Question about Receiving a handgun as gift and traveling interstate

[trainii]

:1zhelp: Hi everyone. I'm a "new Texan" and will soon be traveling home to MO, and would like to accept a handgun (my first!) as a gift from my parents. I will need to check the gun on Southwest Airlines for my return flight home to TX (flying from STL to DAL). I'm getting conflicting answers to the questions below, so I'm hoping someone here can point me in the right direction.

1st- Can my parents just give the gun to me or do we have to complete any paperwork? I've heard that they have to drive to TX, transfer it to a gun store and then transfer it to me, and I've also heard that they don't need to do anything other than just put it in my hands. Does anyone know for sure or know where I can go to find out?

2nd- Has anyone traveled on SWA with a firearm? I know I'll need to have it locked in a case and declare it at the counter, but will I need to show proof of ownership, a CCL, or anything other than a drivers license? (I just took the CCL class today, so I won't have the actual license for several weeks)

I'm new to the forum, so please be gentle!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Texas1911]

They cannot sell it to you since you are not a resident in their state. However, as a gift, there is no money exchanged so I do not believe there is any problem with picking it up and taking it home with you. If you are concerned with it, then I would give the ATF a call and ask them, or the local police dept. may be of some help.

There is no proof of ownership with firearms in Texas. Show up with the firearm in an approved, locked container, declare it at the outside baggage center, and they will go from there. Questions can be directed towards SWA customer relations.

Just be aware that with gun laws and guns in general some people are apt to give you bad info. You will want to double check things before you go about it. I could be wrong, but the above is to my understanding.

 

[Bullseye Shooter]

This is NRA website on Missouri gun laws: [url]http://www.nraila.org/statelawpdfs/MOSL.pdf[/URL]

It appears it is lawful in Missouri for them to just give you the firearm; no restrictions since you can lawfully possess it. The previous post is correct on airline restrictions. Just make sure it is in a locked container, unloaded, and declare it at the counter. I've transported firearms on planes and if you follow those rules, it should be okay, but you can always check with the airline ahead of time to make sure.

 

[trainii]

thanks

Thanks so much for your help and links. I just want to make sure that I'm not doing something against the rules!

 

[Bullseye Shooter]

Glad to help. You should be fine. Did they tell you what kind of handgun?

Funny story. The last time I checked a firearm, it was an M1 Garand in a aluminum gun case. When I was getting my bags, I was looking around for the gun case. I heard this crash behind me. It had come down the conveyor and jumped off the track and hit the floor. Nothing like being inconspicuous picking up your bags.

 

[Maxpower]

2nd- Has anyone traveled on SWA with a firearm? I know I'll need to have it locked in a case and declare it at the counter, but will I need to show proof of ownership, a CCL, or anything other than a drivers license? (I just took the CCL class today, so I won't have the actual license for several weeks)

I'm new to the forum, so please be gentle!

Thanks in advance!

that is a bit optimistic! most are taking 3-4 months

 

[trainii]

Yeah, I heard it was taking 3-4 months. I haven't even sent in the paperwork yet, so I'm definitely not holding my breath. It'll go out in the mail tomorrow. I also heard that TX has had more CCL apps in the first 8 months of 09 then the they had in all of 2008, but that's a topic for another forumn!

 

[Cowtown]

Welcome to the forum.... and congrats of taking the class.
What part of FTW are you in? I am in the SW side....

 

[slowrey]

I'm an Austinite and I'm originally from Sedalia, MO!

 

[trainii]

Well all that worrying was for nothing! I had no trouble bringing it back in my luggage. It's a Kel Tec P3AT & suits my needs just fine.
Cowtown, we may be neighbors. So, be nice to your neighbors! ;-)

 

[Texas42]

Well all that worrying was for nothing! I had no trouble bringing it back in my luggage. It's a Kel Tec P3AT & suits my needs just fine.
Cowtown, we may be neighbors. So, be nice to your neighbors! ;-)

You don't even need to check THAT small of a gun. Many people don't even consider it a real firearm.

I'm just messing with you. I'm a fellow kel tec owner and love my little gun.

 

[trainii]

hardy har har har

It's tiny, but it fits perfectly in my pocket!