Secure your checked bags -- fly with a gun

Now that you cannot lock your suitcase one way to protect your valuables on flights is to put a weapon in it. Once you tell the airline that there is a weapon in your hold luggage it gets extra special treatment including being locked and tracked. This kind of reminds me of the story of the man who when discussing the odds of there being a bomb on the plane says "The odds of their being a bomb on the plane are a million to one, the odds of their being two bombs on the plane are almost astronomical, thats why I always carry a bomb on the plane."

A "weapons" is defined as a rifle, shotgun, pistol, airgun, and STARTER PISTOL. Yes, starter pistols - those little guns that fire blanks at track and swim meets - are considered weapons...and do NOT have to be registered in any state in the United States. I have a starter pistol for all my cases. All I have to do upon check-in is tell the airline ticket agent that I have a weapon to declare...I'm given a little card to sign, the card is put in the case, the case is given to a TSA official who takes my key and locks the case, and gives my key back to me. That's the procedure. The case is extra-tracked...TSA does not want to lose a weapons case. This reduces the chance of the case being lost to virtually zero. It's a great way to travel with camera gear...I've been doing this since Dec 2001 and have had no problems whatsoever.

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