§46505 — Title 49 Transportation | U.S. Code

Summary

You may not carry a concealed dangerous weapon you could reach while on a plane, put a loaded gun into airplane property even if passengers can’t reach it, or bring an explosive or incendiary device onto an aircraft. A "loaded firearm" means a gun (including a starter gun) that has a cartridge, detonator, or powder in its chamber, magazine, cylinder, or clip. Breaking this rule can lead to a federal fine under Title 18 and up to 10 years in prison. If someone does it on purpose or with reckless disregard for people’s safety, the penalty can be up to 20 years, and if a death results, the person can be imprisoned for any term of years or for life. Law enforcement or other government officers allowed to carry guns, people the FAA or TSA authorizes, and someone who puts an unloaded weapon in checked baggage after telling the airline are not covered by the concealed-weapon rule. People who plan the crime together and take steps to carry it out face the same punishments.

Title 49, §46505

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In this section, “loaded firearm” means a starter gun or a weapon designed or converted to expel a projectile through an explosive, that has a cartridge, a detonator, or powder in the chamber, magazine, cylinder, or clip.

(b)An individual shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both, if the individual—

(1)when on, or attempting to get on, an aircraft in, or intended for operation in, air transportation or intrastate air transportation, has on or about the individual or the property of the individual a concealed dangerous weapon that is or would be accessible to the individual in flight;

(2)has placed, attempted to place, or attempted to have placed a loaded firearm on that aircraft in property not accessible to passengers in flight; or

(3)has on or about the individual, or has placed, attempted to place, or attempted to have placed on that aircraft, an explosive or incendiary device.

(c)An individual who willfully and without regard for the safety of human life, or with reckless disregard for the safety of human life, violates subsection (b) of this section, shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 20 years, or both, and, if death results to any person, shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life.

(d)Subsection (b)(1) of this section does not apply to—

(1)a law enforcement officer of a State or political subdivision of a State, or an officer or employee of the United States Government, authorized to carry arms in an official capacity;

(2)another individual the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration or the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration by regulation authorizes to carry a dangerous weapon in air transportation or intrastate air transportation; or

(3)an individual transporting a weapon (except a loaded firearm) in baggage not accessible to a passenger in flight if the air carrier was informed of the presence of the weapon.

(e)If two or more persons conspire to violate subsection (b) or (c), and one or more of such persons do any act to effect the object of the conspiracy, each of the parties to such conspiracy shall be punished as provided in such subsection.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 46505(a)49 App.:1472(l)(4).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, § 902(l)(4); added Feb. 18, 1980, Pub. L. 96–193, § 502(c), 94 Stat. 59. 46505(b)49 App.:1472(l)(1).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, § 902(l)(1); added Sept. 5, 1961, Pub. L. 87–197, § 1, 75 Stat. 466; Aug. 5, 1974, Pub. L. 93–366, § 203, 88 Stat. 417; restated Feb. 18, 1980, Pub. L. 96–193, § 502(a), 94 Stat. 59; Oct. 12, 1984, Pub. L. 98–473, § 2014(c)(1), 98 Stat. 2189. 46505(c)49 App.:1472(l)(2).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, § 902(l)(2); added Sept. 5, 1961, Pub. L. 87–197, § 1, 75 Stat. 466; restated Aug. 5, 1974, Pub. L. 93–366, § 203, 88 Stat. 418; Oct. 12, 1984, Pub. L 98–473, § 2014(c)(2), 98 Stat. 2189. 46505(d)49 App.:1472(l)(3).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, § 902(l)(3); added Sept. 5, 1961, Pub. L. 87–197, § 1, 75 Stat. 466; restated Aug. 5, 1974, Pub. L. 93–366, § 203, 88 Stat. 418; Feb. 18, 1980, Pub. L. 96–193, § 502(b), 94 Stat. 59. In subsection (a), the definition of “firearm” is merged with the definition of “loaded firearm” because the term “firearm” is only used in the defined term “loaded firearm”. In subsections (b) and (c), the words “fined under title 18” are substituted for “fined not more than $10,000” and “fined not more than $25,000” for consistency with title 18. In subsections (b)(1) and (d)(2), the words “deadly or” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (b)(2), the words “baggage or other” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (b)(3), the words “bomb or similar” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (d)(1), the words “State or political subdivision of a State” are substituted for “municipal or State government” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code. The words “or required” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (d)(3), the word “contained” is omitted as surplus.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 115–254 substituted “Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration” for “Under Secretary of Transportation for Security”. 2001—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 107–56, § 810(g), substituted “20 years, or both, and, if death results to any person, shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life.” for “15 years, or both.” Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 107–71, § 140(d)(8), inserted “or the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security” after “Federal Aviation Administration”. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 107–56, § 811(j), added subsec. (e). 1996—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–132, § 705(b)(1), substituted “10 years” for “one year”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–132, § 705(b)(2), substituted “15 years” for “5 years”.

§46505 Carrying a weapon or explosive on an aircraft