Can I take a suppressor through Newark airport?

[bluemaroon]

Roksliders, as question asks, can I take a surpressor through Newark airport legally without issue if I’m connecting?

I’m currently hunting in South Africa and plan to connect through Newark on return back to Texas. Other hunters in my camp who live in Northeast US states are saying it may be illegal for me to connect through Newark with my suppressor even though I have all federal paperwork since suppressors are banned in state of New Jersey. For background I got to SA on United flight from Washington Dulles to Cape Town without issue.

 

[Nine Banger]

I see how this could get weird because when you get here, they will probably treat your connecting flight like a fresh check in after customs and immigration.

 

[TimberRunner]

Sounds problematic if NJ is one of those states? Maybe ship it back.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Correct me if I am wrong but I believe this falls under federal transport rules. You can TRAVEL through a state where XYZ firearm is illegal but you can ONLY TRAVEL. If you do something other than travel its illegal. IE if you are driving through a state you can stop for gas, stop to eat, stay the night at a hotel, etc. If you go visit a museum or such you aren't traveling anymore. If you are flying through an airport you are obviously traveling.

If you have an overnight layover or something and have to collect your rifle case and leave the airport that could maybe create ripples even though you are still technically traveling.

Again I am merely stating what I think is the case to help your research path, do not take the above as gospel.

 

[wapitibob]

I'd pack it with my checked luggage and not think twice about it.

 

[mother_plucker]

I just came back through Newark from Joburg last month. I can say for my two trips that I have been to Africa on, flown United both times, that I have had no issues other than the Customs people are slow. I have both of mine that I take in the little bags that Q puts them in... I have them in their own cutout slots in the foam, and nobody cares about them. I do take my tax stamps just in case, but nobody has asked about them at all. I would not put them on the 4457, since that just brings attention to them. My customs and border patrol in Portland OR made me put my scopes on the 4457, and I will say next time I will only have the rifle on there, since that is all the African police are looking at anyway.

 

[elkliver]

I have read some horror storis on some gun forums.... Might be safe as long as your flight doesn't get delayed or something. Taking posession of them to go to a hotel room would be very risky

 

[UnckleBob]

I'd pack it with my checked luggage and not think twice about it.

That is the kind of thinking that gets innocent gun owners in a world of pain.

Suppressors are illegal in New Jersey and they take their anti-2A laws very seriously. If you somehow land in NJ with one on you, you can be 100% certain they will (1) arrest you and (2) throw the book at you.

That means spending time in jail. If you are lucky, they will let you post bond. You will spend thousands on legal bills trying to stay out of prison. You will likely get convicted of a felony and lose your 2A rights.

Could you win an appeal? Yes. Is that fight worth the hassle?

 

[mother_plucker]

That is the kind of thinking that gets innocent gun owners in a world of pain.

Suppressors are illegal in New Jersey and they take their anti-2A laws very seriously. If you somehow land in NJ with one on you, you can be 100% certain they will (1) arrest you and (2) throw the book at you.

That means spending time in jail. If you are lucky, they will let you post bond. You will spend thousands on legal bills trying to stay out of prison. You will likely get convicted of a felony and lose your 2A rights.

Could you win an appeal? Yes. Is that fight worth the hassle?

Hundreds of people choose to fly direct through Newark to Johannesburg. I have never heard of this happening. I will continue to travel through there, and have no plans to change my routes. Yes it’s busy, and flights are late or and delayed, but I’ve allowed myself plenty of time to make connections. It was literally more of a pain in the ass to bring duty free liquor through than my sail Evers that nobody gave a second glance…

 

[UnckleBob]

Hundreds of people choose to fly direct through Newark to Johannesburg. I have never heard of this happening. I will continue to travel through there, and have no plans to change my routes. Yes it’s busy, and flights are late or and delayed, but I’ve allowed myself plenty of time to make connections. It was literally more of a pain in the ass to bring duty free liquor through than my sail Evers that nobody gave a second glance…

Are you carrying your suppressors in you carry on like he suggested?

 

[Bwrgjco]

We didn’t have any issues in March when we went.

 

[wapitibob]

Are you carrying your suppressors in you carry on like he suggested?

I said checked luggage, not carry-on.

 

[Luke S]

There was an incident in NY or NJ as I recall where a flight was canceled so a guy got stranded in the state with a handgun he wasn't supposed to have in that state (for whatever reason). He got in trouble when he tried to check back IN to the airport after exciting the airport. I think he won the court case eventually but not my idea of fun.

Edit - in case I wasn't clear. My understanding is the connecting flight is fine if you and your stuff stay in the secure area. The issue might be leaving it and coming back. IF that were to happen to me I'd seriously consider grabbing a car and driving out of state.

 

[mother_plucker]

Are you carrying your suppressors in you carry on like he suggested?

No, I’m not retarded… I’m sure nobody would care in checked baggage though, I’d worry about someone stealing them somehow if it wasn’t secured….

 

[AustinTravis]

To my knowledge, you’re fine as long as you do not take possession of it. If you get delayed or a flight gets canceled, they can try to force you to take possession of it. I don’t know the full legality of it, but I always try to make connections where I’m not in the situation, or I will have a compliant gun because it’s always the law abiding gun owners that get screwed.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Aren’t silencers super cheap in South Africa? I’ve heard of guys buying them there but hen just giving them to a guide or something on the way out.

Edit: after reading reading I see you are already in SA. Good luck!!!

 

[Laelkhunter]

When you land in NJ, do you have to take possession of your luggage and then give it to the connecting airline? If not and it is just moved from one plane to the next without you taking possession of it in NJ, I would think you are not "In Possession" of it. Should be safe if you put it in checked baggage. Legal?? Who knows with the convoluted laws which are open to interpretation to the layman whom you might come in contact with if a situation arises.

 

[Sinistram]

If you have questions about this, the only person/company I know who will 100% definitively answer them is Steve Turner at Travel with Guns. I won't fly internationally (w/guns) without consulting his services.

 

[bluemaroon]

Aren’t silencers super cheap in South Africa? I’ve heard of guys buying them there but hen just giving them to a guide or something on the way out.

Edit: after reading reading I see you are already in SA. Good luck!!!

So I have a Mack Bros Titanium suppressor that I paid $850 plus sales tax on. It is an awesome suppressor at a price that I feel is reallly good against a lot of the other Titanium options that are over $1k.

That being said, the South African PH’s will not let up on how much we overpay in America for suppressors. Similar suppressors down here are $150 to $200. Maybe I need to start a new thread in the Surpressor section of Rokslide on why we are substantially overpaying in America…

 

[bluemaroon]

Thanks everyone for feedback so far. If I were solo I’d probably keep itinerary as is. However, wife is convinced I’ll be charged with felony for suppressor in Newark since we have to clear customs there and then recheck on connection back to Texas. There is option to change routing to go through Frankfurt Germany and then drirect on to Texas.

Kind of funny (and sad) that connecting through Europe (with much stricter gun laws) is safer from a legal standpoint than connecting through an airport in America.