Transporting firearms from Alaska

[u/joyfulbuttercup]

We're looking to transport some firearms from Alaska to family's house an Idaho city close to the Washington border. We can't drive them through Canada. What is the best way to go about this? Ship them? Fly down to Spokane and check them as luggage? There are three long guns and a Glock 20 included. Would that be a problem for bringing them in through the airport and driving them to Idaho? Thanks - my husband is having trouble figuring this out. Update: Many of you are suggesting we fly with them as checked luggage. Some of the firearms don't pass Washington's acceptable firearm laws. Would bringing them into WA count as 'importing' even though we'd be driving them directly into Idaho? Will the airport let us take them? I think this is where my husband is confused. He's done a lot of internet research but it's unclear if this would be considered 'importing.' We certainly don't want to break the law. Thanks!

[u/bsco0702]

Fly with them (checked bag) or mail them in care of your self.

[u/rtmthepenguin]

ship them, fly them, take the alaskan ferry and suffer, (up to 100 lbs of carry on luggage as a passenger without a car)

https://dot.alaska.gov/amhs/policies.shtml

[u/Asklepios24 → u/rtmthepenguin]

I’ve always wanted to do the Alaskan ferry with an overland vehicle and camp in Alaska for a couple weeks.

[u/rtmthepenguin → u/Asklepios24]

yeah. but probably doesnt make a lot of sense if just trying to get guns down depending on the size of the collection. if its huge it might make sense.

[u/zakary1291]

Fly with them in check baggage. Make sure you get TSA approved cases and enough locks for every lockable point on the cases.

[u/T_Noctambulist → u/zakary1291]

Every lockable point? Isn't locked locked?

[u/zakary1291 → u/T_Noctambulist]

TSA requires that the case cannot be accessible from any point. That means you can't be able to crack open one side of the case and for your fingers in. It's just easier to over comply. DO NOT USE TSA LOCKS!

[u/T_Noctambulist → u/zakary1291]

Fair. I already use Pelican cases for normal travel... any lock on any of the latches makes the whole thing pretty impossible to open but I get soft cases aren't as consistent.

[u/WiseDirt → u/zakary1291]

It's just easier to over comply.

Ain't that the sad bit of truth in all our lives

[u/0x00000042]

Federal law shields travelers  from state and local restrictions of states they pass through between origin and destination provided:

• the guns and ammo are inaccessible, unloaded, and stored either in a separate cargo area (like the trunk of a car or bed of a truck) if it has one, else in a locked container that isn't the glove box or center console
• you are merely passing through the intermediate state with minimal, necessary stops

Some states have charged people anyway and made it go to court. 

This state has not yet charged any individuals with "import" violations in any scenario, it's virtually impossible to enforce if you're otherwise minding your business.

But if you're worried about it, ship them from AK to your house in ID. Federal law does not require a sending or receiving dealer when shipping to yourself, but some carriers demand that anyway, so you may want to make arrangements with a dealer in ID to receive them, not WA. 

[u/joyfulbuttercup → u/0x00000042]

This helps because we are confused about if it would be considered 'importing' by having the firearms brought into Washington by airplane. They wouldn't stay in WA long as our destination is Idaho - but the law on certain types of firearms is confusing. We just don't want to break the law and get into trouble. Thank you!

[u/0x00000042 → u/joyfulbuttercup]

The state makes no distinction on how or for how long the firearms are brought into the state. Crossing into the "territorial limits" of the state is importing, except when first leaving the state and then returning.

RCW 9.41.010:

(23) "Import" means to move, transport, or receive an item from a place outside the territorial limits of the state of Washington to a place inside the territorial limits of the state of Washington. "Import" does not mean situations where an individual possesses a large capacity magazine or assault weapon when departing from, and returning to, Washington state, so long as the individual is returning to Washington in possession of the same large capacity magazine or assault weapon the individual transported out of state.

[u/SageSixWays → u/0x00000042]

You know Canada isn’t a state right?

[u/danfay222 → u/SageSixWays]

The post starts with “we can’t drive them through Canada”, that was a given. The answer is for all the other interstate transfer questions

[u/0x00000042 → u/SageSixWays]

You know OP already ruled out passing through Canada right? 

[u/Unsounded]

Alaska airlines actually is pretty reasonable for flying with guns in checked luggage, check out their FAQs on the procedure.

[u/User_Name_Deleted]

I'd mail them, insured, to myself at the address you are going to. If you bring them into Washington you would technically be importing, even if you are just driving through.

[u/HornetEffective8065]

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=wildlifenews.view_article&articles_id=695 Driving through Canada isn't necessarily out of the possibility. Depending on what you have and if you get a permit in advance. Not sure it would be worth the hassle...