Concealed carry and GA

cowman

cowman

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Cowman
I believe there are some folks here who fly and carry so I thought I'd ask. Other than general state laws around CCW, are there any aircraft/airport specific rules/regs one would need to worry about if they're going to carry? Of course we know at most podunk GA fields nobody is going to look/check/think about it if there's even anyone there when you land but what about big class D or C airports with a passenger terminal on the other side of the field?

I don't know of any but that doesn't mean they don't exist.
 
I don't worry too much about it as long as I have reciprocity in whichever state I plan to land in. I have one of these and no, that isn't mine but mine is just like it.

arizona_concealed_carry_permit.jpg
 
I gots one too.....just don't go into places weapons are not welcome even with a CCW permit. TSA won't be impressed.....


btw....AZ is the best state with reciprocity. Maryland, not so much, but I also have a UT CCW so that helps.
 
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iamtheari said:
Definitely you should carry concealed at airports. Open carry would attract too much attention.
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Not necessarily. You better check your state’s open and concealed carrying laws.

For example, in Nevada, you can open carry at airports but are not allowed to have a concealed weapon there even if you hold a permit.

Here, you cannot open carry without a permit in any public place.
 
Agree - there are many horror stories of diversions into places like New Jersey and people being arrested for having their firearms with them.
 
Ryanb said:
Not necessarily. You better check your states open and concealed carrying laws.
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Traffic is an unfunny joke, 6 o'clock and 3 miles, altitude indicates 5 thousand, no factor.

Jokes aside, follow the law...and if the law gives you a choice of alerting strangers that you have a gun or concealing that fact, my vote is for concealed. It avoids all sorts of headaches, including the nightmare of unaware people calling the police to say "there's a criminal with a gun at the airport."
 
iamtheari said:
Traffic is an unfunny joke, 6 o'clock and 3 miles, altitude indicates 5 thousand, no factor.

Jokes aside, follow the law...and if the law gives you a choice of alerting strangers that you have a gun or concealing that fact, my vote is for concealed. It avoids all sorts of headaches, including the nightmare of unaware people calling the police to say "there's a criminal with a gun at the airport."
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Oh, for sure. I’d choose concealed over open carry everytime.
 
One problem I see is when a lot of CCW sites talk about "airports" I don't know for sure if they mean any airport all over or if they just mean commercial passenger terminals. Most of the general public probably doesn't have reason to make that distinction.
 
Don't go to the CCW sites. Go to the appropriate state site. In Michigan for example I may carry anywhere (including airports) except:
Schools/Child Care Center
Sports Arena/Stadium
Restaurants/Bars that derive 51% or more of their income from alcohol
Places of worship (but you can get permission from the religious leader to do so)
Entertainment facility that seats 2500 or more
Hospitals
Dorms/Classrooms of colleges and universities
Casinos
Federal Buildings
 
Most FBOs are located in a government owned building and most states prohibit firearms in government owned buildings. So if you are discovered carrying and local police decide to lock you up, that a risk you assumed.
 
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EdFred said:
Don't go to the CCW sites. Go to the appropriate state site. In Michigan for example I may carry anywhere (including airports) except:
Schools/Child Care Center
Sports Arena/Stadium
Restaurants/Bars that derive 51% or more of their income from alcohol
Places of worship (but you can get permission from the religious leader to do so)
Entertainment facility that seats 2500 or more
Hospitals
Dorms/Classrooms of colleges and universities
Casinos
Federal Buildings
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Far as I can tell, every kid in Michigan gets a .22 for their 5th birthday and a 9mm and a ccw for their 12th. o_O
 
This is one of the things that has always made me hesitant to get a concealed carry permit and use it. The laws are so convoluted and it's so easy to go from law abiding citizen to felon just by walking into the wrong space.
 
Juliet Hotel said:
Far as I can tell, every kid in Michigan gets a .22 for their 5th birthday and a 9mm and a ccw for their 12th. o_O
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Not far off. I know I had a BB gun at a pretty young age, probably fired my first .22 around age 6 maybe.
cowman said:
This is one of the things that has always made me hesitant to get a concealed carry permit and use it. The laws are so convoluted and it's so easy to go from law abiding citizen to felon just by walking into the wrong space.
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Accidentally carrying into a Crime Enablement Zone here isn't a felony.
 
cowman said:
This is one of the things that has always made me hesitant to get a concealed carry permit and use it. The laws are so convoluted and it's so easy to go from law abiding citizen to felon just by walking into the wrong space.
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True dat! I even get nervous just having a weapon or two in my car while driving from home to the shooting range.
 
Driving back and forth between PA and VA is a pain. You should stop before MD, clear chamber, separate ammo and gun and stow. Once in VA reload and travel on. PIA
 
gdwindowpane said:
Driving back and forth between PA and VA is a pain. You should stop before MD, clear chamber, separate ammo and gun and stow. Once in VA reload and travel on. PIA
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They should make a federal law that if you aren't stopping and are staying on a US or Interstate highway, you don't have to mess with that BS.
 
midwestpa24 said:
Ever seen a metal detector at an FBO? Concealed is concealed, just make sure you are compliant with each states laws. Take into account states you may fly over or divert to as well.
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Yes - Signature at KBOS has one. In fact, I was thoughtfully relieved of my leatherman tool once going through there (and charged $75 security fee for the service). Thank god they caught it or I could have easily taken myself hostage in the air (I was the only human boarding the flight).

You have to love security theater!
 
EdFred said:
They should make a federal law that if you aren't stopping and are staying on a US or Interstate highway, you don't have to mess with that BS.
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They should that with a lot of things. Varying state laws doesn’t make much sense to begin with.
 
RudyP said:
Yes - Signature at KBOS has one. In fact, I was thoughtfully relieved of my leatherman tool once going through there (and charged $75 security fee for the service). Thank god they caught it or I could have easily taken myself hostage in the air (I was the only human boarding the flight).

You have to love security theater!
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Your first mistake was flying into any Massport airport. Your second mistake was using Signature.

I would have either filed a police report for theft, or send them an invoice for "purchasing" it. Then put a lien on assets until they paid. Just out of principal.
 
RudyP said:
Yes - Signature at KBOS has one. In fact, I was thoughtfully relieved of my leatherman tool once going through there (and charged $75 security fee for the service). Thank god they caught it or I could have easily taken myself hostage in the air (I was the only human boarding the flight).

You have to love security theater!
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Wow! That’s theft as far as I’m concerned.
 
RudyP said:
Yes - Signature at KBOS has one. In fact, I was thoughtfully relieved of my leatherman tool once going through there (and charged $75 security fee for the service). Thank god they caught it or I could have easily taken myself hostage in the air (I was the only human boarding the flight).

You have to love security theater!
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I consider that an emergency tool for aviation related activities... and not just facetiously. They really have no business doing something like that.
 
RudyP said:
Yes - Signature at KBOS has one. In fact, I was thoughtfully relieved of my leatherman tool once going through there (and charged $75 security fee for the service). Thank god they caught it or I could have easily taken myself hostage in the air (I was the only human boarding the flight).

You have to love security theater!
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What's a Leatherman cost? $40? They can keep the Leatherman and lesson learned. Tell them that you and none of you flying friends are never going to step foot in their FBO again.
 
Timbeck2 said:
Tell them that you and none of you flying friends are never going to step foot in their FBO again.
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Signature would be perfectly happy to hear that. One less piston plane they have to maneuver the jets around.
 
Timbeck2 said:
What's a Leatherman cost? $40? They can keep the Leatherman and lesson learned. Tell them that you and none of you flying friends are never going to step foot in their FBO again.
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Yeah, I actually didn't care that much about the $40 - it was worth it to have the ridiculous story that they took it away from me allegedly for 'security' when I was the only pilot/person on the plane. Even the agent agreed it was illogical but "rules are rules." By the way, their security area (which has a full metal detector and baggage scanner just like an airline terminal) is staffed by TSA and I get the impression that this was forced on Signature and not their idea. I have no idea why this one particular FBO has TSA presence unlike any other domestic FBO that I have been to, and I've been to a LOT - including most Class B airports. It isn't uncommon in other countries though but often has a slightly more casual feel than the full TSA thing at BOS.

Ryanb said:
Wow! That’s theft as far as I’m concerned.
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It's small potatoes theft compared to the obscene check I had to write to the IRS today (sorry - hope this doesn't derail thread but I can't help myself!)
 
Signature BOS has security due to it's proximity to the int'l terminal, or so I've been told.

Teddy Kennedy didn't have to go through security, in fact his limo was able to drive right on to the ramp.
 
midwestpa24 said:
Ever seen a metal detector at an FBO? Concealed is concealed, just make sure you are compliant with each states laws. Take into account states you may fly over or divert to as well.
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Most LEOs are trained to recognize concealed weapons. Once you are in a public building where the weapons are prohibited their training then gives them reasonable suspicion for a pat down and you ass is headed to jail on a felony weapons charge.
 
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