WARNING If Flying with Firearms, FFFFF label lets thieves know where guns are!

[ernest2]

DSlatton@aol.com wrote:
>
> From:
>
> Cyber Eagles - http://sacfla.8m.com
>
> Found on T.P.G
>
> Subject:
> (Fwd) United Airlines flagging firearms in checked baggage
> Date:
> Mon, 17 Apr 2000 17:27:28 -0700
> From:
> Frank Ney <croaker@barkingmad.org>
> Organization:
> Darwin Prevention Society - We keep evolution from happening.
> Newsgroups:
> talk.politics.guns
>
> From: N4QFW@aol.com
> Received: from N4QFW@aol.com
>
> Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 17:03:55 EDT
> Subject: DON'T FLY UNITED AIRLINES WITH GUNS!
>
> <A warning to everyone who flies with guns: United Airlines puts a row of
> seven "Fs" under your name to indicate you have firearms in your case. YES,
> it is illegal, but they do it.
>
> I just flew from Washington, Dulles International (IAD) to Las Vegas,
> McCarran International Airport (LAS), and back.
>
> I declared my unloaded guns, as required, filled out the red tag, and put it
> in my luggage as required. My flying companion had checked in before me,
> and they taped the red tag to his luggage tag. The girl who checked him in,
> heard me say it was illegal to do, so they retrieved his bag and moved the
> red tag inside.
>
> Upon my arrival in Las Vegas, I noticed my luggage had been opened (my nylon
> wire tag was gone). My guns were inside a locked metal box inside the
> luggage, so I opened the luggage. My guns had been moved from their
> location at the bottom rear of my luggage, to the top front. Obviously
> someone got
> scared, or put off by the locked metal box. It is easy to stuff a gun into
> your pants, but a large box is another matter. I got lucky, my guns were
> not stolen.
>
> My return flight was without event.
>
> Last night I was having dinner with a friends, one asked me what airline I
> took out to Front Sight. I told him United. He works for the government,
> in a three letter agency, and he told me the only time they have guns stolen
> was when they fly United, and it was because United puts a row of "Fs" under
> your name on the luggage tag. He jokes with me all the time, and we have a
> running joke about TWA (The Worst Airline) which I won't fly, and he loves.
> I thought he was pulling my chain.
>
> I had not yet thrown out my luggage tags, so I had a look, and sure enough,
> my ammo bag, and my bag with guns had seven "Fs," and the other bad did not.
>
> I immediately called the airline, and they did not know. They put me in
> touch with a baggage manager in Illinois, and he did not know. They would
> not let me talk to a check in person.
>
> Today, I drove to Dulles, baggage tags in hand, and asked to speak with the
> Station Manager. I spoke with Carol Tumas, Service Director. I asked her
> what "this" meant, while pointing to the "FFFFFFF" under my name. She said,
> "First Cla----, er, Firearm."
>
> Before it was over, she had a baggage supervisor and a UNITED security
> person there and they said they "were required to push the button," on the
> terminal
> that printed that on the tag. They have similar keys for heavy bags, and
> live animals.
>
> Currently, Ms. Tumas will be contacting their legal department on Monday,
> and will be getting back to me. In the mean time, I would not fly United,
> my
> favorite airline, with firearms until they remove the "STEAL ME NOW" letters
> from the bags.>
>
> Ward W. "Chip" Fetrow, III
>
> Frank Ney N4ZHG WV/EMT-B LPWV NRA(L) ProvNRA GOA CCRKBA JPFO
> --
> "God, protect me from politicians who are determined to be seen doing
> something, no matter how poorly reasoned and counter-productive."
>
> ==================
> While it has been since 1997, since the last time I have flown with firearms,
> as a member of an Army pistol team, this became a major concern as the
> weapons belonged both me and the US Army. We would transport these pistols
> in a LOCKED pistol box. Generally stuffed with socks & underwear to keep
> stuff from banging around. Then cover and SEAL the shooting box with a
> CARDBOARD box, wrapped with nylon banding tape and a CUT OUT for the
> handle of the shooting box. The "STEAL ME TAG" (tag marked FIREARMS) was
> then stuffed inside the cardboard box. My name and address was placed on
> the outside of the cardboard box in large letters with a black felt tip
> marker. This method was used for almost 10 years with no problems.
>
> Semper fi;
> Dave

[Bud Helms]

See DON'T FLY UNITED AIRLINES WITH GUNS!.

Posted in General Discussion Forum yesterday.