Any of You RKBAers Attend This Meeting?

[Paladin]

Today's Houston "Chronicle" has a brief write-up about a national Gun Rights Policy Conference, co-sponsored by the Citizens' Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and the Second Amendment Foundation.

Addressing this group of progressive thinkers was none other than Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, who advocated that attendees pack heat whenever they board a plane.

"'Whenever I travel by air, I always carry my gun,' he said, adding that he gets strange looks when he checks his gun at the ticket counter, in a locked container. Patterson urged what he called his fellow 'gun bubbas' to travel with guns so people will realize there's nothing wrong with it. 'Demonstrate that firearms ownership is normal,' he said."

Yeah, that's just what I want to see when I get on a plane these days: something "normal" like some stranger toting a pistol.....

[Dogmudgeon]

1. Well, it's in a locked container

I'd like to see someone try to hijack a plane with a gun locked in a container.

This could be the new hack comedy routine that replaces the "when I see A-rabbs getting on my plane, I get off" schtick.

Anyway, according to the NRA, all you'd have to do is brandish your own gun in a locked container, and the hijacker would be dissuaded from his crime.

--bkl

[DoNotRefill]

3. If there was a problem with the flight....

how are you supposed to get into the baggage hold to get the gun?

[DoNotRefill]

2. Ummmm...what's abnormal...

about checking a gun with your luggage? It's not like he's advocating having it in his carry-on bag....

[Paladin]

4. Ummmm.......You Don't Know Jerry Patterson Very Well

For years, Patterson has been the big-time advocate of Guns Everywhere, All The Time in Texas. These quotes are typical of him; his attitude seems to be if you can't intimidate somebody with your guns, what's the point of having them? I would imagine that not being able to take his guns on board in a carry-on bag is something he's pissed off about and doing his best to change. That might give you a woody, but it turns my stomach. And I am currently represented by politicians just like him, from county commissioner all the way to the White House.....

[RoeBear]

5. Paladin, you did realize...

...he wasn't carrying the gun into the cabin but packed in the cargo hold, right?

[Paladin]

8. It's Not Where The Gun Is Being Stored That Gives Me Problems

It's the attempt at an overt, intimidating political statement that Mr. Patterson is advocating; in these times of increased worries about airline security, I find it offensive for a political figure to encourage actions which will undoubtedly cause needless anxiety. I'm confident that you don't share my feelings, which is OK.......

[Fescue4u]

9. Why would checking a gun

Cause anxiety?

The procedure for this is well established and is followed everyday thousands of times.

I've even been chatted up by TSA agents about the merits of my chosen firearm while going through the procedures.

With one exception in rabidly anti-gun Chicago, its all been quite friendly (which was no big deal, just a few odd questions)

[DoNotRefill]

10. How would it cause increased anxiety?

Somehow I doubt that many people think a person announcing they have a weapon to check is a terrorist....

[RoeBear]

15. It'd be a shame...

...to get some clerk's knickers in a bunch.
"encourage actions which will undoubtedly cause needless anxiety"

[DoNotRefill]

6. you're right....All I know about him is what you wrote.

based upon that, I have no problem with his statement. I often carry guns on planes in my luggage, declared and inspected. Never had a problem doing that, but I've gotten some strange looks at the ticket counter.

It's legal, and it's MUCH less of a hassle than finding an FFL to ship it to.

[Withergyld]

12. Actually

DNR,
You can legally ship it to yourself!

"(B10) May a nonlicensee ship firearms interstate for his or her use in hunting or other lawful activity?


Yes. A person may ship a firearm to himself or herself in care of another person in the state where he or she intends to hunt or engage in any other lawful activity. The package should be addressed to the owner. Persons other than the owner should not open the package and take possession of the firearm."

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/faq2.htm

[DoNotRefill]

13. yeah, right...

Like I'd trust UPS with my gun....

[Fescue4u]

7. I travel by air with a gun all the time.

Its really no big deal. Take it to the ticket counter, declare it, sign a form and thats it.

of course I don't carry for protection on the plane, since its secured in the bottom of the aircraft.

Rather I take it just in case I need it at my destination

The only odd part nowadays is when the TSA do an explosive residue test on the frame of the gun and its come back positive (duh!)

[MrBenchley]

11. It's always wonderful to see the sort of specimen

who announces stuff like "Demonstrate that firearms ownership is normal". It's almost always some sort of demented screwloose like this bozo.

[MIddle Man]

14. He has good intentions....

He assumes you are just not use to seeing guns. If you see guns more often you will be cured of your fear. He is most likely wrong! But I bet that is what he thinks.

After 9/11, I liked seeing soldiers with machine guns in some of the airports. They should have been in all of them. But I am use to guns since I grew up around them and still own and shoot guns. Gun lovers see guns like cars, just another machine that is controlled by the operator.

But in the airport, the gun needs to travel in a case, which means the people who will see it are most likely working the ticket counter, and then the gun goes below with the luggage, if an airport employee does not steal it first. Few people should really be seeing the gun in that scenario.

On another note, never ship guns or anything else using UPS, they have too much crime, and even though they can track a box around the world they can never seem to figure out who stole what, or where or when? Go figure.

[RoeBear]

16. It was comforting to me...

...until I saw that they didn't have a magazine loaded.