I just had a discussion with a good friend of mine (wife and husband) who, just in the last few weeks, returned from Africa on Qatar Airlines into Washington, Dulles, both carrying guns. Note- now South Africa REQUIRES guns of different owners, regardless being husband and wife, to be cased SEPARATELY, with separate documentation and permits!! Sooo, this couple is carrying two separate cases traveling together with 4 rifles!!
Upon deplaning from the aircraft in WADC- DULLES INTL. from Doha, and moving into the Baggage Claim and Customs area, they were singled out as returning with firearms, and marshalled by armed guards down a very long, dark corridor into the detention area where apparently questionable and suspicious passengers were held. It was explained they had to wait here for their firearms!!
They were locked in this room for more than two hours before they were called to clear their firearms!! Derelicts, kids screaming... a real nightmare!!
From this point, it all went as normal with their 4457s in hand with passports, hunt invitation letters, etc. and were cleared.
There was no notice of this change, where you pick up gun cases from a separate door, and luggage from belt, and proceed thru regular Customs/Immigration. No explanation for this process or procedure!!
About 3 hours added to this first port of entry Customs clearance process!! Thankfully, they had plenty of time for their connecting flights home within the states!!
They remained calm and cool and tried to find out if this was a new process, temporary for some reason, or new permanent process... NO ANSWERS!!
This is daunting, if not almost terrifying for our Government to treat inbound US Citizens in this manner!! Clearly a Bidumb/Harris Administration implementation with no warning??!!
I have not heard a word of this happening at any other airport to any other US returning hunters with guns?? Have you??
Where is the NRA when we need them??
This type of change should have been well announced and vetted before implementation.
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY??
What do you think this type of process is going to do for all Exhibitors, and any other attendees to Dallas Safari Club Convention coming up in ATLANTA??!!
I have encouraged my friend to write up this experience and display it here.
I think this needs to be investigated by NRA and SCI/DSC immediately. I hope this is isolated, and not a new program for all Ports of Entry?? Or was it airline specific, i.e. Qatar Airline?? I don't know, nor were passengers able to find out anything??
They did learn that DELTA has a reputation for being late up to two hours on Departures to Africa and returning flights too... be careful in booking tight connections with Delta and thru Atlanta....their homebase!!
I will call TRAVEL WITH GUNS and GRACIE TRAVEL on Monday to try to learn more.
BTW, both passengers came down with serious cold and COVID the week after this confinement...

[/QUOTE] I hope this is isolated, and not a new program for all Ports of Entry?? Or was it airline specific, i.e. Qatar Airline?? [/QUOTE]

We returned two weeks ago thru DFW on BA, we didn’t experience this sort of thing, but after doing the Global Entry kiosk and standing about 10 deep in the line to see the first CBP officer, the Officer called me by name and had my wife and me bypass the line to talk to him. He did ask a couple of questions about firearms and ammunition then sealed our passports in the plastic box and sent us on our way. We thought it odd but our govt does lots of odd stuff. My son was in the non-global entry line and same happened to him as well as another couple traveling with us. Hope it’s not a “new” inconvenience to hunters.

I had something similar but not as intense at NKY/Cincinnati.

The rifle came in the oversized baggage ramp. The Dekta Red Vest called CBP. CBP took the case. I went with them.

We went to a back room. There was another person in the room getting extra checked for whatever reason.

I had all my ps and qs in line. They opened the case and checked the 4457. Thanked me for following the rules. I had al the locks, ammo locked in a separate box in a separate bag.

No one was rude to me. The main CBP agent hunts elk. From there, I went to another baggage claim area so the case. Airport police, I had done this with him before, met me there with the case. He gave it to me. We talked for a few minutes. Then we left.

NKY/Cincinnati is fairly small. A lot of the airport staff and CBP agents recognize me at this point.

That was the first time I had to go back to the CBP room or have the rifle taken to the CBP room with me.

I just returned this week through JFK. Nothing like this happened . I have come back through Atlanta dozens of time . Never had this happen.

I should have mentioned that the CBP officer that called us ahead of the line was not the interviewing officer, but another that was seated at a podium off to the side…facial recognition and photo of airline check in with firearm.

At Newark today they “batch entried” the lot of us. Like 8-10 folks with guns on the flight.

Even though we got there at like a quarter to five, lots of customs staff available.

Multiple agents telling us to do different things… but everyone was friendly and not much hassle other than taking extra time.

My biggest issue was my pelican suitcase they could not believe didn’t have firearms…. Spent like 30 minutes trying to find it…



For a first, in Zim I had no one putting a hand out to get a “Xmas present” or such. Actually spent like 15 minutes getting everything done in Zim.

Who’s the third world now?

Not the US because you did not have to bribe anyone here either.

If you think the US is the Third World compared to Zimbabwe, you are more than welcome to stay in Zimbabwe.

quote:

Originally posted by LHeym500:
Not the US because you did not have to bribe anyone here either.

If you think the US is the Third World compared to Zimbabwe, you are more than welcome to stay in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe might be trying to get out of being a third world country.

America is going at turbocharged speed to be one!

quote:

Zimbabwe might be trying to get out of being a third world country.
America is going at turbocharged speed to be one!

Sure seems like it sometimes!

No problem in Newark 10 day ago. Infact very nice.

I think it all boils down on the individuals you meet!

Like check in personnel and other airline and customs people.

Some are great to deal with, others will do whatever they can to make your life miserable!

Flying on Virgin Air, IAD to LHR with shotguns. Check in agent told me that guns were not permitted. I asked”How long have you worked here?” Answer, 8 years. I said you have worked here for 8 years and never have seen this sign( on my side of counter)? Answer, “what sign”? I Said the sign here that says all firearms must be unloaded and in a locked case.
I then asked for a supervisor. Supervisor arrives and takes me to a back office. She then says that she needs to call the police because she has no idea how to check to be sure the guns are unloaded. Police arrives and says “In all the years I have worked here, I have never had to do this.”
Police check and declare shotguns are unloaded. Supervisor then says to me as she is checking me in “sorry for all the confusion, would you be happier in first class………

I had a similar experience my first trip. The Delta baggage lady refused to check my rifle case.

CBP Officer told her if she did not process the case, he would arrest her.

She was madder than a hip with a toothache, but she checked my rifle.

It was in 1991.

I used to ship my rifles ahead to Zimbabwe.

I did that.

A couple of days before traveling, Roy asked me to bring a 22 rim fire.

Too late to ship.

Took a BRNO 452 22 apart, put it in my suitcase.

Arrived at Victoria Falls airport.

Told the immigration officer I had a rifle in my suitcase.

He just smiled, stamped my passport and in I went.

Had a customs agent in Chicago empty my gun case and carry on took my connecting ticket walked over to talk to his friend just long enough for me to miss my connecting to DFW.
That was in 2014!

Big apology to all, I was advised this morning by email, when I encouraged her to write this up in a Complaint format to both of thier Senators and Congressman and request an investigation and response.....

THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED IN WASHINGTON DC, DULLES INTERNATIONAL....not ATLANTA!!

I apologize for this confusion.

Thank you, SAEED, for the Title Change!!

Again, apologies for the wrong airport!!...false Alarm!!

At least Dallas Safari Club arrivals won't be affected in Atlanta!!

I think we have already passed up Zimbabwe in becoming a Banana Republic, with the incredible chain of LAW FARE suits against a Presidential Candidate, the raid on his Mar A Lago home by FBI, and now the assassination attempt on his life!!... this is TYRANNY at its worst, and MORE!!

We have seen nothing if Harris/WALZ get elected, and my fear is a rigged election??!! Tampons in Boys school bathrooms.... shooting Paint Balls at Minnesota residents on their home property and porches during COVID lockdown by police, and a neighbor "snoop line" to report COVID lockdown offenders.... and maybe paint ball targets!!
GO FIGURE!!

I truly wonder if this CBP fiasco at WADC-Dulles might be related to tighter security surrounding GUNS/AMMO in the Airport during the election period... thinking some "hunter" might come in with guns and ammo in luggage and carry out a shoot-em-up??... This is scary??

I hate to be the one to break the bad news, but you kinda hafta declare your rifle and ammunition to CBP every time you return with them to the USA.

And you had better have a form 4457 for the rifle.

If you’re lucky, there won’t be a long line of suspected smugglers ahead of you at customs.

I have been delayed for up to two hours, but then again, I’ve been checked through in no time, too.

When I returned from Africa in 2015 on South Africa Airlines at Dulles, the customs agent just handed me my gun case and said have a nice day. I told him that I would like to take a look at my rifles before I leave the area as I had not seen them since boarding the plane in Johannesburg. He said " oh OK, I see what you mean, open the case and have a look." No muss no fuss.

I’ve been through Dulles several times with firearms. Checking in flying Emirates and Qatar I’ve never had an issue. Emirates is the smoothest. On the way back when you get to passport control you have to be sure and tell them you are traveling with firearms. They seal your passport and then escort you down a long hall marked with red tape to a waiting area. I’ve never had to wait there more than 30 minutes. They call you up and check everything and sent me on my way each time with no issues.

I’ve been posting here on AR today while flying from KEF to BOS with a rifle and ammunition after a hunting trip in Greenland. (That’s what a week off the grid will do to a guy.)

I just cleared CBP with everything in 15 minutes. The officers I dealt with were very polite and professional.

One was a trainee doing this for the first time!

This is bullshit. I just returned to Dulles with a firearm less than a week ago. The holding area is for anyone who has anything to claim. You flagged or singled out, it is just the process.

You tell them as passport control, they walk you over (following red tape as mentioned above) it is well lite and you sit down and wait for them to get your luggage. The airline is the one that brings it so any delays is on the airline not customs. Literally was 30 minutes tops and the guys were super friendly and asking about my rifle and my hunt.

I have been in that holding area probably 7 times now, every time it is the same thing, here is my 4457, unlock gun case, double check serial number. Have a good day.

Another case of hunters coming in from Africa with guns into Washington Dulles, detained 2 hours, as described above this last week!!
Don't know what airline they were flying. Trying to find out??

Don’t doubt one bit that hunters could be getting “special” treatment, quite a few new hires there and DFW and Seattle.

Wonder what would happen if we tried to deal with them the same way we do the officials in other countries? Agree with those who suggest we are racing to be a third-world country and it's inevitable if the Chameleon/Walx ticket wins.

Wonder how much our demeanor contributes to being 'hassled'?

I once watched a guy ahead of me at Detroit giving a ticket person a whole bunch of grief when she asked for a 'gun license'. He dressed her down and went on and on lecturing her about 2A. When I got to the counter I was polite and showed a 4457.

Happens we were both otw to Atlanta to then go onto Africa. When he got to Atlanta guess what, his rifle didn't make it. Mine did.

Not saying you gotta kiss ass but being civil helps anywhere one travels.