Pack a weapon to prevent luggage loss

[Corey]

Interesting read: http://lifehacker.com/5448014/pack-a-gun-to-protect-valuables-from-airline-theft-or-loss

I'd want to do a lot of research before trying this...

If you don't like your bags being out of your sight and it makes you uncomfortable to think that airline workers are rifling through your stuff, you can take advantage of the TSA's own security rules by—eek—packing a gun.

Photo by Vince Alongi.

Most of the time, travelers are on the short-end of TSA regulations. In this instance, however, you can use travel rules to your advantage. If you're traveling with equipment you would prefer locked up and watched more closely than your run of the mill luggage, you can pack a firearm with the equipment or luggage. Whether or not you own an actual firearm isn't important—the TSA considers a starter pistol a firearm, and it must be checked in and secured properly. Bruce Shneier, on his security and privacy centered blog, highlights how some creative professional photographers have been using this rule to their advantage. One of the photographers writes:

A "weapons" is defined as a rifle, shotgun, pistol, airgun, and STARTER PISTOL. Yes, starter pistols - those little guns that fire blanks at track and swim meets - are considered weapons...and do NOT have to be registered in any state in the United States.

I have a starter pistol for all my cases. All I have to do upon check-in is tell the airline ticket agent that I have a weapon to declare...I'm given a little card to sign, the card is put in the case, the case is given to a TSA official who takes my key and locks the case, and gives my key back to me.

That's the procedure. The case is extra-tracked...TSA does not want to lose a weapons case. This reduces the chance of the case being lost to virtually zero.

It's a great way to travel with camera gear...I've been doing this since Dec 2001 and have had no problems whatsoever.

You can pick up a super basic starter pistol for around $16-20—really nice starter pistols can easily cost $100-200, but you're not concerned about the quality—a rather small sum to ensure that your case of photography equipment or personal effects will be watched more carefully and only opened in your presence.

[Gecko]

that's awesome

[ak_rider]

having traveled by plane with firearms in the past, i can say it not as easy as this person tries to describe. a firearm must be in a secure case. unless you have hard-sided luggage, they probably won't let you throw a firearm in your suitcase. next, after you declare the gun, you have to go to the special TSA agent, and open the case and show them the gun, sometimes they will also make you show that it is not loaded, then the gun gets put back in the case and locked and sent on its way with the rest of the checked baggage.

this might work, but why would you want to go through all of the extra hassle?

[b0ardski]

this might work, but why would you want to go through all of the extra hassle?

That's easy, to make sure 1000s of$$$ of gear doesn't get lost/stolen