What You Need To Know About Firearms Before Traveling With One

So, are you planning a trip and want to bring a firearm with you? Well, in order to do so, it’s vital that you are familiar with all the rules surrounding this topic before you actually venture off. Why so? Well, when you cross state lines while having a firearm on you, or even when you’re just traveling within your own state, it’s vital that you stick to the rules that are designated by the state in question – otherwise, you are risking facing serious consequences

In fact, every year, hundreds and hundreds of U.S. citizens find themselves arrested when traveling to other countries due to the fact that they are carrying firearms or ammunition that they could legally possess in the United States, purely due to the fact that they didn’t do proper research first.

All of that being said – if you want to learn more about traveling with a firearm, in this article, you’ll be able to do so.

Doing the research is imperative

There are plenty of different ways for you to do this, and in order for you to be safe – it would be best that you seek information from various credible sources. As esports on firearms over at  www.thearmsguide.com explain, if you happen to be traveling interstate in the US, you should know that the NRA actually offers an interactive map that can help you keep track of local laws when you’re traveling. On the other hand, if you are going to a different country, make sure that you contact the foreign embassy in the United States for valuable information on the topic.

Other than that, make sure that you also review the Department of Homeland Security’s rules regarding exporting a firearm, as well as the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) rules for flying with firearms and ammunition.

Check your vehicle, luggage, and clothing

Now, this part is pretty much vital since forgetting about something in your possession, perhaps a stray shell from your hunting trip or something similar, can get you into a lot of trouble while crossing the border, and it can easily be avoided.

That being said, if you happen to be using the same luggage for international travel that you sometimes in the past used in order to transport a firearm or ammunition, make sure that you check it thoroughly for any loose cartridges. The same goes for any clothes in which you have carried ammo or firearms. If you really want to be on the safe side, it would be best if you’d use an entirely different set of luggage.

What if you are traveling by flying?

We have mentioned the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for a bit beforehand, but let’s talk about it in more detail now. Basically, TSA has specific rules regarding flying with a firearm, so, let’s get into a quick run-down of these rules:

• It’s imperative for you to declare each and every firearm every time you check it as baggage. If you fail to do this, you are risking being prosecuted under federal and state laws.

• Firearms need to be unloaded, and in addition to that, they need to be kept in a locking container.

• Quite intuitively, firearms are only able to be transported as checked baggage.

• You need to keep the key or the combination for the container in your possession at all times, unless TSA specifically asks for it in order to make sure that you’re complying with the rules.

• You can’t, under any circumstances, carry any magazines nor firing pins, as well as any other additional parts of a firearm in your carry-on bags.

• Your ammunition must be transported in a checked bag, you can’t carry it in your carry-on.

• You are allowed to put small arms ammunition that doesn’t exceed .75-caliber in the same hard-sided case that you are using for your gun.

• The only way in which you can transport magazines is in a secure box or instead in a hard-sided case.

• Keep in mind that even if you are transporting replica firearms, no matter if they are toys, as checked baggage as well.

To wrap things up

In the end, it all boils down to being careful, vigilant, and taking time to do your research in order to be able to make more informed decisions. The thing is, just why would you risk getting in trouble when all that you need to do is just a couple of clicks away?

Now that you know the basics, all that’s left to do is to narrow the variables down to the specific country that you are traveling to. Good luck, and travel safely!