Evan Nappen, Independent Program Attorney for U.S. LawShield here. Today I want to talk about flying with guns in New Jersey. In New Jersey, there’s no exemption, per se, that allows you to bring your guns to the airport. I’ve had many cases where I’ve represented individuals who were charged with gun possession at the airport, even though all they were trying to do was lawfully bring their firearm to the airport and travel with it.
The bottom line to my advice is very simple: Do not travel with handguns to any airport in New Jersey. Unless you have a license to carry a handgun, you don’t have any exemption to have your handgun at the airport unless we try to fit you into one. That’s not going to readily be recognized and there’s a reasonable chance of you being arrested and having to prove that you’re within an exemption. This has happened to many individuals.
If you’re traveling with a long arm for hunting and you have a firearms ID card, then you can have that firearm unloaded and with you, without relying upon exemption.
Most of the federal law, as it requires, is for you to have your firearm in a separate locked container, unloaded. You’ve got to declare it at the check-in. Make sure you declare it and never, ever let your gun go into the protected area. Be very careful going to the airports. It’s fraught with danger for law-abiding citizens. Make sure you follow the federal law, and I would avoid traveling with handguns to any New Jersey airport. If you want to fly with your handgun, fly out of Philadelphia or some other state that respects the Second Amendment.
If you have any more questions about flying with guns, give a call to U.S. LawShield and ask for your Independent Program Attorney.
Very solid advice Evan!. I don’t use NJ airports and haven’t for years! Whenever possible, I stick to the old road trip…Keep fighting the good fight!
Nowhere have I seen the law specify that the firearm must be in a separate container. It has to be unloaded and in a locked hard case but that case can just be a locked, hard suitcase and ammo can be in the same suitcase as long as the ammo is in its original container.
I’m a truck driver from Louisiana(open carry state) been OTR a month I plan to fly from NJ back home is it ok to declare my hand gun and check it on and go home, it’s much easier than driving all the way back there, please can anyone give advice it would be much appreciated???