On the road and after the range

The 15 minutes

1. 2 min Say why: "The moments a firearm leaves storage and comes back are where routines slip. The federal airport rules are short; local and state laws are not part of this class."
2. 6 min Read the source lines below aloud. Name who said each one.
3. 4 min Talk through the questions. There are no wrong answers here.
4. 3 min Agree one change for this home, and who will make it by when.

Read aloud

• "Unload, clean and place your firearms in their secure storage location immediately after returning from a hunting trip or a day at the range." (Project ChildSafe (NSSF))
• "When using a gun for hunting or target practice, keep the safety catch in place until you are ready to fire it. Before setting the gun down, always unload it." (AAP)
• "Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate." (NRA)
• "You may transport unloaded firearms in a locked hard-sided container as checked baggage only." (TSA)
• "Declare the firearm and/or ammunition to the airline when checking your bag at the ticket counter." (TSA)
• "Ammunition is prohibited in carry-on baggage, but may be transported in checked baggage." (TSA)

Talk it through

• Is this true in our home today? "After the range or a hunt, firearms are unloaded, cleaned and back in locked storage before anything else."
• Is this true in our home today? "In a vehicle, firearms are never left loaded and unlocked (Lesson 3)."
• Is this true in our home today? "Before flying, read the TSA page and your airline's own rules; before driving across state lines, check each state's rules with that state."
• What would make it hard to keep this up, and what would make it easy?

Questions and answer key

1. On a commercial flight, the TSA allows unloaded firearms...
   Answer: in a locked hard-sided container as checked baggage only
2. Ammunition in carry-on baggage is...
   Answer: prohibited
3. You are home from the range. Project ChildSafe says to...
   Answer: unload, clean and place the firearms in secure storage immediately
4. At the airport, when do you declare a firearm or ammunition?
   Answer: To the airline when checking your bag at the ticket counter
5. When hunting or at target practice, what does the AAP say to do before setting the gun down?
   Answer: Always unload it
6. What does the NRA say to wear when shooting?
   Answer: Eye and ear protection as appropriate