in ME, NH, MA, CT, RI and NY, but thanks for your concern. I fly 100-125 times a year, many of those with firearms. So yeah, I know the geography, the laws and have more than a little experience actually doing it. But by all means, give silly advice.

Why not Bangor instead of Manchester, even better gun laws and a nice drive if you have nothing better to do than waste time driving past a number of airports.

The one thing I will say about Manchester is that they hold your gun cases and have you go to the baggage special handling counter (Delta) versus just dropping them on the luggage belt. After the first, I rather appreciated it and wished more airports did that.

Maybe you could have just posted about your experiences with flying in and out of New England instead of making an insulting post directed at someone you don’t know.

Maybe you’re just a douche that likes to insult people anonymously? Thanks for the great info though.

 

[Keel Haul]

Manchester, NH is 220 miles away. There are airports in New Haven, Providence and Boston that are all closer, better alternatives that you will pass by driving to Manchester, NH.

As someone who grew up in NY, works in aviation and flies with firearms pretty regularly, this is the best advice. Do NOT take them through NY.

 

[Lowlight]

Why go to Boston or Logan,

Pretty much everyone has the same rules in the area, just fly out of Hartford, Bradley is pretty chill

Flew out of there last year with stuff, no drama, in fact the TSA guys were pretty funny as I flew home late one trip and nobody was in line. I had a stack of pictures from my Dad in my carry on bag which got flagged a solid mass.

The TSA guy grabbed the bag, complimented it as a nice computer bag, saw the pictures and immediately closed it. I told him to have a great night and comically in CT Fashion he replied to me, "Don't tell me what the fuck to do ..." it was awesome.

Westchester and Hartford will give you the same experience

 

[hollowoutadime]

Keep in mind your plane can have a mechanical and divert to NYC. This has happened to others.

 

[candyx]

If you have a criminal friend have him take it for you , its alot easier for them transporting weapons for they are not bound by the laws you must follow.

 

[Sleepertruckguy]

Keep in mind your plane can have a mechanical and divert to NYC. This has happened to others.

Here is a great video from good old Mr Stossel interviewing people who have lived through the nightmare