Gun Thefts?
Anyone remember the warning that was circulating through the Department early this year or late last year about guns going missing from luggage? According to this Sun Times article, a CPD copper was the victim in at least one case. We thought we remembered more than that though.
In any case, someone has been arrested for stealing ammunition out of luggage. Does anyone know if they still mark the outside of the luggage with a bag tag that states "Firearm" or similar on the exterior? Either the airlines are being overly stupid about marking the bag with a bright blaze orange tag that tells everyone who bothers to read it that "Hey! Here's a free gun!" or there is some organized crime ring at the airport where the people who check the firearms are tipping off the ramp workers which bags might be worth stealing.
As police are now allowed (for the most part) to carry in all 50 states and some form of concealed carry is allowed in something like 40 different states, maybe someone ought to come up with a better system for shipping weapons cross country.
In any case, someone has been arrested for stealing ammunition out of luggage. Does anyone know if they still mark the outside of the luggage with a bag tag that states "Firearm" or similar on the exterior? Either the airlines are being overly stupid about marking the bag with a bright blaze orange tag that tells everyone who bothers to read it that "Hey! Here's a free gun!" or there is some organized crime ring at the airport where the people who check the firearms are tipping off the ramp workers which bags might be worth stealing.
As police are now allowed (for the most part) to carry in all 50 states and some form of concealed carry is allowed in something like 40 different states, maybe someone ought to come up with a better system for shipping weapons cross country.
posted by SCC at 12:03 AM
16 Comments:
Clearly, SCC, your thinking is along the same line mine is, that they airline had better start getting their shit together AND QUICK before too many law enforcement weapons get "lost" to the lowlifes. It would appear at least on the surface of this that the airlines are flagging luggage containing guns. I've flown and brought mine in my luggage twice, with no problems, but as for now, I'm inclined to leave it locked at home in the safe, or maybe just drive out of state now.
Travelled a few months ago on United.. Gotta check it in but no special tags on your bags.. I never leave home w/o it.
I travel on airlines frequently. All tags are inside the luggage. There are no exposed "free gun" tags. To minimize opportunities for theft, please seperate the unloaded weapon and the ammo into two seperate locked containers (plastic gun cases) in the luggage. That has been my practice and knock on wood, so far I have been lucky.
I flew into Midway from Jacksonville, FL in Sept. My luggage was not marked in any way. I had to show the guy who checked me in that the gun wasn't currently loaded, put locks on the box and it was sent on the same as everyone elses. No special tags/tape/anything. Gun made to MDW with no mishaps, even though there was a connection in Atlanta and the bag got to MDW before I did. Is this isolated to O'Hare only?
I flew out of O'Hare with my pistol in August. The airline required the pistol be locked in a steel case and unloaded. I put my pistol, in my off duty holster, a box of ammunition and my automatic knife in a steel sentry lockbox with a towel to take up the extra room. You also have to declare it. They did not mark the outside of the case. The tag goes inside the box. After declaring it at check in I had to walk it over the TSA dorks. They called a supervisor and he checked to see it was unloaded. When I arrived in San Antonio it rolled out on the carousel in baggage claim. I picked it up went to the restroom, loaded my magazines and strapped it on. It worked the same way coming home. I'm lucky the mutts didn't get it. I flew American. Are they hitting any particular airline?
I believe that you can request the agent at the luggage counter to put the label on the inside of your luggage so that it does not stand out when enroute to the plane. This also covers you when it goes thru security checks and the x-ray machines.
When I went out of town it was right at the onset of this story. Call me stupid, but I paid 20+ bucks to overnight it to the hotel I was staying at. When I arrived, there it was and No one had any Idea what it was.
as stupid as it might seem, Fuck it...it worked good
When checking your bag in, declare that you have a unloaded gun in the suitcase and show your credentials. They place a card in your suitcase on top of the case that will show through an x-ray machine to the x-ray technician but not to other luggage handlers.
The best way to avoid the headache is to have your gun shipped "Hi-Value" through UPS the day before your flight, to your destination. Even if it's to a hotel. It'll be there hours after you arrive and it's insured.
9:09am
you may be opening up a can of worms with the UPS. it may have worked for you, but i certainly would not second your suggestion. call me paranoid, but i have more faith in the TSA.
It is against the law to put a "steal me" tag on the outside of any checked luggage containing a firearm. A copy of the declaration has to go inside the suitcase (in case it is opened by TSA enroute to the destination).
HEY, YOUR GOING ON VACATION. LEAVE THE GUN AND BADGE AT HOME. ENJOY YOUR TRIP. OR DOES THAT BADGE GET YOU DISCOUNTS IN VEGAS??
You do not have to show any credentials!!! ANYONE can transport a firearm as long as it is in a locked case and shown to the airline that it is unloaded. The tag goes inside the case with the gun. I have flown MANY times with my gun over the last few years from O'Hare and Midway without incident. Read the rules the airlines and TSA post and no one will have a problem!
TAKE MY ADVICE WHEN I GO TO ARIZONA ,I LEAVE MY GUN AND BADGE AT HOME. I LOCK UP ENOUGH SHITS HEADS EVERY DAY. I DO NOT NEED TO BE THE POLICE WHILE I AM IN SCOTTSDALE,AZ. BUT I DO CARRY MY PEPPER SPRAY.
REMEMBER ,UNTILL THERE IS JUSTICE I WILL NEVER ALLOW PEACE.
Typical cops, they need that gun and badge to be tough.....grrrrrr
Typical cops, they need that gun and badge to be tough.....grrrrrr
12/07/2006 07:11:38 PM
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Nope. Just to protect ourselves from scumbags like you.
Yes, that typical cop, he was the guy who everybody beat up. He always went home crying to his momma.... So now your tough with that gun, huh punk!
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