My big bad moustache siccors in Frankfurt

[jon lynn]

Summer before last I made a round trip from Germany to the US, and I flew back last summer to live (as most of you know), then just made a round trip flight for Christmas.

On all these trips I had some teeney-weenie trimmers for the old cookie duster, no problems.

Last Friday on my return they became a big issue for a few moments I tried to explain they were always with me, no problem, but with Teutonic logic, I was informed I could mail them for six Euros (they cost me $2 at Wally-World), or not fly! Just how dangerious could they be to a now aware flying public?

Now what if the pilot needed a nose hair trim while in flight, or something? Just think there might be an AA (not that AA) pilot guiding a flight with long harry things hangin' down to God knows where!

Well I gotta go to Wally World and get some new ones.

[DaMadman]

good thing you didn't have a nail clipper. I heard that trying to smuggle a nail clipper on a flight is a federal offense now

I know it really isn't funny and majorly sad that we have been diminished to this. Aah the post 9/11 issue we have to deal with.

I will be going out to Montana in the spring to visit the property that I will be buying next week and I want to take my .22 rifle with me. I already know that I will have to have a locking hardside case and padlocks and so on but the thing that I am dreading is going to be the paper work.

I'm thinking it might be to my advantage to just go to walmart and buy one when I get there and pawn it before I leave.... hahahaa

[Rocky Raab]

Madman, there's no paperwork. It's probably easier to fly with a firearm than with frozen fish.

You simply declare that you have an unloaded firearm. They inspect it and place a tag inside the case, then you re-lock the case. That's it. You might garner some funny looks from the people behind you in line, but those are idjits. The counter people are mostly in the know and studiously neutral towards gun owners.

I did have one area of confusion the last time I flew with a rifle. In one direction, they insisted the ammo had to be inside the gun case, but flying home, they insisted it couldn't be in there. No sweat. I just moved it - both times.

Oh, one hint: If you shoot at all, wash your hands completely before you touch your baggage. That helps reduce the chance that your bag will have "explosive residue" on it.

[M.T. Pockets]

I've flown a couple times since 9/11, I didn't encounter any problems at all. For a .22 I wouldn't even consider bringing any ammunition - just buy it when you get there and leave what you don't use.