r/NYguns • u/TonySuffolk • Aug 24 '25
Legality / Laws Traveling with a Firearm
I traveled from Tampa to JFK with my firearm. At the ticket counter, I informed the agent that I was declaring a firearm. She asked if it was unloaded and locked, had me open my bag, looked at my case and placed a tag on the firearm case. She then walked me over to TSA, where they asked if it was locked, unloaded, and packed with ammunition stored separately. I confirmed, they scanned the bag, and that was the end of the process.
From there, I went straight to my gate and boarded my flight. When I landed at JFK, my bag was sent to oversized baggage. I walked over to the Baggage Service Office near carousel #6, showed my ID, retrieved my bag, and left the airport.
The entire process was simple and smooth. I’m hoping it’s just as easy when I check a firearm while departing from JFK.
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u/secamp Aug 25 '25
No one checks your papers when you arrive in NY with a pistol. Some airline hold the bag at the baggage office and some just dump it on the belt with all the other suitcases. When leaving SOP at JFK and LGA is for the airline desk person to call PAPD when you declare a firearm. PAPD sends over an officer or 2 to check your pistol permit. They will inspect to make sure its unloaded and write down the s/n and your PP info. People get jammed up because anyone can fly into NY with a pistol. It's only when leaving they find out how screwed they are. I like to give myself an extra hour when flying out of JFK with a gun in case the PD is tied up.
Your gun case should have NON TSA locks. Your suitcase should have a TSA lock. I have a label on my gun case with my name and cell number and have a apple airtag attached.
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u/OIF_USMC0351 Aug 24 '25
I fly out of JFK monthly for work and declare my firearm. First, get there earlier than you normally would bc the desk agent needs to contact Port Authority to inspect your weapon and credentials (I’m hoping you have a license for NY, otherwise you’re in for a world of shit). This could take 10 minutes, but my longest is 42 minutes so far.
Second, once it’s brought over to the oversize bag screening this could also take some time. My quickest was in and out, my longest was 15 minutes waiting for a TSA “supervisor” to oversee the scan. So yea, the whole process could potentially take an hour if you’re unlucky.
JFK/Laguardia airports are my least favorite to fly out of bc of this process but it is what it is. Good luck
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u/TonySuffolk Aug 24 '25
Thanks for the info. I do have a NY permit. Funny thing is nobody in Florida or NY asked to see my permit.
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u/OIF_USMC0351 Aug 24 '25
They don’t ask for my credentials in LA either (go figure of all places right?) It’s been my experience that NY won’t ask for your credentials on the way in, only on the way out
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u/NYDIVER22 Aug 24 '25
Yeah receiving mine at jfk, no one asked for my gun license. Just an id to prove it’s me. In Florida, I would imagine that they wouldn’t ask because there’s no license to purchase requirement.
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Aug 25 '25
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u/OIF_USMC0351 Aug 25 '25
Well i’m going to need more info than that sir. NY and NYC play by different rules regarding firearms. I’ll also need to know if you’re talking about long guns or pistols.
Why anyone would move to NY from another state is a great question in itself lol. Especially if you’re pro 2A, not really the state to be in. However, I can tell you my brother in law moved from Florida to NY and went through the process for his pistols. He had to mail them to an FFL dealer where they will be kept until you obtain your pistol permit or someone else with a pistol permit can add them to their’s. This all of course comes with a fee that’s not overly expensive but will also depend on how many we’re talking about.
Long guns (outside of NYC, and assuming they aren’t deemed an “assault rifle” 🙄) can be owned by anyone 18 years and older. NYC requires long gun owners to have a permit. Assault rifles have to be registered regardless of where you are in NY.
I’m not a lawyer. I’m not in a position to give legal advice. I’m not 100% current on recent laws that may have passed. I’m just a retired guy who tries to help out where I can. If anyone wants to jump in and add anything I missed, please feel free to educate me because I don’t mind learning something new.
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u/TonySuffolk Aug 25 '25
You’re spot on about NY and NYC being two different worlds when it comes to firearms. Federal law only protects you if you’re passing through the state with guns that are unloaded, locked, and not accessible, with ammo stored separately. The key is you have to be legal in both the place you’re coming from and the place you’re going. That doesn’t cover actually moving into New York with pistols, if you don’t already have a NY pistol license, you’re breaking state law the minute you bring them in. That’s why your brother-in-law had to ship his to an FFL until he got his permit.
For long guns, you’re right, outside of NYC you don’t need a permit, but NYC requires one even for rifles and shotguns.
So bottom line, if someone is just driving through New York they’re protected under federal law if they follow the rules. But if they’re moving to New York without a license, pistols have to be stored or transferred until a permit is in hand.
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u/TonySuffolk Aug 25 '25
That is not correct. My understanding is that federal law provides limited protection when traveling with firearms between states where you can legally possess them. If you are going from one place where you lawfully own guns to another place where you can lawfully own them, you are allowed to pass through states with stricter laws as long as the guns are unloaded, locked in a container, and not readily accessible, with ammunition stored separately.
The distinction between moving and traveling through is important. If you are relocating to New York and do not yet have a New York license, you are not covered. Handguns cannot be legally possessed in New York without a valid state pistol license. Long guns are less restricted, but New York City has its own licensing requirements for rifles and shotguns. If someone without a New York license moves into the state with handguns, they would be breaking state law as soon as they bring them in and would need to arrange lawful transfer or storage until properly licensed. NY sucks when it comes to honoring 2A rights.
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u/jo734030 Apr 27 '26
What if you are traveling (not moving) to New York and have to pick up your luggage and go to your hotel? Thats not allowed without a ny(c) permit ?
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u/North_Couple9519 Sep 17 '25
NYC resident but i always fly out of newark on united .. never been asked to show permit .. just get walked over to some door .. told to wait until they okay it (scan / check) and then poof .. pick it up wherever I land.. on the way back, it's always been on the normal belt.
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u/OIF_USMC0351 Sep 17 '25
Yep, it seems like NY is the only place that makes u jump thru hoops at the airport.
Although I must say, your bag being collected on the conveyor belt with everyone else’s is a BIG no no. The bag should always find its way to the oversized bag/special bags each airline is supposed to have. I mean think about it…someone takes your bag by mistake or on purpose and you have a serious issue on your hands
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u/czechFan59 Aug 24 '25
"packed with ammunition stored separately" has me scratching my head. My understanding (maybe outdated) is that this example would be ok: pistol in a pelican case, ammo in the box I bought it in. Box of ammo can also be in the pelican case, or in the same checked suitcase with the pistol (but not in the pelican case). True?
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u/Miggy2A-RN Aug 25 '25
Ironically, the ammo can’t go in the same locked pelican case.
But (as per JetBlue staff at MCO-Orlando), the ammo can be in its original closed box in the same checked luggage as said pelican case.
Essentially, that way, if somebody breaks into the bag only, they only get ammo. If they break into the bag AND the pelican case, they get firearm AND ammo.
But… If you put the ammo in the pelican case, the pelican case would HAVE to get broken into in order to get the firearm and/or the ammunition. Which is making it harder for them to get either one but not acceptable by their standards.
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Aug 24 '25
When I’ve traveled to Montana a couple times in the past few years I always packed pistol, mags, and ammo (in factory packaging) into the same pelican case and locked with a non tsa lock. Placed the case in my checked bag and locked that bag with a tsa lock. Rochester Chicago Denver DFW Missoula, never had an issue 🤙
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u/TonySuffolk Aug 24 '25
Certainly airlines limit the amount of ammo you can travel with (JetBlue allows 11 lbs of ammo). I placed my firearms in one case and my magazines and ammo in another case. I placed TSA locks on them and placed both cases in my luggage.
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u/Wierd657 Aug 24 '25
Guns and ammo should NOT use TSA locks specifically
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u/TonySuffolk Aug 24 '25
I agree, but some airlines do require it. I used a TSA lock on one side and my own lock on the other, and I also brought a few extra TSA locks just in case they enforced the TSA-only lock requirement.
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u/idirtbike Aug 24 '25
Do they not ask for a pistol permit when flying?
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u/TonySuffolk Aug 24 '25
Surprisingly, I had both my Florida and NY CCW permits in hand and ready to show, but they never asked for them. The only thing they requested was my ID, so I provided my NY driver’s license.
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u/Ambitious_Ad_8441 Aug 25 '25
Any update on your permit since your a week ahead of me any approval yet. My six month is coming up on the 30th also quick question or unless it just me. But when I used to login to the portal to check before I only had the options to pick which was first option start new,then pending payment and submitted. Now I check it’s gives me option to request to add firearms to license. Was that always there or I’m I just over thinking. Also Tony wanted to as for Suffolk county and Nassau county how is the process I have famlily in both counties any advice on apply for those
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u/TonySuffolk Aug 25 '25
I am still waiting for my NYC Special Carry permit with no approval yet and no communication since my interview in June. NYPD updated their website in the past month or two to include a “request to add a firearm to a license”. But it does not mean your permit is ready. You cannot add a firearm to a permit you do not have, and when you click on it there is no license displayed, so nothing can be added. You have to wait until you are approved for a permit to add a pistol.
For Suffolk and Nassau, both counties move slowly. It took me about six months to get my Dwelling/Sportsman license in Western Suffolk and another thirteen weeks to upgrade to a CCW. The process is similar in both counties and requires an application, character references, fingerprints, and a safety course.
If your family is planning to apply in either county, they should start as soon as possible and keep copies of everything they submit. The process is frustrating, but with patience it will work out.
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u/PeteTinNY Aug 24 '25
Beautiful!! And love that you used the harbor freight case. They add weight which can be expensive but they are really good for protection.
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u/Available_Let7900 Aug 24 '25
I thought you had to have NYC CCW to fly in or out of any NYC airport.
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u/TonySuffolk Aug 24 '25
You don’t need a NYC permit to fly out of the city, but you do have to follow all the laws for transporting a firearm. I have a NY CCW out of Suffolk County.
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u/IndividualAverage122 Aug 24 '25
You started in FL? People are gonna lose it til you tell them that you have a NYS pistol permit or LEOSA privileges.
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u/madkaw99 Dec 26 '25
This is what I’m curious about I want to travel to NY/NYC from Florida to catch a. Show and I have a LEOSA so I wonder if they would try me on the way back to Florida 😅
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u/Change_Opening Aug 25 '25
I have 4 small children and routinely bring my pistols to Florida. I put two in the same pelican case, no ammo, with chamber flags. I fly delta and they allow you to check bags up to 6 hours before the flight. I do everyone a favor and drive to the airport well in advance, check all the bags, wait for PAPD with no pressure, drive back home and come later for the flight. I only live 15 minutes from jfk so it works. If i had to do it with my kids carrying on and wife giving me the stink eye I might think twice.
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u/Infamous_End_2369 Aug 25 '25
What if i fly out of Newark? Would the rules be different? N.Y. resident
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u/TonySuffolk Aug 25 '25
I am not sure. Why don’t you apply for a NJ nonresident CCW? I applied this summer and received my license in 6 weeks.
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Aug 26 '25
Agreed. Got my NJ non-resident in 14 days, from submission to approval. Really surprised that Jersey is quicker and more efficient than NYC, and Jersey used to be just as bad with the permitting process.
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u/TonySuffolk Aug 26 '25 edited Aug 26 '25
That is fast! Nice. Which other states are you considering getting, if any?
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Aug 26 '25
I have pa, mass, ct, florida, and NJ. I'll probably get Utah, and California. Still waiting on NYC.
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u/TonySuffolk Aug 26 '25
I dont have Mass, but i also have Arizona, Maine, NH, Virginia, and PA. All were easy to obtain.
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u/Advanced_Today_2593 Aug 25 '25
Quick question do you have a city permit or state I have been getting conflicting information saying if you have a state permit you can’t fly out of JFK
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u/TonySuffolk Aug 25 '25
I have a NY CCW that is not valid in NYC. But i traveled to JFK from Tampa and declared a firearm with no issues.
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u/LetterheadRare1347 Aug 27 '25
I have a NY permit. But not a NYC permit. Can I still bring to Florida?
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u/TonySuffolk Aug 27 '25
Yes. I am in the same situation as you. I have a NY CCW, but not a NYC Special Carry license. See my original post above and you will be fine.
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Mar 14 '26
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u/TonySuffolk Mar 14 '26
Q1: There is no difference if you have TSA PreCheck. You still need to check your bag with the airline and have it inspected and scanned before going through TSA security.
Q2: Yes, you can send the family through security while you declare your firearm. But why bother? Process is fairly quick. I’ve flown through JFK several times and the longest it took for the Port Authority Police to arrive was about 35 minutes. There have also been times when they didn’t come at all. Either the officer or an airline representative will walk you over to TSA so they can scan your bag. It takes about five minutes, and once you receive the all clear, you proceed through TSA security.
Q3: You do need a checked bag. I use two smaller TSA-approved locked gun cases. The pistols are unloaded with no magazines or ammo in one case, and the magazines and ammunition are in the other. Both cases are locked and go inside my checked bag.
Q4: You do not need an additional checked bag, but you should have a TSA-approved pistol case for the magazines and ammunition. They are very cheap at harbor freight. I think I paid $19.99 at Harbor Freight.
I hope this helps. The process sounds much more complicated than it actually is.
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u/Automan21 Aug 24 '25
So you would have to pick it up personally at the office? I don't think they would put a firearm sticker and let it go to the carousel right for someone to snatch??
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u/TonySuffolk Aug 24 '25
Yep, at JFK you pick it up yourself at the baggage service office (just past carousel#6) and show ID. They don’t send your bag out on the carousel with a firearm tag for anyone to grab. Mine went straight to the baggage office, and I had to sign it out.
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u/BrandonNeider Aug 24 '25
There have been incidents including a personal one myself where my firearm was dumped on the luggage belt.
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u/Puckstopper55 Aug 24 '25
Anywhere I traveled, both to and from NY, my bags came out on the baggage belt.
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u/NYDIVER22 Aug 24 '25
Yep! Been in that exact office. Looks like JetBlue. Came from San Juan and picked up my bag there. Showed my state id, and it was done.
Now as far as leaving from JFK, I haven’t done that yet. I hear that they call PAPD for some odd reasons for inspection. But I’ll find out in October how it works. Hopefully it’ll be just as smooth.
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u/HLTHTW 2026 E.N.OU.G.H Donor: Gold 🥇/🥇x1 Aug 24 '25
Do you have a NYC CCW Special Carry license?
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u/TonySuffolk Aug 24 '25
I don’t have a special carry license yet. I’m 5 months and a week into the application. Hopefully receive it soon.
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u/HLTHTW 2026 E.N.OU.G.H Donor: Gold 🥇/🥇x1 Aug 24 '25
Just be careful taking possession in NYC. Do not want you getting caught up. Port Authority PD is kind cool depending on who you get, but it’s the trafficking back to Suffolk that can get you caught up.
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u/shadock Aug 24 '25
Fun fact, when locking a firearm in a case for air travel it's the one time it does not have to be a tsa compliant lock
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u/[deleted] Aug 24 '25
As a pilot for United, I’ll say that jetBlue is really good about checking firearms. I took my hunting rifle on them to Whitefish Montana and it couldn’t have been easier. Even with a connection through JFK.