OT: FLL Shooting and the Media

HofstraJet

While we don't know many details yet, apparently some news outlets are stating that the shooter had the firearm properly and legally in his checked baggage and after he retrieved it, he assembled it and opened fire.  The talking heads are immediately calling for additional restrictions on access to baggage claim and the ability to check firearms.

Baggage claim is an unsecured area. What if the shooter walked in to baggage claim from the parking lot with the firearm? How is this different?

I'm not a firearm enthusiast or advocate, but I just hate seeing people overreact and put significant unnecessary restrictions on the public.

Mass shootings are a risk in any public place. Why is baggage claim any different than a movie theater or Walmart?

I guess it gives the media something to complain about.

Cookbook_Chip

Since the election craziness, I'm pretty much not watching/reading past the headlines if I sense "agenda" in the mix.  Keeps me much happier.

I feel horrible for someone dying simply getting their bags.  A**hole is caught, thank goodness.

PlanSB

I have never flown with a firearm before.  For any that have, when checking it do they make sure it is disassembled, or at least not loaded?

JohnInCarolina

Was just listening to this discussion on CNN.  It's incredibly dumb.  Pretty soon we'll have five mile security perimeters around airports.

HofstraJet

JohnInCarolina said:

Was just listening to this discussion on CNN.  It's incredibly dumb.  Pretty soon we'll have five mile security perimeters around airports.

Completely. What makes an airport so special? I understand airside security concerns, but landside? 

Ladeback69

I have only heard that there was a shooting and the person was caught.
Here is what is supposed to happen, but not everyone follows the rules as we all know.

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition

I have two hand gun's I have not shot in over 12 years since I met my wife.  I have been thinking of selling them because of that, but now in Missouri you supposedly don't need a permit to carry, but they recommend you take a class on concealed carry. 

SoCalTim

I am disgusted by all the 'fake news', oh I guess it's always been around in some sort of way, but lately it's seems to have exploded.

I

SemolinaPilchard

SoCalTim said:

I am disgusted by all the 'fake news', oh I guess it's always been around in some sort of way, but lately it's seems to have exploded.

I

Have no fear, Dan Rather is here. He will soon be teaching a course called "Truth In News."

Killit_and_Grillit

PlanSB said:

I have never flown with a firearm before.  For any that have, when checking it do they make sure it is disassembled, or at least not loaded?

Yes it does. You have to have it unloaded and locked. However, you can fly with ammunition (ex I fly with my hunting ammo or carry ammo when I fly to another state I am going to hunt in or need my carry pistol so i don't have to go buy ammo or even go look and try to find it)

But he could have just as easily carried one in from the parking lot. You can't get to your firearm once past security until after you have left the secured area at your destination. 

PlanSB

Killit_and_Grillit said:

PlanSB said:

I have never flown with a firearm before.  For any that have, when checking it do they make sure it is disassembled, or at least not loaded?

Yes it does. You have to have it unloaded and locked. However, you can fly with ammunition (ex I fly with my hunting ammo or carry ammo when I fly to another state I am going to hunt in or need my carry pistol so i don't have to go buy ammo or even go look and try to find it)

But he could have just as easily carried one in from the parking lot. You can't get to your firearm once past security until after you have left the secured area at your destination. 

Do they check to make sure it is unloaded?  I would imagine most baggage attendants do not know how to handle a firearm.  Not that it would have made a difference, just curiosity really.

And wholeheartedly agree with the second part of your post. 

HeavyG

HofstraJet said:

While we don't know many details yet, apparently some news outlets are stating that the shooter had the firearm properly and legally in his checked baggage and after he retrieved it, he assembled it and opened fire...

Guess he really didn't like the in-flight meal.

Killit_and_Grillit

@PlanSB yes the bolt is supposed to be back if possible but like you said most have no idea what they are looking at. Then the TSA takes it and scans it separately (depending on the size of the airport). That's usually where they will call you out if there is an issue. 

Hntnhrd

PlanSB said:

Killit_and_Grillit said:

PlanSB said:

I have never flown with a firearm before.  For any that have, when checking it do they make sure it is disassembled, or at least not loaded?

Yes it does. You have to have it unloaded and locked. However, you can fly with ammunition (ex I fly with my hunting ammo or carry ammo when I fly to another state I am going to hunt in or need my carry pistol so i don't have to go buy ammo or even go look and try to find it)

But he could have just as easily carried one in from the parking lot. You can't get to your firearm once past security until after you have left the secured area at your destination. 

Do they check to make sure it is unloaded?  I would imagine most baggage attendants do not know how to handle a firearm.  Not that it would have made a difference, just curiosity really.

And wholeheartedly agree with the second part of your post. 

Yes the times I have flown with firearms the make you show them it is unloaded and that there is no ammo in with the gun. They even put a little card in the case. Ammo is supposed to be in another checked bag. This is in my opinion another person who needed mental health help, and fell thru the cracks

HofstraJet

Hntnhrd said:

PlanSB said:

Killit_and_Grillit said:

PlanSB said:

I have never flown with a firearm before.  For any that have, when checking it do they make sure it is disassembled, or at least not loaded?

Yes it does. You have to have it unloaded and locked. However, you can fly with ammunition (ex I fly with my hunting ammo or carry ammo when I fly to another state I am going to hunt in or need my carry pistol so i don't have to go buy ammo or even go look and try to find it)

But he could have just as easily carried one in from the parking lot. You can't get to your firearm once past security until after you have left the secured area at your destination. 

Do they check to make sure it is unloaded?  I would imagine most baggage attendants do not know how to handle a firearm.  Not that it would have made a difference, just curiosity really.

And wholeheartedly agree with the second part of your post. 

Yes the times I have flown with firearms the make you show them it is unloaded and that there is no ammo in with the gun. They even put a little card in the case. Ammo is supposed to be in another checked bag. This is in my opinion another person who needed mental health help, and fell thru the cracks

How do we know he fell through the cracks? Was there any indication that the firearm was not properly checked? If you mean he fell through the health care cracks, that's another thread. 

PlanSB

Thanks for the info, guys.

I agree with a probable mental health issue.  I read he was a vet too, so mental health issues paired with any issues from his service could be a recipe for disaster.

Hntnhrd

Health care cracks

stlcharcoal

PlanSB said:

Killit_and_Grillit said:

PlanSB said:

I have never flown with a firearm before.  For any that have, when checking it do they make sure it is disassembled, or at least not loaded?

Yes it does. You have to have it unloaded and locked. However, you can fly with ammunition (ex I fly with my hunting ammo or carry ammo when I fly to another state I am going to hunt in or need my carry pistol so i don't have to go buy ammo or even go look and try to find it)

But he could have just as easily carried one in from the parking lot. You can't get to your firearm once past security until after you have left the secured area at your destination. 

Do they check to make sure it is unloaded?  I would imagine most baggage attendants do not know how to handle a firearm.  Not that it would have made a difference, just curiosity really.

And wholeheartedly agree with the second part of your post. 

It's the gate agent, and yes they are trained......sort of.  Depends on the airline and the city/state.  I've travelled with firearms and it's no big deal--takes extra time, but that's about it.  You can't curbside check, you go to the gate agent with your ticket and ID, and tell them you need to check a firearm.  They are supposed to have you present it for inspection, but most just ask if it's unloaded.

Depends on the airline, but with Southwest, the ammo can be stored in the same suitcase & same container as the firearm.  You can even leave then in the magazine so long as the primer on the top round is covered.  As long you have everything else in a plastic ammo box or the retail box, that's fine.  Some airlines have a weight restriction on ammo--has to do with HAZMAT regs for ORM-D (62# max or something like that.)

As far as the container for the firearm, it has to be a hardsided lockable container.  It gets locked and goes inside of your unlocked luggage.  If you have lockable hardsided luggage, you can just throw it in there and lock it.  The thing that I always get in an argument about is the yellow disclosure card.  The yellow card is supposed to on the OUTSIDE of the lockable container, *if* it goes inside your softsided luggage.  Only if your hardsided luggage is outmost container should it go inside the locked portion.  Because if TSA opens the bag, they should be able to see that yellow card showing it cleared.  Otherwise, they don't know if it has been.  And if the card goes on the outside of the luggage, it's a big STEAL ME sign.

After you're done in line, they usually have you wait 5-10 minutes nearby in case the TSA needs to see in the locked hardsided case.  Never had that happen and they usually just give you a waive when your GTG.

AS IT PERTAINS TO THIS CASE......doesn't matter.  It is perfectly legally to possess a firearm outside of the secured area of an airport in most states.  Some states say you can't CCW on public airport ground, but you can still possess an unloaded firearm.  There are a couple exceptions like NYC, NJ, Washington DC, etc, but even Chicago had to relax those BS rules about possession of an unloaded handgun in the city.

stlcharcoal

CBS News in Miami is reporting this guy had walked into the FBI office in Alaska and said he was forced to fight for ISIS.  He was sent to a psych hospital.  Also investigated for child porn.

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2017/01/06/report-shooting-at-fort-lauderdale-hollywood-intl-airport/

Sardonicus

As long as we all retain the 229 year old right to shoot moose, deter bogeymen, and emulate John Wayne . . .

  

 . . . it's all good.
Right?

Little Steven

stlcharcoal said:

CBS News in Miami is reporting this guy had walked into the FBI office in Alaska and said he was forced to fight for ISIS.  He was sent to a psych hospital.  Also investigated for child porn.

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2017/01/06/report-shooting-at-fort-lauderdale-hollywood-intl-airport/

Well if CNN reports it it must be true no?

Dobie

Little Steven said:

stlcharcoal said:

CBS News in Miami is reporting this guy had walked into the FBI office in Alaska and said he was forced to fight for ISIS.  He was sent to a psych hospital.  Also investigated for child porn.

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2017/01/06/report-shooting-at-fort-lauderdale-hollywood-intl-airport/

Well if CNN reports it it must be true no?

Ummm CBS...