Flying with a firearm

[AggieDave 6]

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It was announced at SHOT that Pelican bought Hardigg.

Really? I didn't hear about that. You know, I really need to go to a SHOT show, just like I really need to make it to PIA at some point.

Well, that pretty much makes Pelican the monopoly for high quality cases. I hope prices don't spike.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[LouDiamond 1]

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You know, I really need to go to a SHOT show,

Here, I'll paint you a picture and save you some money. Close your eyes and imagine a large convention room with lots of booths and people standing or milling around them. 3/4 of the people displaying a product are wearing 511 pants, dark blue golf shirt with a black riggers belt and Oakley assault boots, some with pants bloused and the Pièce de résistance, they all have high and tight haircuts and we all know how ridiculous those look.

Then imagine a good portion of those booths all have "black guns" or black gun associated items. It's like anyone who can assemble a M-4 has their "unique" version has decided to open shop. Then you have your convention commandos walking around in some type of camo pattern, typically its MultiCam along with "cool guy" accessories like an assault pack, witty morale velcro patches like "Infidel" or Latin sayings and then there is the must have item at a convention , "just in case", blood type/NKA patch. Then you have your bald headed/bearded/goatee group that slinks around wearing all the other tell tale civilian technical "cool guy" clothing with the ever present altimeter sized wrist watch. It's turned upside down on their wrist if they are really cool. When you ask them who they work for or what they do they feed you a line of BS that is so absurd,but meant to sound spooky, that you have to fight back the urge to laugh out loud.

Then you have your handful of people/companies that make a solid product and are well known in the shooter community, which is were you usually find the people who either make and or use the products for their intended purpose.


You remember how the news would show Star Trek convention footage on the TV and you'd see people all dressed up in character? It's like that but with a military theme.If anything, go because its in Vegas and you will get a good laugh out of it just people watching and maybe get the chance to finger fuck that new piece of kit that you've had your eye on.

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
Some people dream about flying, I live my dream
SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING

[kbordson 8]

Actually this year it was in Florida. And I was wearing a pink tank top and jeans.... but I chose not to really work in the booth this year.
But you did forget to mention the groups of friends that get together during this convention. Kansas City types meeting up with those in South Dakota who are happy to be talking with the Stryder knife guys. Trying on SEVERAL occasions to meet up with a British Texan. And the business meetings - chats with Brownells (who by the way have a very nice new website www.ar15builder.com), chats with Accuracy International, lots of chats....

And the drama. How could you forget the drama?

But otherwise you got the picture spot on.

[AggieDave 6]

That's quite possibly the funniest mental image that has been given to me in SC in a really long time! Thanks man. Well, before I go I guess I better buy some more moral patches, get some TAD jackets and more 5.11 pants. I would hate to stand out in my usual blue-jeans, t-shirt and sneakers.

I do like the idea of koon-fingering some cool gear, though. I guess I'll have to drive to GT-Distributors or Cheaper Than Dirt to get my hands on a large selection of stuff. Save the trip to Vegas for a time that could be better spent drinking and loosing money.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[nerdgirl 0]

I flew commercial with a firearm yesterday from DTW to ATL. First time. Remembered reading some of the stories here. Thanks to all who contributed.
Followed Delta’s online instructions exactly: unloaded; in hard-sided, crush-proof, locked case (same as others have stated).
When checking in (online) I indicated that I had a “special item” by highlighting that box on the baggage screen and would be checking one bag.
When I checked my bag, the agent was very helpful. Treated it professionally.
The only paperwork was affirmation of the conditions above and signing/dating a lil’ orange TSA card that went inside my suitcase after I showed the agent the locked weapon case. It was a TSA accessible lock but was not specific for weapons case. (The agent didn’t care, that was just the one I bought.) I was not asked to open the locked weapon case.
It did get a bright yellow-green tag saying “Priority.”
Then it went on the luggage belt.

Picked it up at ATL. No problem. Bag was not opened by TSA. My inclination is that if I can do it, anyone who (1) follows directions, and (2) doesn’t make a scene/act like an ass/draw attention to oneself should be able to do it … at least on Delta/Northwest btw DTW & ATL.

At the same time, while I wouldn’t call the requirements onerous by any means from an idealistic and intellectual perspective … ya know, the kinds that gets mocked as naïve or whatever …I didn’t particularly like it. From a pragmatic perspective, not sure how to better weigh/resolve security concerns.

Ironically, when I had flown up on Friday, I inadvertently carried with me – in my carry-on luggage – a knife with a fixed 5-inch blade. I had forgotten to remove it after the last time I used the luggage (non-aviation trip). TSA completely missed it in scanning my carry-on luggage. Security Theater.

/Marg

Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters.
Tibetan Buddhist saying

[warpedskydiver 0]

Plasma rifle in the 40gw range?

[AggieDave 6]

A gun and a knife? The knife in your carry on? No big deal...good thing you didn't have a rig with you!

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[warpedskydiver 0]

You should see the looks when the TSA jerks decide they want the cases opened curbside.

Thankfully they do not do it anymore.

The crowds looked like they were going to panic and run.

I guess all the scary camo firearms were too much for them to bare.

[kallend 2,106]

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Picked it up at ATL. No problem. Bag was not opened by TSA. My inclination is that if I can do it, anyone who (1) follows directions, and (2) doesn’t make a scene/act like an ass/draw attention to oneself should be able to do it … at least on Delta/Northwest btw DTW & ATL.

Well, there's the secret.

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Ironically, when I had flown up on Friday, I inadvertently carried with me – in my carry-on luggage – a knife with a fixed 5-inch blade. I had forgotten to remove it after the last time I used the luggage (non-aviation trip). TSA completely missed it in scanning my carry-on luggage. Security Theater.

/Marg

Yep.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[warpedskydiver 0]

Ceramic knives get missed all the time.