I've done a lot of looking online, and I have a pretty good idea of how to properly fly with a pistol, the remaining question is: is it actually legal for me to drive to a NJ airport with a pistol, and check it on a plane (same thing with my return trip)? Does anyone have any knowledge, experience, helpful contacts they could share?

As a lifelong subject, my reactionary answer is "tell them youre going to a range at your destination".
That is a good question though.....

Do you want to go to prison? Because that's how you go to prison.

The same laws that govern the rest of America do not apply to those living in the country of New Jersey.

Probably. Probably a good chance you will get arrested as well. There are news reports of out of state travelers trying to check a gun at EWR and being arrested for having a gun without an "NJ licence" (I assume they mean FID). But an FID doesn't allow you to take guns anywhere either so I really don't see it working.

Maybe depending on where you live and your destination, drive to a "range" in PA and they fly out of there. Be sure to visit the "range" on your return trip as well.

I've flown a couple times with a pistol. No problem at all.

Most people saying you will get arrested are people who have never tried and are just regurgitating what they have heard on the internet.

I've flown out of EWR with a handgun no real issue, probably the most time consuming experience of all the airports I've used. Had an easier time at Boston Logan of all places.  All you need to do is advise you have a firearm to declare, you will then sign a tag that is placed in the locked suitcase attached to the locked gun case that you only have access to, no questions are asked by the counter people as to why you have a firearm or your plans.  Remember it must be unloaded and I recommend any mags be emptied and ammo put in original box or other carrier designed for ammo.  And I was never questioned by any law enforcement ever.

Ahh. The brain washing has worked in our great state!
My older son, a NJ resident up to ten years ago, now resides in Fla., for years he told me to bring a pistol with me when I flew down to Fla.
Are you crazy?, I would tell him.  Then two years ago, I decided to bring my so called "daily carry" with me.  First thing I did was call my lawyer Gary Needleman and ask him to educate me on how this process works.  He explained it to me twice, since after the first attempt I was totally incredulous!

I purchased a Pelican gun case in a nearby shooting range, unfortunately they only one they had was an oversized case, but so be it.  I placed my pistol inside this "locked gun case" and placed that inside a suitcase.  Why you ask? Because I did not want to attract any attention to the obvious gun case.  I walked up to the ticket counter with my suitcase as well as my carry-on luggage. I told the counter agent " I have an item to declare", he asked what it was and when I informed him it was a firearm, he jokingly said to me that I would have to spend a long time in the "holding pen" from TSA.  At this point I should explain that I was as nervous as when my wife had our first child!
The counter agent had me sign a piece of paper declaring my "declared item" was safe to transport.  He then personally walked me over to an innocuous looking door where after knocking on it, a suit and tie guy opened the door and took my suitcase inside.  A few minutes went by and the guy with the suit and tie opened the door and said to me he could not open my suitcase.  He proceeded to have me follow him inside to a weird looking area where he asked me to open both the suitcase as well as the gun case.  He inspected the items held within, asked me to close them and said thank you for making his job easy.

That was it!  My suitcase came out the conveyor belt in Palm Beach airport and I was on my way.  I have to confess that I do not recall if I brought any ammo with me.

Whether we admit it or nor, we have been indoctrinated to fear taking a gun when we travel out of state. For your peace of mind, call a 2nd Amendment lawyer and you will be given the proper information.

You're currently posting from prison, right?

He hasn't responded since making that post. Must not be his day to use the computer lab in the prison. Either that or he got banned from using the inmate's computer lab because it's strictly for contacting lawyers and the courts and he was using it to post on ARFcom.

@resteva , if you don't respond we know you're in solitary now for breaking prison rules.

Did you guys not read my post, I fly out AC several times a year, no issues same with Newark a little more time consuming but I did not go to jail or ever questioned by LEO's, Its all the people who never done it and spread rumors you automatically get arrested.  Just don't try it with a carry on or you will go to jail.  I understand Delta just changed the policy in that you will need to pick your luggage at the baggage office instead of the carousel when declaring a firearm.

I have flown out of EWR with guns twice. The first time with 2 1911s  in 2011 to attended a USPSA match and the second time  in March of this year with a rifle. I had no issues with either trip . The firearms were carried in an TSA recommended  containers and declared when I checked in.

Just in case have your NJ FID with you. Neither time was I asked for any paperwork.

Good luck.

Delta recently changed their policies and now requires you to go to a special area to pick up any luggage containing a declared firearm where a police officer is present.

Which is probably where the SS hang out who will be more than willing to cart you off to federal pound you in the ass prison because you are carrying a concealed firearm in the socialist republic of New Jersistan.



Willkommen, ich sehe, du hast eine Schusswaffe erklärt. Du bist verhaftet. Feuerwaffen sind im sozialistischen Staat von New Jersey verboten.

I say use a different airliner.

"BOYCOT DELTA"!

They are not the only game in town.

Although, their new rule does not seem terribly inconvenient, specially for us Jerseyites who jump through flaming hoops as it is.

Going thru the airports in NJ is no different than going thru airports anywhere else.

My experience is completely opposite to your comment.
Flying out of WPB airport, the only thing required is to "declare item", sign a form at the counter stating that the firearm is unloaded and safe.  Nothing more, nothing else.
Pick up baggage at conveyor belt and go home.
No need to follow the counter agent to the TSA "den" and wait to be released.

What happens if you get pulled over on the way to or from the airport? What if the cop "smells weed" and find his way into your bag?

Unlikely scenario, but not impossible.

What about folks connecting through EWR? What if they miss their flight and have to stay at a hotel?

Not only is this one possible, we all know it did happen, and the guy got jammed up.

Sure it's probably fine to check your firearm in EWR. But when dealing with guns in new Jersey, the gun owner acts at his own peril.

Except for the prison part. Most places in America you don't end up in prison. In the country of New Jersey you do.

Read It !

1) Wikipedia

2) Gun laws in NJ

3) Interstate Transportation of Unloaded Firearms

4) Gregg C. Revell vs port authority of NY and NJ

Choose wisely

The criminal charges against Revell were eventually dropped. The problem is that the court upheld the ability of the PA to confiscate weapons and didn't bother to restrict them in any way.

Roll the dice take your chances. While many have successfully flown out of Newark and returned with firearms, you have no FOPA protecting you.

It's possibly that you have greater legal coverage being a resident of NJ rather than an out of stater but I'm not a lawyer.