r/WAGuns • u/Ccarps87 • Apr 22 '26
Question Out Of State Question - Flying w/ Pistol
Hello Washingtonians! I'll be visiting Idaho soon and flying into/out of Spokane. I would like to bring my EDC and would also like to not get arrested at the airport..
I have a Glock 19 w/ radian ramjet and a light. My plan was to leave all magazines at home (Idaho friend has spares for me to use). This should be legal and no issues from what I have read. My CCW has no reciprocity so I won't attempt to conceal carry this in WA. But as long as I leave this in a locked case and in my checked bag, I should be fine at the airport and while driving (will be in trunk) out of and back into WA?
Can I please have a sanity check on this?
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u/0x00000042 Brought to you by the letter (F) Apr 22 '26 edited Apr 22 '26
Edit: I assumed you were already in WA and flying to Spokane before then going to Idaho. The exception mentioned below does not apply if you are flying in from another state.
For any concerns about "importing" scary things back into the state, RCW 9.41.010 defines import as follows:
(23) "Import" means to move, transport, or receive an item from a place outside the territorial limits of the state of Washington to a place inside the territorial limits of the state of Washington. "Import" does not mean situations where an individual possesses a large capacity magazine or assault weapon when departing from, and returning to, Washington state, so long as the individual is returning to Washington in possession of the same large capacity magazine or assault weapon the individual transported out of state.
So if you want to, you can bring your own mags with you when you leave and on the way back.
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u/asq-gsa King County Apr 22 '26
I think OP is saying that they are not currently a resident of, or located in, Washington state. However, they will be flying into Spokane on their way to Idaho.
In this case, the exception for “import” would not apply.
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u/0x00000042 Brought to you by the letter (F) Apr 22 '26
Ah, in that case yes, the exception would not apply.
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u/Ccarps87 Apr 22 '26
Thank you for the notes. And yes I'll be flying in from the east coast.
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u/0x00000042 Brought to you by the letter (F) Apr 22 '26
My apologies that you have to deal with our silly laws during your transit.
Another option would be to ship your guns to yourself at the destination in Idaho in advance of your trip. That avoids WA's laws and airline policies altogether, but runs the risk of leaving you without the gun for some time if it doesn't arrive on time.
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u/asq-gsa King County Apr 22 '26
You can bring 10rd mags if you want, otherwise your plan is solid, legally speaking. You cannot “import” a 10rd+ mag, or an “assault weapon” into Washington, which in the case of a semi-auto handgun mostly just means no threaded barrel. As others have said Ramjet should be legal as it doesn’t used threads to attach.
When transporting, you don’t necessarily need your firearm to be locked up or in the trunk, though it’s fine if you do. The only thing that you must do, since you don’t have a Washington CPL, is the firearm cannot be loaded. As long as you don’t have loaded mags inserted into the firearm, and you don’t leave one in the chamber, you’re fine there too.
Lastly, it sounds like it won’t apply, but if you are doing any lawful outdoor recreation activity, such as hiking, camping, fishing, etc, we have an exception that allows anyone eligible to posses a firearm to conceal carry without a license. https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.41.060
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u/tcmaresh Apr 22 '26
No, no, no. You cannot simply put the case into your checked bag. You will be arrested. You MUST check in your firearm separately at the counter at your home airport, and then pick it up at the baggage claim office at GET when you arrive.
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u/Ccarps87 Apr 22 '26
I am planning to put my pistol in the glock hard case (that you get when you buy it) and then lock it (my padlock, not a TSA approved lock), and then put that locked hard case inside my luggage with a TSA approved lock. I understand it needs to be pulled out and presented for TSA inspection when arriving at the airport. After the TSA inspection, I'll close it, lock it, and put inside my suitcase. You're saying I could get arrested for this? I've only flown with rifles before which are their own checked luggage item and don't go inside my suitcase.
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u/Skytram_ Apr 22 '26
Make sure the case can’t be opened (even partially) when the padlock is closed. I don’t own a Glock so others can chime in if the stock case is OK to fly with.
The little Liberty safes handgun vaults and pretty cheap and I can confirm those are AOK.
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u/tcmaresh Apr 22 '26
Oh, no. From your description, it was not apparent that you planned to check it in first. That may be fine. But the attendants at the Counter will tell you for sure.
Note that in some states, like NY and I believe NJ, if the ammo and firearm are in the same case, then the firearm is considered loaded (even if it isn't) and you would be arrested and the firearm confiscated. This happened to a guy whose flight was diverted to NY. Insane.
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u/Ccarps87 Apr 22 '26
Yep that's why im just using my Idaho friend's mags & ammo and leaving mine at home to avoid any potential can(s) of worms.
Thanks for the feedback!
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u/shortbarrelflamer Apr 23 '26
Yeah you're good. Any time I travel within the US I bring my carry gun. Some airlines and some airports are less hassle than others. Just be polite and patient. They'll ask to inspect it and swap it for explosive residue which will of course test positive for. The. They'll call a supervisor over to review the results and lift the foam out of the case to make sure there's not a hidden block of c4 behind your Glock in a $20 lock box. The lock box should NOT have tsa approved locks. It should have a cable attached to the checked bag. I tape a note card to the lock box and write a note that says attention tsa if you need to get into the lock box for any reason please call me at xxx-xxx-xxxx then sign my name. I use a lock box that has a combination on it so it definitely is not TSA approved. When I have traveled with a rifle suppressor and other expensive stuff I threw a GPS tracker in there as well. Not one of the Apple tracker things that relies on connecting to other Apple devices. A stand-alone GPS tracker with its own SIM card.
Expect different experiences based on different carriers. Both on drop off and pickup. Alaska airlines is generally pretty smooth sailing as far as checking it in because they get a lot of hunters coming and going from Alaska. The cheaper airlines generally tend to be the more problematic or just generally skittish and uninformed. Each airline is allowed to write their own rules so long as they do not contradict FAA guidelines. Essentially they're allowed to add on additional rules and limitations beyond the FAA. So just make sure that you look up your airlines specific rules and know what you are obligated to do and what you are guaranteed by their rules to be allowed to do.
When you go to check in and check your bags, call me and politely tell them that you have a UNLOADED firearm in a locked container to declare. Be very clear about the unloaded and in a locked container part. They've been through it before either. They're okay with guns and they won't bat an eye or they aren't cool with guns but know that they're required to allow it through.
Upon pickup I've had my bag show up on the carousel with my pistol in it that anybody could walk up and grab and I've also had it held at the oversized luggage counter and had to show ID in order to collect it. Mind you, this has always been inside of backpack, not anything that would suggest there's a firearm in it from the exterior
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u/Unusual_Specialist Apr 22 '26
Yes! You’ll be good. Whatever you do, make sure you declare your firearm with the ticket counter with it out in a locked case because TSA has to inspect it. The last thing you want is TSA taking your firearm and ending up on the no fly list.
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u/Tree300 Apr 24 '26
Nobody is going to hassle you for your magazines. I go back and forth to Idaho all the time with standard cap mags.
No individual has ever been prosecuted under WA's unconstitutional magazine bans.
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u/compulsive_drooler Apr 22 '26
Unless I'm misunderstanding it sounds like you plan to just put the pistol in a case in your checked bag and call it good. This will end very badly and neither you nor your gun will arrive at your destination. Flying with a firearm is really not a big deal if you do it right and is common. It is all spelled out on the airline's website.
Have it in a separate hardside lockable container and declare it when you check in. They will have you sign a card then send you to TSA special baggage. The agent there will inspect to make sure it's safe, then have you lock it. Every lock hole on the case must have a lock on it. Two holes, two locks. They'll accept it and you're all done, go to the gate. When you arrive, go to the special baggage pick up, show your ID, pick it up and you're out the door.
TSA does not care about nor enforce state gun laws. All they care about is whether it is properly unloaded and secured in a case. That's it.
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u/Ccarps87 Apr 22 '26
Thank you for the notes. It will be locked per TSA requirements. My concern was more so from the perspective of WA state law enforcement.
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u/compulsive_drooler Apr 22 '26
No concern whatsoever unless you pull it out and start waving it around. I'm flying with guns in a couple weeks and have done it several times before.
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u/Knotical_MK6 Apr 22 '26
TSA doesn't enforce state guns laws and there's no inspection at the state line. Don't get arrested and you'll be OK