Flying to Chicago

Guns & Gear Gear
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I’ve never flown with CCW and ammo before and know nothing about rules and laws regarding arrival in Chicago.

The background is I am seriously considering a used car purchase in the Chicago area. If it goes through, then I will be flying from Florida to Chicago and driving the used car back to Florida. Needless to say I do not want to make the drive without protection.

Do I need 2 TSA approved cases, i.e., one for CCW and the other for ammo. If so, which case should have magazines in it? Are there magazine capacity concerns? Would I need to keep CCW and ammo locked up separately until I’ve left Chicago or until I cross the state line.

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I’m hoping you’re buying from a reputable dealer.

Have you reached out to the airline to get more guidance?

Laws are similar to a nonresident driving in CA.

https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/resources/ccw_reciprocity_map/il-gun-laws/

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It is confusing. I go out of my way to avoid Chicago just for this reason. The city has rules over and above the state restrictions.

Your choices are to keep the gun locked up and out of site until you enter Indiana, or drive while obeying every traffic rule, so they have no probable cause to pull you over. Take the absolute shortest way out of Chicago.

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The flying will be the easy part, Chicagos draconian gun laws will be the SOB of it.

Just follow the rules posted on the USCCA website for tsa and you shouldn’t have any issues with the airline.

I did the same thing when I picked up my RV in Montana, I would’ve thought that a one way ticket with a bag that only had a blanket, change of clothes, and a pistol in it would send red flags flying… but it was an absolute breeze!

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Reach out to the airline, TSA, AND the airport before you go. What is good for the airpory/airline and TSA doesn’t carry any water with the State, however. Then check each State you plan to drive through (use USCCA website). Plan carefully! There will be no second chances. Drive carefully!

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This is a great idea as well!

I didn’t do that, so I was confused why my bag wasn’t on the carousel? Yeah, gun in the bag, they want to see an ID to make sure it goes back to the right person!

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Something to keep in mind and I only mention it because of what my wife shared with me. A member of a firearms forum she belongs to said during one of their trips to a firearms competition her checked bag which contained her firearm was accidentally loaded onto a different flight. That flight went to Canada, where the Canadian authorities held the luggage and confiscated the contents (Firearms). To my knowledge, that firearm was never returned, or at least not in time for their competition. Needless to say, since that occurrence, that competitor now ships all firearms to destinations and / or drives to competitions.

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Yup, with American(in April)they had me open my luggage to see the firearm was unloaded with the ammunition in its own box. Upon arrival I went to their baggage office to retrieve it. You must show them your ID.

Now, I flew Southwest on the return and they just wanted to be notified that there was a firearm in my luggage, put a tag on the safe, and threw it on the belt. When I went to their baggage office to retrieve it they told me that I didn’t need to show ID and they just threw it on the baggage carousel with all the others.

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That’s as secure as CA voting. So, I just need to spot the luggage with the special tag if I wanted to own a Staccato :thinking:

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https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/resources/traveling-with-firearms/airports/

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Illinois does not recognize ANY other state for CCW or gun possession rules. Unless you have an Illinois FOID card and CCW license, just being in possession of a firearm or ammynition in the state will land you in jail if you are caught with it. Even if it is unloaded. Especially anything near the Chicago area.

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First of all - do not freak out. And ignore all posts saying to avoid Chicago area, it’s just BS. We are not a gun nazist in Illinois. :face_with_raised_eyebrow:

Second - I’d more worried about checking your luggage during departure, not upon arrival in Chicago. However, what can happen in Chicago.. your luggage may be lost, especially at O’Hare Airport. :slightly_smiling_face: So, first advice - use any tracking tag inside your bag.

Third - do not use TSA approved gun / ammo cases or locks. The only person who get access inside those cases is you and nobody else. These cases must be opened with you present. Any hard shell gun case with locks (or loopholes for padlocks) is ok.

Fourth - inside the case: use the cable lock, put it through the magwell; keep the slide locked to the rear. Magazines are unloaded. Ammo packed in original boxes. (check details of airline’s rules). Make it as safe looking as possible. (especially for screening)

Fifth - check the rules posted on airlines website. TSA is only 50% of things you need to know. Each airline may have their own rules (thank God, mostly these are the same between airlines, amount of ammo may vary)

Sixth - give yourself extra time for processing at destination airport. I’m guessing your luggage with gun case will land on baggage claim carousel… and this is a nightmare at O’Hare. Sometimes it may take over 1 hr to get it.

Seventh - know your rights (print the rules on remember where to find them), your knowledge must be better than TSA or airline’s personnel knowledge. If they don’t know something, ask for manager.

Regarding you trip back to Florida - this is super simple. Illinois allows non-residents with valid out-of-State permit to carry their firearm within the vehicle while traveling through the Illinois. No need to lock or disassemble your firearm. I recommend avoiding speeding - you never know how knowledgeable the Officer will be and once, he figures out you carry, your traffic stop expands from 20 minutes to 2 hr. :grimacing:

So - be knowledgeable and smart. Make everything easy and even look more safe than is should be. This way you do not need to worry about anything.

Good luck !

:right_facing_fist: :oncoming_fist: :left_facing_fist:

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Please - know your rights, know the Laws, and do not post BS here. :enraged_face: :face_with_symbols_on_mouth:

If you want to know, print out and read this:

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15

Thank you everyone for the advise. I hope to need it sometime in the near future.

Unfortunately the car I was interested in sold yesterday after sitting on the lot for 6 weeks. I suspect they used my interest to push someone else over the finish line to buy it. I am still actively doing a nationwide search for a 2017 to 2020 GT350.

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Closest I could find. Good luck with your search.

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BTW…it is sometimes better to ship FTL to FTL! Doesn’t provide for safety enroute, but there are alternatives (Pepper spray, stock prods, etc.)

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Yeah, the 2015 to 2020 GT350 is a pretty unique vehicle. It has the Voodoo normally aspirated 5.2 liter Flat Plane Crank engine with 8,250 RPM redline connected to a 6-speed manual. I am excluding 2015 and 2016 models from my search due to initial production issues.

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What are you planning to do with it if you find one? (Race, Strictly investment, Everyday ride, etc.)

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It will be an everyday local driver for me.

I have another vehicle with more room and better fuel economy for traveling.

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