It happens in New Jersey too.  What typically happens is there is an unexpected layover (say, due to weather), so the victims take possession of their luggage (with firearm) without malicious intent when they go to a hotel, and get arrested the following morning when checking in.  In that situation, the proper (only?) course of action is to refuse to take possession of your checked luggage.<p>While traveling through a state, one is supposed to be protected by FOPA [0].  An uncharitable (technically correct but against the spirit) reading of the law is used by New Jersey and New York to harass gun owners, as in this case and in other more egregious cases.<p>[0] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Firearm_Owners_Protection_Act" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Firearm_Owners_Protection_Act</a>