If you are going to Africa

[rattus58]

American Airlines has taken the un-stated reason for position of not handling firearms anymore as checked baggage to overseas destinations via Europe or Asia. Their reservations people, though trying to be helpful, have given me erroneous information about shipping via Fedex and UPS. Hunters going to Africa for hunting are out of luck with American Airlines, which now throws a huge burden on hunters going overseas. What is sad about all this, is that it is hunters who are financing the conservation efforts over in Africa, and without these necessary dollars, many animals may have already gone beyond being threatened, to worse. Because of hunters, the Rhino, Elephant and others are more secure now because poaching has an economic impact and resources to protect these game animals from poaching and possible extinction is provided by hunters. This maneuver by American Airlines, though reasons are unstated in their policy, and they refuse to answer my emails than other by a ridiculous

“Hello,

You’ve just sent your first email to me since I’ve installed Bsafe Online’s spam killer. For this first time only, please help me add your email address to my approved sender list.

Simply reply to this email with the following code in the subject line of your reply.

Xxxxxxxxx (code number here)

Thanks for your help!
powersquare@comcast.net

I’ve received 3 of these from American Airlines.. obviously they hope we’ll go away with questions or complaints by playing this “authentication” game.

Here is their published restricted items policy.

“Firearms Handguns, rifles, shotguns Checked baggage only, with restrictions May travel in checked baggage only, and must be declared to agent at check-in. For more information, see Transporting Firearms And Ammunition.

Effective with tickets purchased on/after September 24, 2007, American Airlines will no longer accept firearms in checked baggage to/from any European or Asian destination (except for military/government personnel with proper documentation).”

Personally I’d ask any hunter/shooter/friend of such to contact American Airlines and voice your displeasure. They don’t discriminate against any other lawful sports equipment, so why firearms… is this a political statement? Is this bowing to U.N. pressures to restrict firearms from law abiding citizens while anyone in the street can have an AK-47… abroad?

I’m not flying American Airlines again anytime soon, so I hope this letter has the desired effect on others as well.

Much Aloha,

Tom Lodge
Hawaii Hunting Association

[Adam Helmer]

Tom,

Thanks for the "Heads Up" when it comes to taking firearms on common carriers. The various airlines have various policies and one needs to do a lot of checking BEFORE a trip and write down the names of the airline officials you talked with.

Another touchy item is ammunition on common carriers, especially airlines. Smokeless ammo has permission if in original cartons on most airlines. Black Powder is usually not allowed.

Do a lot of checking before you try to take guns or ammo on any common carrier.

Adam

[rattus58]

Hi Adam,

Well the situation is now resolved, American Airlines has backed down and will again start shipping firearms to Africa. There is still a glitch to taking firearms to England, but otherwise American Airlines has acquiesced.

Apparently American Airlines has been less friendly to hunters than other airlines over the years wanting to charge extra for gun cases and bow cases where golfers, tennis players, surfers, skiers, all got a pass.

This issue I got involved with did learn me something, that there are a lot of other airlines that love hunters.

Black Powder... well.... Shot shell is ammunition, and once the powder is in the shell, loses its character as "black powder". ... Know a good reloader anywhere....