TSA vs EOTech
Do you think the TSA will cause me a problem if I have an EOTech Holographic weapon sight in my carry-on baggage for a domestic flight?
Thanks in advance.
-Otter
Thanks in advance.
-Otter
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It is not prohibited. But, expect a secondary search & interview.
Neal0 -
I suspect you don't want it to go in your checked bag since TSA is notorious for stealing such things. There is nothing in the sight that is prohibited so it shouldn't be a problem. I suppose you could just tell them its an eyepiece for your camera. 0 -
They "shouldn't" but it may depend on how intelligent (to phrase this positively) the TSA agent in question and their manager are.
Most likely the thing will go right through screening and nobody will notice. I don't think this is actually a prohibited item.
On the other hand, I got flagged once because I had SOLID PLASTIC DUMMY rounds on me during a flight. I bought them visiting at a range in a different state to bring home. Instead of putting them in my bag where I thought some screener might see them on imaging and they could cause trouble I put them in my pocket, and then when I went through screening, I pulled them out and "declared" them to the screener. Retrospectively, I should have kept them in my pocket and kept my mouth shut.
What are those? They're plastic dummy rounds.
What are they for? They're for training?
Do they go in a gun. Yes, but they don't contain bullets, powder or anything else harmful. They're plastic. . .see.
Where is the rifle? In another State 1500 miles from here.
Do you have a gun? No.
To make a long story short, after some polite bickering with the manager came out and said I couldn't take them with me onto the plane. Apparently, even though the rounds were BLACK (ie didn't even look like live rounds, at least not to anyone who knows what they look like), PLASTIC, entirely inert, and not prohibited, this manager "explained" that I might (inexplicably) decide to pull them out in the middle of the flight, some OTHER passenger might see them and decide they were live ammunition then cause a panic.
IMO this was just dumb, but honestly, was I going to cause a scene and miss my flight over an $8 item? No. So I lost the rounds and all respect I had for the judgment of the TSA at that point.
Back on the EOTECH, again, don't see a problem here, but the safest thing is jut to mail it to yourself. For a few bucks, that will prevent any hassle, and given the value of that item, it may be worth it.0 -
I suspect the electronics configuration will stump them.
And you'll be pulled to the side.
Put it in a separate bin, like you would a laptop. And be prepared to explain its function.
I got through screening in a hurry once when I put my carry on in the xray and said "bet you can't guess what that is". I was astonished when he said... "its lead glass drops from a chandelier". Cause I had about 40 in 3 distinct sizes. He knew his job. And waived me through.
On the other hand, I once got into it with a TSA because they didn't want me to take an 8 foot two piece flyrod in carryon. I pointed out that fishing rods were specifically mentioned on their "allowed" list. The TSA in charge wanted someone with greater authority to weigh in on the aluminum tube the rod was stored in.
He looked me in the eye and in all seriousness said "this could be used as a weapon".
I looked him back in the eye and told him that he should call his supervisor and get clarity on the issue. But if he wanted to take the aluminum tube and attack me, I'd take my belt off and go hammer and tongs with him all day long.
He handed me my fly rod and told me to go ahead and board my flight.[;)][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]0 -
otter6412,
One thing you can count on from any journey through TSA is that you can't outguess them. Most times you move right through without a hiccup. Then there are the times when even though you have nothing to cause suspicion, they are on your tail for something really stupid. Back at the beginning of TSA dominance, I was pulled out for additional search because of a bag of Belly Flops (misshapen Jelly Bellies, a candy).
I fly with about a dozen pieces of electronics in my briefcase. The one I have can be opened flat on the conveyor belt to allow a good view of everything. My laptop, tablet and phone get pulled out into a separate tray to keep the TSA folks happy. I have not been pulled aside yet (knock on wood, cross fingers...) for an additional search. Your sight shouldn't be a problem unless you run into one of those folks who just live to be a PIA.
If you have no faith in the TSA system [}:)], simply mail it home as was suggested above.
Best.0 -
Showing up with it in it's original box with the owner's manual could help.
This would remove all question on what it is and what it's capable of.
However, I agree that shipping ahead would alleviate potential TSA problems. I prefer do this with gun related gear when traveling just to remove any possibility of a hassle.
Airline travel is a big enough PITA these days without me creating potential for delays.0 -
quote:Originally posted by nmyers
It is not prohibited. But, expect a secondary search & interview.
Neal
Eaxctly, depending on where you're going, and the reason you're taking the sight, you might consider sending it ahead via USPS or UPS. Something like that if it would work.0
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