I travelled to Bunnell, Florida for the Shoot Sig match this past weekend, and I learned a lesson the hard way. I forgot two of my guns at home. I only realized it after I had left, and I had to borrow other firearms to shoot the match. That is an embarrassing thing to admit as a firearms instructor, but I would rather you learn from my mistake than repeat it.
What went wrong
I packed from memory. I felt confident, I was in a rush, and I assumed everything was in the bag. That assumption cost me my own equipment, and it meant shooting a match with guns I was not used to.
Why checking twice, if not three times, matters
Memory fails most when you are busy, and the more routine the trip feels, the more likely you are to skip a step. Here is the process I am using from now on:
- Write a gear list. Include every firearm, magazines, holsters, ammunition, eye and ear protection, tools, and paperwork.
- Check the list against what is physically in your bags, not against what you think you packed.
- Check it a second time the night before.
- Check it a third time right before you walk out the door.
Reading from a written list, instead of trusting your memory, is what catches the gun still sitting at home.
Know the rules before you go
Forgetting gear is a nuisance. Getting the legal side wrong can be far worse.
Driving across state lines. Federal law (18 U.S.C. § 926A) protects you when you travel from a place where you can lawfully possess and carry a firearm to another place where you can lawfully do the same. During the trip the firearm must be unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition may be readily accessible from the passenger compartment. In a vehicle with no separate trunk, they must be in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console. Plan a direct trip and avoid unnecessary stops.
Flying. TSA allows firearms only if they are unloaded, locked in a hard-sided container, and placed in checked baggage. You must declare each firearm at the airline ticket counter. Ammunition and firearm parts, including magazines, are not allowed in carry-on bags. Airlines may have additional requirements, so check yours before you travel.
State laws vary. Look up the current rules for every state you will pass through and your destination, using official state sources.
The takeaway
Slow down, use a list, and check it again. If you would like help with firearms safety, training, or classes, contact Tri-State Training, LLC at 301.988.0809, tristatetrainer@gmail.com, or tristatetraining.org.
Sources: TSA: Transporting Firearms and Ammunition and 18 U.S.C. § 926A.