O’Hare overnight layover - checking firearms

[4gallonbucket]

I’m taking the family to Glacier National Park in July. Flight options are not great at the moment. We booked our return flight through O’Hare with a 14hr overnight layover. We are booking a room in the Hilton on-site. I assume I’ll get my checked bag with firearm when we land in Chicago and need to check it again in the morning. I’ve flown with firearms many times in friendly areas without any issues, but never had to deal with checking one in a place like Chicago. Are there any precautions I need to take?

I’ll have my Glock 19, so 15 round magazines.

We’re flying on American Airlines, if that makes a difference.

Also, I won’t have any trouble in Glacier, will I?


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[Cacafuego]

I think this is a really, really bad idea.

[RJ]

I brought my P365XL to Kalispell/Glacier last summer as part of a WY / MO 2 week road trip. No issues carrying out and about. GTTS Highway was wonderful; we did it pretty early in the morning.

I’d defer to the locals about Chicago.

[RoyGBiv]

IIRC, you can carry in the park but not inside any of the buildings in the park.
Inside the buildings Federal law applies. Outside the buildings local law applies.

[SouthNarc]

I’m taking the family to Glacier National Park in July. Flight options are not great at the moment. We booked our return flight through O’Hare with a 14hr overnight layover. We are booking a room in the Hilton on-site. I assume I’ll get my checked bag with firearm when we land in Chicago and need to check it again in the morning. I’ve flown with firearms many times in friendly areas without any issues, but never had to deal with checking one in a place like Chicago. Are there any precautions I need to take?

I’ll have my Glock 19, so 15 round magazines.

We’re flying on American Airlines, if that makes a difference.

Also, I won’t have any trouble in Glacier, will I?


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I’ve flown in and out of O’Hare with guns probably 16 times and have never had any issue.

[hufnagel]

IIRC, you can carry in the park but not inside any of the buildings in the park.
Inside the buildings Federal law applies. Outside the buildings local law applies.

You just described Gettysburg as well.

[Moylan]

I assume I’ll get my checked bag with firearm when we land in Chicago and need to check it again in the morning.

Is this correct? I think I would check on this first. It seems to me as though the airlines are likely to just consider your layover a layover, even though it's a longish one, and hold onto your checked bag in between flights just as normal.

[MickAK]

Is this correct? I think I would check on this first. It seems to me as though the airlines are likely to just consider your layover a layover, even though it's a longish one, and hold onto your checked bag in between flights just as normal.

Rules vary but every airline will make you pick up and recheck your bag if your layover is over 12 hours, some sooner.

[4gallonbucket]

Thank you all for your input. Looking into it further, there's some discrepancy on the magazine capacity limit. I found that Chicago has a 15-rd mag capacity limit, but Cook County has a 10-rd limit. Most of O'Hare sits inside of Cook County. Is this something that's enforced for those traveling through? If so, I do have option to pack the G48 and use the brand new factory 10-rd mags. 9mm is already a stretch for grizzly protection, but 10 rounds is really pushing it.

[OlongJohnson]

Check into it, but I believe you can legally ship them to yourself at the destination. Nobody but you can open the package, but that should be the case anyway.

[flyrodr]

I’m taking the family to Glacier National Park in July. Flight options are not great at the moment. We booked our return flight through O’Hare with a 14hr overnight layover.
Also, I won’t have any trouble in Glacier, will I?


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Since the problem is on the return flight only (correct?), one option would be to just ship your pistol back to your local FFL before leaving MT. Just verify with the FFL that he's amenable to that arrangement.

The NPS isn't particularly gun friendly. If I remember the genesis of the legislation allowing carrying firearms in national parks, the Park Service "countered" with a regulation saying while carrying was legal, it was generally not legal to discharge firearms in parks. Also, the "not in facilities" apparently, in some parks, extends to park buses, ferries, etc.

And state laws still apply. And if you're thinking about continuing into Canada from Glacier, read through the requirements there: https://www.thoughtco.com/laws-for-taking-guns-into-canada-3321846

Beautiful drive, as RJ noted.

[4gallonbucket]

Since the problem is on the return flight only (correct?), one option would be to just ship your pistol back to your local FFL before leaving MT. Just verify with the FFL that he's amenable to that arrangement.

The NPS isn't particularly gun friendly. If I remember the genesis of the legislation allowing carrying firearms in national parks, the Park Service "countered" with a regulation saying while carrying was legal, it was generally not legal to discharge firearms in parks. Also, the "not in facilities" apparently, in some parks, extends to park buses, ferries, etc.

And state laws still apply. And if you're thinking about continuing into Canada from Glacier, read through the requirements there: https://www.thoughtco.com/laws-for-t...canada-3321846

Beautiful drive, as @RJ noted.


04-26-2021, 10:55 AMOlongJohnson
Check into it, but I believe you can legally ship them to yourself at the destination. Nobody but you can open the package, but that should be the case anyway.
04-26-2021, 10:13 AM

Yes that's right - we have a quick connection in Denver between Charleston and Kalispell on the way out there. No problem here.

Shipping everything home sounds like a good plan -- I also thought about bringing the G48 and just shipping the Shield 15-rd mag back to my house to avoid any trouble in Chicago. I don't think I'll have an issue if I only have a 10-rd magazine with me.

Any discharge of firearms will be for protection of life and limb only. We'll also have bear spray on the trails and would only fire as last resort. I should be able to pick and choose when we'll end up inside of "facilities".

[Irelander]

Several years ago we vacationed in Glacier. I carried a Glock 29 in a Safe Packer "holster". Worked very well and had a wonderful time. Didn't see a bear, although I would have liked to see one from a long distance.

I did not have a layover in an NPE. Hope all goes well. I have flown with guns many times and never had anyone check magazine capacities. Maybe because I was never in a restricted capacity area. Most TSA checkers just want to verify a gun is in the box and slip the magic card in there. I think once someone asked me to verify it was unloaded.

[ST911]

I find NPS (and BLM, and USFS, and...) LE personnel to be pretty agreeable with armed citizens on their lands, provided that you don't come to their attention negatively. Interps/admin/support/contractors may vary. Don't come to anyone's attention. Concealed means concealed.

I've not had problems in Chicago, but when in doubt leave your bag with the airline.

Glacier NP and the Kalispell area is awesome. Have fun.

[GJM]

https://www.underwoodammo.com/9mm-luger-p-115-grain-xtreme-penetrator.html

[Horseman]

I was in Glacier with the family last summer. We saw several people open-carrying on the hike up to Avalanche Lake. They passed by a NPS LE Ranger on foot patrol at one point on the trail and I didn't hear/see any enforcement action.

Dumbly drawing attention like that has been covered in excruciating detail here, so I won't. Every public area in Glacier seemed to be wide open for concealed carry, except for scare-signage on the buildings, most of which were closed, anyway, due to Teh cOvIDzz.

Oh yeah, and don't bring it in the Amtrak depot or on the train, according to their signage at the Glacier stop.

[Stephanie B]

I’m taking the family to Glacier National Park in July. Flight options are not great at the moment. We booked our return flight through O’Hare with a 14hr overnight layover. We are booking a room in the Hilton on-site. I assume I’ll get my checked bag with firearm when we land in Chicago and need to check it again in the morning. I’ve flown with firearms many times in friendly areas without any issues, but never had to deal with checking one in a place like Chicago. Are there any precautions I need to take?

Yeah. Don't do it. There is a word for people who check in handguns in states where a permit is required to have one. That word is "defendant".

My recollection is that O'Hare is actually a part of the city of Chicago. They did that by running the city's boundaries down the right-of-way of the CTA tracks. I believe that Chicago has pretty nasty laws on handgun possession.

If they want to bust your chops, you may ultimately prevail, but at what cost to you.

[HeavyDuty]

O’Hare is Chicago, an island out in suburban Cook County.

IANAL but I am almost certain the FOID statute specifically excludes residents of other states. So long as you aren’t running afoul of mag capacity ordinances, it’s worth researching further.

I would wander over to the Illinois Carry forum and ask the question there. Several members and mods are very knowledgeable about the lay of the land.

[TheNewbie]

I’m taking the family to Glacier National Park in July. Flight options are not great at the moment. We booked our return flight through O’Hare with a 14hr overnight layover. We are booking a room in the Hilton on-site. I assume I’ll get my checked bag with firearm when we land in Chicago and need to check it again in the morning. I’ve flown with firearms many times in friendly areas without any issues, but never had to deal with checking one in a place like Chicago. Are there any precautions I need to take?

I’ll have my Glock 19, so 15 round magazines.

We’re flying on American Airlines, if that makes a difference.

Also, I won’t have any trouble in Glacier, will I?


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I would not worry about a Glock 48 not having enough rounds with only 10. I’ve hiked a lot in remote areas with the threat of black bears and mountain lions. Even encountered a mountain lion at night on the trail. I was carrying a P-07, but would have been ok with a Glock 48 equivalent of the P-07 if they made one.


If I were comfortable carrying a Glock 48 in general, I would feel comfortable carrying it hiking. I don’t think five rounds of 9mm is going to be a difference maker in the unlikely event of a bear attack. Problems with corrupt laws in places like Chicago seem to be more common than bear attacks.


Just my opinion, others here have more experience in what your asking then I do.

[BigDaddy]

Let me talk to the guys that work at the airport for their take on this. I doubt you will have a problem but will check to make sure.

[4gallonbucket]

Let me talk to the guys that work at the airport for their take on this. I doubt you will have a problem but will check to make sure.

Thank you!


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[Suvorov]

Why would this not be covered by the FOPA?

[MickAK]

Why would this not be covered by the FOPA?

https://www.casemine.com/judgement/us/5914b3fbadd7b049347698c3

[Suvorov]

https://www.casemine.com/judgement/us/5914b3fbadd7b049347698c3

I was aware of shenanigans being played in NJ and other such places but thanks for the link. I still don't see how this is not a gross violation of the FOPA, but then again I'm a humble machine operator who is bound by the laws of physics and not some "lawyer type" who can use his/her slippery tongue to turn up into down.

So in the end we (The People of the Gun) traded the ability to purchase new automatic weapons for the "right" to not be arrested if our flights our cancelled and the anti's still ignore that part. :mad:

[jetfire]

I’ve flown in and out of O’Hare with guns probably 16 times and have never had any issue.

This is the only comment that matters on this issue, since Craig is the only person here (so far) who has actual real world experience with checking firearms in O'Hare. For important reference, the issues with jurisdictions not honoring FOPA are entirely restricted to the NYC Metro region, and then were largely linked to a specific official in the Port Authority with a specific agenda.

If someone can find me a case, any case, of someone being arrested at O'Hare and prevented from boarding their return flight home for the act of checking a firearm, I would very much enjoy reading it.

[MickAK]

I still don't see how this is not a gross violation of the FOPA, but then again I'm a humble machine operator who is bound by the laws of physics and not some "lawyer type" who can use his/her slippery tongue to turn up into down.


I have absolutely no idea how that works either but the Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal and that was the last I heard about it. Somebody else might have more current information.

[SouthNarc]

This is the only comment that matters on this issue, since Craig is the only person here (so far) who has actual real world experience with checking firearms in O'Hare. For important reference, the issues with jurisdictions not honoring FOPA are entirely restricted to the NYC Metro region, and then were largely linked to a specific official in the Port Authority with a specific agenda.

If someone can find me a case, any case, of someone being arrested at O'Hare and prevented from boarding their return flight home for the act of checking a firearm, I would very much enjoy reading it.


Let me reiterate that despite being a retired police officer, I've never been asked for any kind of justification for possessing guns when checking in to O'Hare. That only happens in NYC.

[HeavyDuty]

This is the only comment that matters on this issue, since Craig is the only person here (so far) who has actual real world experience with checking firearms in O'Hare. For important reference, the issues with jurisdictions not honoring FOPA are entirely restricted to the NYC Metro region, and then were largely linked to a specific official in the Port Authority with a specific agenda.

If someone can find me a case, any case, of someone being arrested at O'Hare and prevented from boarding their return flight home for the act of checking a firearm, I would very much enjoy reading it.

I should have made clear - I lived in suburban Chicago until just recently and have flown in and out of both ORD and MDW at least two dozen times with handguns as a non-LEO, dating back to the dark ages before the state had carry. If you follow the normal rules (empty gun, declared, proper container etc.) I’ve never had a problem. The worst was one AA check-in agent that said she needed to turn me over to another agent because she was afraid of guns, but even that was drama free - my impression was she had a past personal trauma / PTSD, not disapproval. I personally ignore magazine capacity limits because the state has preemption, but I’m not entirely sure if that fully extends to handgun magazines. (I don’t believe it does to long gun mags, but again - IANAL.)

[BigDaddy]

What airline 4bucket. My buddy (former partner) says you will have no problem with the hotel or airline but will walk over to them and make sure.

Edited to add. My bud says to make sure you know that the pistol cannot be carried on your person or in your carry on. He says people do that all the time and DO end up getting themselves arrested. I'm sure you already know that but just want to make sure.

Edited to add again. Disregard the airline request. I went back and re-read your post. Got it. American

[Coyote41]

I’m watching this thread out of curiosity because sometimes I see connecting fligjts in Chicago that I would like to know about.

However, as an avid backpacker who often ventures into brown bear territory, I have no issue carrying a Glock 48. Carry bear spray (test it to see how it shoots) and learn how to avoid bears. It’s much more pleasant than lugging a heavy magnum pistol around.


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[RevolverRob]

You'll have no problems. If you follow the rules for packing and checking a gun in your luggage.

If you pick up your bag, you'll still be transporting the weapon legally in the context of IL law, due to the way you packed and transported it for checking. This brochure for Illinois State Police should clarify:

https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/hunting/Documents/TransportYourFirearmLegally.pdf

You can even load the gun in your hotel room that night. Just make sure you unload it and repack it for checking the following morning.

I know folks think Chicago is Mordor on Lake Michigan, it really isn't. I've lived here 6.5 years and I haven't heard of anyone getting jammed up at O'Hare or Midway for checking a gun if you're following the standard procedure for transporting a firearm. I've checked guns through Midway a few times with no issues. At the end of the day, this is still the midwest and there are a lot of armed people here; Chicago is not NYC/NJ.

[RJ]

Beautiful drive, as RJ noted.

Far away in northwestern Montana, hidden from view by clustering mountain peaks, lies an unmapped corner—the Crown of the Continent.

—George Bird Grinnell

It is, really, a very cool place. This was taken at a little turn-in on the drive near the Western part of Going-to-the-Sun Highway. We really enjoyed our visit and would gladly go back.

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[HeavyDuty]

I know folks think Chicago is Mordor on Lake Michigan, it really isn't. I've lived here 6.5 years and I haven't heard of anyone getting jammed up at O'Hare or Midway for checking a gun if you're following the standard procedure for transporting a firearm. I've checked guns through Midway a few times with no issues. At the end of the day, this is still the midwest and there are a lot of armed people here; Chicago is not NYC/NJ.

I agree. In 1981, even 1991 it would have possibly been an issue. Not anymore.

[UNM1136]

I have flown in and out of O'Hare with Glock 17 in checked baggage. Carried in Chi town for a week AIWB. Hollow points, 17 round mags, no issues. I had more problems with the lines after Lollapalooza weekend than hassles about my gun. And shitty contract cabbies dropping me at the wrong terminal because the meter was about to roll over the contracted airport trip....

pat

[HCM]

So it appears this thread included two mistaken assumptions.

The first, that checking guns in Chicago was like checking guns in NY/NJ has been addressed.

The second is the assumption that one should carry a gun in the outdoors because of bears and mountain lions.

While they are a potential threat, the number one threat always walks on two legs. Always. That doesn’t change when you leave the pavement.

[Le Français]

the number one threat always walks on two legs. Always. That doesn’t change when you leave the pavement.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210428/c87bbbce1df22e4575741815a355b4c8.jpg

[HCM]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210428/c87bbbce1df22e4575741815a355b4c8.jpg

Yup.

Zookeeper gored by ostrich that kicks him to floor and savages him with huge claw

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/zookeeper-gored-ostrich-kicks-him-13076263.amp

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wikihow.com/Survive-an-Encounter-with-an-Ostrich%3famp=1

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2049080114000788

Annals of Medicine and Surgery
Volume 4, Issue 1, March 2015, Pages 41-43
Case report
Abdominal trauma by ostrich

[Le Français]

I took that picture of the ostrich in the town where you work, so I thought it was a good fit.

[Glenn E. Meyer]

I mentioned a colleague of mine was in the field with his bird dogs in TX. All of a sudden the dogs are running for their lives back to him, being chased by an enraged Emu. Now, I don't think the Emu was selling insurance so my colleague fired a load of bird shot in front of it to bounce into its legs. It took the hint and ran away. Would that happen in Chicago?

[HCM]

I took that picture of the ostrich in the town where you work, so I thought it was a good fit.

That doesn't narrow it down much as Ostrich ranching is actually a thing here.

https://www.texasmonthly.com/travel/texas-ostrich-industry-boom-bust/

The Rise and Fall (and Rise Again?) of the Texas Ostrich Industry
In the nineties, Texans lost their minds—and their shirts—investing in ostriches and emus. But some think the industry could take flight again.

You can even hunt them:

https://www.oxhuntingranch.com/texas/ostrich-hunting/

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[HCM]

I mentioned a colleague of mine was in the field with his bird dogs in TX. All of a sudden the dogs are running for their lives back to him, being chased by an enraged Emu. Now, I don't think the Emu was selling insurance so my colleague fired a load of bird shot in front of it to bounce into its legs. It took the hint and ran away. Would that happen in Chicago?

Though no longer much in use, skipping birdshot off pavement is an old, and well vetted riot control technique.

[HCM]

Going back on topic, crime happens anywhere people go, including wilderness areas, national parks, national forests, Appalachian trail etc. People are always the number one threat.

[BobM]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210428/c87bbbce1df22e4575741815a355b4c8.jpg

Years ago we had a cop bitten by an ostrich that escaped its pasture.

[Le Français]

Years ago we had a cop bitten by an ostrich that escaped its pasture.

The one in the photo bit me, but in its defense I probably got too close.

[UNM1136]

That doesn't narrow it down much as Ostrich ranching is actually a thing here.

https://www.texasmonthly.com/travel/texas-ostrich-industry-boom-bust/

The Rise and Fall (and Rise Again?) of the Texas Ostrich Industry
In the nineties, Texans lost their minds—and their shirts—investing in ostriches and emus. But some think the industry could take flight again.

You can even hunt them:

https://www.oxhuntingranch.com/texas/ostrich-hunting/

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I have found ostritch and emu to be very, very tasty...

pat

[HCM]

I have found ostritch and emu to be very, very tasty...

pat

Don't tell Kamala or she'll cut your Soylent Green ration.

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