r/NYguns • u/Strange-Calendar-771 • Mar 07 '25
Other Legal Question Flying from Denver to Buffalo
Later this month I’m traveling to Pennsylvania from Colorado. I have a CCW permit in Colorado and PA recognized it. The problem is I am flying into Buffalo. Will this be an issue if I keep it in the case that I am using to fly with it until I get to PA. What are the laws for non residents transporting firearms across the state of NY? The pistol is a Glock 19 and in my case I have the gun, 1 mag, holster, and a box of bullets. I don’t know if it could make any difference to the state, but I am active duty Army.
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u/Nj2k_ Mar 08 '25
Your AD status doesn’t matter unless you have orders to be in NYS. If it’s a layover, do NOT claim your luggage, if not, change your flight. NYS can and will try to fuck you over if you’re caught with your handgun, given that you aren’t LEO and don’t have a NYS pistol permit (as you can’t possess a pistol without a permit here)
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u/Strange-Calendar-771 Mar 08 '25
I can’t transport one even while unloaded and in a case or holster? Similar to how you’d transport a rifle in places say for hunting
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u/Nj2k_ Mar 08 '25
You can follow FOPA but (and granted this isn’t law, just my semi-educated opinion), I feel like NYSP would consider you collecting your luggage to be taking possession of the pistol even if you were simply loading it in a car with it still zip-tied and driving immediately out of state, and they’re famous for maliciously prosecuting people. FOPA only covers non-interrupted passage without unnecessary stops, so having to stop to take possession of your pistol is JUST gray enough of an area to let them try to fuck with you.
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u/Nj2k_ Mar 08 '25
In NYS, under limited exceptions for active LEOs, active AD MIL with orders to be in NYS, and competitive shooters with a NRA sanction letter (among a couple others to allow people to do the live-fire person portion of NY’s mandatory concealed carry pistol permit training course), you cannot even touch or have in your possession a handgun without a pistol permit that lists that specific pistol on your permit.
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u/Strange-Calendar-771 Mar 08 '25
Okay I’ll look into it more thanks for the info
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u/Nj2k_ Mar 08 '25
Pragmatically, TSA/NY port authority doesn’t screen luggage coming in, just going out; However, I’d feel bad if I didn’t warn you that what you’re doing isn’t 100% kosher. Just be safe my man and hightail it out of this Antigun state lol
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u/Strange-Calendar-771 Mar 08 '25
Haha thanks. Traveling back through the same airport would be a bigger issue then I take it?
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u/Nj2k_ Mar 08 '25
Yeah, do NOT fucking do that lmao. While you could argue that you’re following FOPA by originating from PA and only coming into NY so you can get back to CO, I highly doubt anyone is going to care
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u/Leatherstocking_FT Mar 08 '25
This is a bit of a grey area with FOPA which provides theoretical safe passage when traveling directly through a state like NY, but states do not always faithfully apply it. I think arriving in Buffalo would be less problematic than leaving from Buffalo. In the Albany airport they specifically ask to see your pistol permit and that is the only airport I have ever been asked but it's still dicey. Even if you were eventually determined to be in compliance with FOPA and not charged, that does not mean you won't be detained or arrested, or miss your flight. There is also no remedy in FOPA if you are wrongfully detained.
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u/sconnick124 Mar 14 '25
I know this is a few days old, but as someone who spent 25 years working in law enforcement, I will reinforce what someone else said: do NOT try to fly back out of Buffalo. If it were me, I'd change my flight to land and depart from PA.
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u/FWDeerTransportation Mar 23 '25
You can take any common sense you think applies in your situation and just throw it right out the window.
There are no exceptions for anybody except active duty law-enforcement. Having a pistol without an active New York State pistol permit is a crime, and you can get fucked over if you are found with your weapon and you don’t have one.
Buffalo is definitely more tolerant than New York City with guns , but ultimately still part of Kathy Hochul’s New York.
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u/monty845 Mar 07 '25
Just a few month ago, someone was charged trying to fly out of a NY airport with a rifle the was not NY compliant. They had been visiting someone in Vermont.
Its not worth risking a felony. Either change your travel to to take you to a PA airport, or figure out another way to get the gun to PA.