... Are there specific changes to the procedure now (after midnight 01/01/03) that the TSA is requiring us commoners to leave luggage unlocked.

... Or could it be that once checked at check-in it's considered sanitized and therefore able to remain locked?

... What is the real answer?

You will have to leave your luggage unlocked. After the X-ray, bomb sniffer and dog inspection they could still set it aside and go through it. If you want it locked they will give you a red ziptie type lock for your bags.
If they do go through it they will cut that lock off and replace it with a red one.

Rules for firearms is unchanged. Must be kept locked inside a hard case with a "firearms" tag on it.

Kind of sucks that the your firearms are going to be left open like that.

Good question.

I thought they did away with the "firearms" tag (a.k.a., the "steal-me" sticker) a long time ago???

Someone was asking about this earlier today.
Go here... [url]http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=162155&w=myTopicPop[/url]

The red tag goes in the locked hard gun case.  Not on the outside of your bags.  It's just a declaration saying your firearm is unloaded.

Stone