MSP Airport carry

[ADulay]

Wanted to check with the Minnesota people to confirm that carrying of your personal sidearm is authorized inside the MSP airport (not the sterile area) when picking up and dropping off passengers for regular flights.

I know I did it several years ago but with an upcoming trip I wanted to check again as I can't find anything in the Minnesota statutes that cover this.

This is NOT bringing in checked firearms in a locked box. This is for general carry (concealed or otherwise) inside the terminal area.

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[color of law]

According to https://www.handgunlaw.us/states/minnesota.pdf no law can be found.

 

[mlawson]

Found snippet about airport security areas, but baggage claim isn't considered a 'secure' area.

Firearms in Minnesota: Prohibited Locations - Attorney Aaron Hall

Attorney Aaron Hall represents business owners and their companies. Businesses hire Aaron to advise and represent them in employment, intellectual property, litigation, and general business law.

aaronhall.com

 

[ADulay]

OK. It looks like I found most of the same information and wanted to make sure I haven't missed anything.

Thanks.

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[ADulay]

Completed the trip up and back from Florida.

No problems with checking in the guns at either end although the airport (MSP) TSA people did have me open the box for the gun and confirm that it was unloaded.

Open carried probably 95% of the time with zero problems including some type of local city block party that we stumbled upon, as best I could determine.

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[KBCraig]

No problems with checking in the guns at either end although the airport (MSP) TSA people did have me open the box for the gun and confirm that it was unloaded.

I'm curious about the TSA interaction.

Did they just have you open the box so that they could see the gun, and ask you if it was unloaded?

Or did they have you show that it was clear?

Or did they handle your gun in any way?

As I understand things, the first is the proper method. I've never had TSA ask to open a gun case, though. All my interactions end when I check in at the counter. MHT and DAL are both really cool about guns.

I suppose a chamber flag, or cable lock through the mag well, would serve well to show that a pistol is unloaded.

 

[mlawson]

KB, I'm surprised there isn't any specific rules set from the TSA about cable locks etc. (give it time I suppose)

 

[solus]

Firearms and Ammunition | Transportation Security Administration

TSA has guidelines in place for the storage and transportation of firearms on passenger aircraft.

www.tsa.gov

as previously mentioned on this forum, once my bags containing my firearms is checked, note i have been directed at the counter to open my luggage to show the locked inside container, before they will allow my back to be checked, i follow the porter carrying my bag to TSA, where i have numerous times been asked to provide a keys so they may open the luggage as well as inner box by TSA agents.

i then wait till TSA releases my luggage back to the porter and follow the luggage till it is placed on the belt.

my perception if the TSA wishes to open my luggage/firearm box i will allow it verses having it left on the tarmac...or having the locks cut off which has also happened several times...

 

[mlawson]

Wait, TSA allows a checked firearm inside its storage box to be placed inside checked baggage? I've often wondered how a small black plastic box ever travels the inner airport bowels unaided.

 

[ADulay]

I'm curious about the TSA interaction.

Did they just have you open the box so that they could see the gun, and ask you if it was unloaded?

Or did they have you show that it was clear?

Or did they handle your gun in any way?

As I understand things, the first is the proper method. I've never had TSA ask to open a gun case, though. All my interactions end when I check in at the counter. MHT and DAL are both really cool about guns.

In MSP, after filling out the red card, the agent and myself went to the separate TSA area and I was escorted inside a secure area.

The TSA agent asked me to open the box and then show that it was clear by racking the slide, showing that it was clear and then releasing the slide to put the sidearm away and locked back up.

He never handled the sidearm, only requested that it be shown clear.

Once that was done, I put the locked box back in my bag and closed it up. He took it away into the bowels of MSP and it showed up in Florida with me along for the ride a few hours later!

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