Guide: Traveling with airsoft guns
Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 3:11 pm
GUIDELINES FOR TRAVELING WITH AIRSOFT GUNS
by Boss and Moondog
TRANSPORTATION BY MOTOR VEHICLE
• HANDLING OF AIRSOFT REPLICAS IN A MOVING VEHICLE IS NOT AND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED, EVER!
• Airsoft replica(s) should be stowed in in a case (locked if possible), UNLOADED and LOCKED in the automobile TRUNK with Magazines and BBs stored in a separate container(locked if possible).
• If you are in an SUV or other vehicle without a separate trunk, the Airsoft Replica MUST BE IN A LOCKED CASE with magazines and ammo in a SEPARATE LOCKED CASE. Both should be inaccessible to the driver or passenger (i.e. Not in the glove compartment.) if possible.
IF YOU ARE PULLED OVER BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
• ANSWER all questions when ASKED, and answer POLITELY
• DO NOT volunteer any information unless directly asked
• DO NOT allow a search of your car for any reason (if you do condone a search your lawyer will not be able to disqualify ANYTHING they find in your car)
• DO NOT reach for anything without asking the officer if it is OK to do so. i.e. "Officer may I retrieve and show you the flyer for the event that I am going to attend today ?"
SUGGESTIONS FOR TRAVELING WITH AIRSOFT REPLICAS
• Include a copy of your AEGs owners guide, parts diagram or users manual in your airsoft replica case.
• If you are going to be traveling interstate we strongly suggest that your Airsoft replicas have their original orange tips installed. This simple act could avert a lot of hassles if you were to be pulled over for any reason. They are easy enough to swap out when you reach your intended AO.
• When traveling to a specific Airsoft event print out and bring the flyer of the event, your personal payment confirmation and any information pertaining to the event to corroborate your story of why you are traveling to your destination if you are pulled over/stopped for any reason
• Drive CONSERVATIVLEY so as not get pulled over in the first place, drive like Miss Daisy and save your agression for the field.
• If you are the driver/owner of the vehicle YOU are ultimately responsible for everything that happens in your vehicle. "In plain English if you touch, mess around, adjust, move, tweak or pull out a replica in my car I will stop my car and throw you and all your gear out on the side of the road!"
This might seem like a lot of RULES for just driving to a local game but it will do the following:
• keep a lot of "misunderstandings" from happening
• keep accidents or injuries from happening
• put law enforcement more "at ease" with the whole situation if you can confirm your story ... after all they're just doing their job
TRANSPORTATION BY AIR
• No airsoft replica(s) or magazines can be brought on as check in luggage on Domestic USA flights. All airsoft replica(s) and gear must be transported in check-in luggage with the same rules and restrictions as traveling with real firearms.
• Each airline has its own rules. You must call your airline prior to your flight and inform them that you will be traveling with airsoft replica(s) and find out their specific requirements. Hunters and sportsman often travel with their firearms so this is not an unusual request.
• TSA rules for transporting firearms: weapons must be stored in a hard, locked case (with TSA accessible locks), UNLOADED with magazines removed. Live ammunition may not be checked in.
For airsoft this means:
-Green gas, propane, or CO2 cartridges may NOT be transported or checked-in
-Magazines must be empty and removed from the magwell
-GBB Magazines must be empty of all gas and BBs
-Batteries should disconnected and separated from the AEGs
-BBs should be emptied from all replica(s) and stored in sealed bags
-Include a copy of your replica(s) manual if possible
-Include a copy of the flyer of the airsoft event you are traveling to
-Replica(s) should have an orange tip on the barrel
• You MUST declare that you are checking-in your replica(s) to the airline agent at ticketing. Inform them of its contents and the TSA requirements you have followed in packing the case.
REFERENCES
NRA-ILA Guide to the Interstate Transport of Firearms
http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/Federal/Read.aspx?id=59
NRA-ILA Guide to State Gun Laws
http://www.nraila.org/gunlaws/
PFOA Interstate Transport GuidelinesInterstate Firearms Transport
http://forum.pafoa.org/concealed-open-c ... earms.html
TSA Special Items Guidelines
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... _1666.shtm
by Boss and Moondog
TRANSPORTATION BY MOTOR VEHICLE
• HANDLING OF AIRSOFT REPLICAS IN A MOVING VEHICLE IS NOT AND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED, EVER!
• Airsoft replica(s) should be stowed in in a case (locked if possible), UNLOADED and LOCKED in the automobile TRUNK with Magazines and BBs stored in a separate container(locked if possible).
• If you are in an SUV or other vehicle without a separate trunk, the Airsoft Replica MUST BE IN A LOCKED CASE with magazines and ammo in a SEPARATE LOCKED CASE. Both should be inaccessible to the driver or passenger (i.e. Not in the glove compartment.) if possible.
IF YOU ARE PULLED OVER BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
• ANSWER all questions when ASKED, and answer POLITELY
• DO NOT volunteer any information unless directly asked
• DO NOT allow a search of your car for any reason (if you do condone a search your lawyer will not be able to disqualify ANYTHING they find in your car)
• DO NOT reach for anything without asking the officer if it is OK to do so. i.e. "Officer may I retrieve and show you the flyer for the event that I am going to attend today ?"
SUGGESTIONS FOR TRAVELING WITH AIRSOFT REPLICAS
• Include a copy of your AEGs owners guide, parts diagram or users manual in your airsoft replica case.
• If you are going to be traveling interstate we strongly suggest that your Airsoft replicas have their original orange tips installed. This simple act could avert a lot of hassles if you were to be pulled over for any reason. They are easy enough to swap out when you reach your intended AO.
• When traveling to a specific Airsoft event print out and bring the flyer of the event, your personal payment confirmation and any information pertaining to the event to corroborate your story of why you are traveling to your destination if you are pulled over/stopped for any reason
• Drive CONSERVATIVLEY so as not get pulled over in the first place, drive like Miss Daisy and save your agression for the field.
• If you are the driver/owner of the vehicle YOU are ultimately responsible for everything that happens in your vehicle. "In plain English if you touch, mess around, adjust, move, tweak or pull out a replica in my car I will stop my car and throw you and all your gear out on the side of the road!"
This might seem like a lot of RULES for just driving to a local game but it will do the following:
• keep a lot of "misunderstandings" from happening
• keep accidents or injuries from happening
• put law enforcement more "at ease" with the whole situation if you can confirm your story ... after all they're just doing their job
TRANSPORTATION BY AIR
• No airsoft replica(s) or magazines can be brought on as check in luggage on Domestic USA flights. All airsoft replica(s) and gear must be transported in check-in luggage with the same rules and restrictions as traveling with real firearms.
• Each airline has its own rules. You must call your airline prior to your flight and inform them that you will be traveling with airsoft replica(s) and find out their specific requirements. Hunters and sportsman often travel with their firearms so this is not an unusual request.
• TSA rules for transporting firearms: weapons must be stored in a hard, locked case (with TSA accessible locks), UNLOADED with magazines removed. Live ammunition may not be checked in.
For airsoft this means:
-Green gas, propane, or CO2 cartridges may NOT be transported or checked-in
-Magazines must be empty and removed from the magwell
-GBB Magazines must be empty of all gas and BBs
-Batteries should disconnected and separated from the AEGs
-BBs should be emptied from all replica(s) and stored in sealed bags
-Include a copy of your replica(s) manual if possible
-Include a copy of the flyer of the airsoft event you are traveling to
-Replica(s) should have an orange tip on the barrel
• You MUST declare that you are checking-in your replica(s) to the airline agent at ticketing. Inform them of its contents and the TSA requirements you have followed in packing the case.
REFERENCES
NRA-ILA Guide to the Interstate Transport of Firearms
http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/Federal/Read.aspx?id=59
NRA-ILA Guide to State Gun Laws
http://www.nraila.org/gunlaws/
PFOA Interstate Transport GuidelinesInterstate Firearms Transport
http://forum.pafoa.org/concealed-open-c ... earms.html
TSA Special Items Guidelines
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... _1666.shtm