Shooting Holiday

[wilf123]

Im a resident of the uk and a hobby of mine is shooting with airifles ,i have a friend in oklahoma and i am visiting him for ninety day at the end of may 2009,am i able to bring my own rifle with me delta airlines say as long as its packed in a hard sided case and as checked luggage it ok with them ,what i need to know is are there any permits i need to bring my airiflewith me ,or am i better off leaving mine at home and buying another out in the states ,if i am allowed

[LawResearcherMissy]

It appears that bringing a firearm into the US will require some paperwork:

Can I bring firearms and ammunition into the U.S.?

Firearms and ammunition intended for legitimate hunting or lawful sporting purposes may be brought into the United States provided you take the firearms and any remaining unfired ammunition out of United States when you depart. Also, an approved ATF Form 6-Part I (5330.3A) is required to import all firearms, ammunition, and implements of war into the United States or any possession. The ATF Form 6 should be submitted approximately 60 days prior to the intended importation.

All other firearms and ammunition are subject to restrictions and import permits. Fully automatic weapons and semi-automatic "assault" type weapons are prohibited.

For complete information, write:

Department of the Treasury
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms
Firearms and Explosives Import Branch
Washington, D.C. 20226
001-202-927-8320
http://www.atf.treas.gov

...and it appears you will miss the 60 day deadline by a good 30+ days.

[jk]

missy, are you aware of what an air rifle is? It does not use gunpowder to shoot but compressed air. I don't know if the regulation you posted applies to such a rifle. I suspect it doesn't as they are regulated quite differently in any place I have dealt with them.


wilf; I suspect it would be simpler to purchase one here, regardless of the legality. If they see an x-ray of a rifle when you check your baggage, I would think you will be taken aside to deal with this.

doesn't seem worth it to me.

[LawResearcherMissy]

missy, are you aware of what an air rifle is?

Yup, it's a BB gun on steroids. Still a firearm, though, and when dealing with bringing firearms into the US, it's ALWAYS best to ask the ATF than just rely on some educated laypeople.

The ones used by serious hobbyists aren't precisely cheap little toys that wouldn't be missed if confiscated at the border, after all. I mean, unless one thinks that $500+ isn't much money...

[divemedic]

Yup, it's a BB gun on steroids. Still a firearm, though, and when dealing with bringing firearms into the US, it's ALWAYS best to ask the ATF than just rely on some educated laypeople.

That is not correct. 15 USC 921(a)

(3) The term “firearm” means
(A) any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive;
(B) the frame or receiver of any such weapon;
(C) any firearm muffler or firearm silencer; or
(D) any destructive device. Such term does not include an antique firearm.

An air rifle does not use an explosive charge, but rather compressed air.