Flying with Firepower: How your character can fly internationally with her weapon

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File:ANA 777-300 Taking off from JFK.jpg

Sometimes my characters travel with their weapons. 

Rowan Kennedy in Open Secret just came back from Europe:

The Lyft driver had already popped the trunk and was hefting out the travel bags.

If only he knew the size of the arsenal I carry in there. He might not have let me in his car.

“Thanks, man,” Rowan reached for the suitcase handles. “I left you a good review and a tip.”

How is that legal?

Well, there a procedure -- hoops for your character to navigate. 

The first and most important hoop? Find out if any hoops are even necessary.  Is your character flying to a country where they are allowed to enter with a firearm?

Your heroine can easily find out by getting in touch with that countries embassy or consulate in the United States. They should either be able to provide the paper work, or information about what is allowed and how to do things legally. (An author could call, too.)

Once that's all squared away, now your character has to deal with American laws and flying (either nationally or internationally). Start with the TSA

TSA LINK 

This is the information of getting through TSA with weapons in general and guns specifically:

Your character is a professional they do this all the time. 

• They've stored their gun properly.
• The case has 2 locks
• The weapons are in a checked-in bag
• Weapons were declared at the counter
• A form was signed

For travelling out of the country, your character will have a customs and border form: From their website: LINK

What is the process for a traveler to temporarily take a firearm, rifle, gun, shotgun or ammunition abroad for hunting or sports-related purposes?

Current export regulations issued by the Department of State require travelers to file Electronic Export Information (EEI) for temporary export of personally owned firearms via the Automated Export System (AES) prior to departure from the United States.

When a traveler contacts CBP to register their firearm for export and reentry, CBP will:

Complete a CBP Form 4457 to ensure a problem-free return to the U.S., and provide a fact sheet about the regulation and how to comply in the interim.

If you need to complete a form 4457 in the course of your travel, please give yourself enough time to do so, 2-3 hours is a good estimate.  You also have the option of registering in advance at aCBP Port of Entry.  Once the CBP 4457 is completed, it can be used repeatedly for that particular firearm.

CBP advises travelers to become familiar with the import requirements of the foreign country(s) that they may be traveling through or visiting. Those countries may have restrictive laws and regulations regarding the use of firearms within their countries.  For many countries that do allow the temporary importation of firearms, the CBP Form 4457 is required for entry of a U.S. owned firearm into their country. (Canada does not require it, but it does facilitate the temporary importation. Be sure to become familiar with Canada import requirements.)

If you are taking ammunition, and there is a possibility you will not use it all and would like to re-import it, your CBP Form4457 should reflect the kind of ammunition you are departing with.

Upon returning to the U.S., the traveler will make a regular declaration regarding the personal effects and goods that they are carrying and ensure that they declare any firearms and ammunition.

To satisfy the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives requirements for the re-importation of a firearm please refer to 27 CFR 478.115(a). The ATF regulations allow for the use of the CF 4457 upon re-importation, and does not require an approved import permit (ATF-6), provided that CBP is satisfied that the firearm was previously exported from the United States and is now being returned.

To establish such proof, a bill of sale, receipt, copy of ATF Form4473, household effects inventory, packing list, or registration on Customs Forms 4457 or 4455 may be used, if the registration form is completed prior to departure from the U.S. For military personnel, a properly executed Department of Defense Form12521 signed by either the serviceman's commanding officer or an authorized Customs officer may be used. The acceptability of such proof is within the purview of the Customs officials at the port of entry.

I hoped this helped. 

Remember, when your character is doing things by the book, a sprinkling of details makes your plot authentic and is great! Being too heavy-handed about the details bogs your reader down. So pick the details that makes your heroine into the shining star she is! (Or throw a gun in her backpack and watch the sparks fly). It's all up to you!

Happy writing,

Fiona