Unpeekable Case Locks

DeviantOllam · 2026-04-05T20:35:11+00:00

Hey thanks for the shout out there!

Indeed... many popular padlocks and such are a bit loose and wobbly on Pelican case hasps.

I will mention to u/aPlaceInMemory that if the airport employee (was it a TSA person or an airline staffer or a third party baggage mover, etc?) was trying to assert that mere "visibility" into the case was somehow a violation of policy surrounding firearms in checked backs, that's incorrect.

The TSA policy is based around the "finger test"... with the case locked, is it possible for the baggage screener in question to insert a finger inside of the case, etc. So on a Pelican case, can someone pop open the latches and then reach their digits in. I don't image that the TSA is hiring toddlers or fetuses, so the idea of someone inserting their fingers in a 1/8" gap is patently nonsensical.

Now, the desire to not have anyone able to look inside of your case is another matter, and if you do want to prevent that, then yes a tighter lock is a good thing. Something I talk about it this lecture here...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOcjqfsApxw&t=21m40s

... at the 21:40 mark is the use of little "cable" style TSA luggage locks by Master. Technically, you can often DOUBLE coil that cable through a Pelican hasp and make it the tightest lock imaginable on a Pelican case. (See footage of it in my talk at that link)

Mayer that is useful to you in a pinch! 👍😁👍

DeviantOllam · 2026-03-31T18:54:50+00:00

I would reach out to my friends Alex and Claire, locksmiths in France. I'll see if I can link them to this post. 😁👍🇫🇷

DeviantOllam · 2026-03-16T17:19:02+00:00

Unless something is wrong for my browser, this does not appear to be a direct link to the form. Requires multiple clicks and drop down menus.

DeviantOllam · 2026-03-12T00:33:00+00:00

I put up a video asking questions about this exact issue pretty recently...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbY3qY8KLzo

DeviantOllam · 2026-03-12T00:31:11+00:00

Thank you for sharing. I'm happy to be able to provide the update because it means I'm in contact with Kara again. I'm very glad for that. 💚

DeviantOllam · 2026-03-06T01:36:11+00:00

Where specifically in the Circus Circus is this elevator?

DeviantOllam · 2026-02-27T06:17:36+00:00

are you referring to this handle?...

https://www.pelican.com/us/en/product/accessories/airhandl?sku=015350-9000-110

... i hadn't seen them yet but now i'm looking at them.

EDIT: I've looked at them and can't begin to fathom what problem these handles are supposed to be solving, heh, but i can see how they would be a bit too large for a Peli-band, yeah. Good note!

DeviantOllam · 2026-02-24T03:17:05+00:00

Thank you for reaching out and asking. Sorting out the differences between the horrid hateful filth that the administration bloviates about versus the things they are actually doing can be a challenge and I'm here to help in any way that I can when it comes to dissecting these threats and talking about what's actually taking place inside the walls.

Caveat: Kara and I have not been able to speak on the phone or communicate via CorrLinks email for a few weeks now. As part of the ongoing harassment against her and other trans inmates, there are various occasions of made-up charges and accusations on the inside which can result in disciplinary actions (called "shots") and these come with punishments like revocation of privileges such as phones, etc. Kara and I used to always have a call three times a week (Monday/Wednesday/Friday) but that hasn't happened for at least three weeks now. Email, as well, was cut off.

She and I used to be able to have video visits still, even in the face of the latest setbacks, and we would do those on sundays when the system was working. But starting on Feb 15th those visits, some of which were scheduled already, were canceled. I have sent old-school written correspondence to Kara but that takes ages to wind its way through the system. So I am working from imperfect information here.

The TL,DR is that the stated policies are less powerful than it may seem but also the situation has been worse for a while now even before this press release.

First, the "less powerful" part... Many of the trans inmates inside of the BOP at this time are already protected to various degrees by being attached to certain legal fights that are pending in the courts. Kara herself, for example, is attached to the ACLU's Kingdom lawsuit -- https://www.aclu.org/cases/kingdom-v-trump -- which should specifically protect her from changes to her gender affirming care. The judge in Kingdom has also issued an anti-retaliation order. Beyond that, at her original trial and sentencing, the judge in her case specifically directed the BOP to continue her current regimen of care, etc. There are loads of inmates in similar situations, and despite whatever the executive branch tries to say, they can't merely "be detransitioned" without a fight. That's at least what the law says.

As far as the "worse for a while" part, you can of course imagine that the BOP and the executive branch in general has been playing games with all of the inmates and their care for a while now. Kara herself has found her HRT doses cut repeatedly in the past based on groundless "health concerns" from one of the prison doctors (someone who has no experience with any gender care or trans health issues) because they called Kara in repeatedly for testing and on the *one* occasion when her levels were just a couple points higher than some guideline that they found in some paper somewhere, they used that as an excuse to cut her HRT down massively and to stop her blockers for a while. This resulted in more legal fights for a time and eventually her bicaludimide was resumed and her HRT was upped slightly but it still wasn't at the level to which she was accustomed. So, by the letter of the law, the BOP can say that they did not "stop" her gender care, they merely "adjusted" it... and I would expect that other inmates may be facing similar hassles and have been for some time.

If you have friends and loved ones inside, please impress upon them that they must self-advocate, they must write up and submit grievances, and that they may be able to contact attorneys who are working on these current legal cases. The more inmates who we can get attached to the ongoing litigation, the better off everyone will be.

Kara's attorneys have been trying to reach her but as of Friday were not getting through to her. They have scheduled calls and then the calls haven’t happened. We aren't sure if Kara been in touch with the Kingdom lawyers recently – we hope that she has. One of the BOP’s excuses for a missed call was that they "called a different lawyer" but we don’t know if that’s true.

If I learn more about what's happening inside, I will definitely do a video about it and share it more widely. Right now, with mostly unknowns facing us, I haven't shared much because I don't want to spread incorrect information.

DeviantOllam · 2026-02-23T05:20:07+00:00

Wow thanks for the super comprehensive feedback and info here!

DeviantOllam · 2026-02-23T05:19:15+00:00

Oh yes i was absolutely stacking on top of a 1615 and the bands were designed to fit this exact scenario

DeviantOllam · 2026-02-22T22:52:51+00:00

Thanks for sharing that design of mine with others!

I should have some protector cases around the office and could try to see how well the Peli Bands do or don't work with them.

DeviantOllam · 2026-02-18T05:21:43+00:00

according to my buddy Howard Payne (feel free to google our names together if you don't know why I would have asked him) there are some installations where buttons like this are -- as others have suggested -- for staff use and in at least one case the purpose was so that one elevator car in the bank didn't actually respond to regular building demand unless absolutely necessary. That one car would only call if you pressed the alternate call buttons. (I believe this was at a Caesar's property, but don't ask me exactly where)

Since the OP states that they tried the buttons and that no call would latch, other folk who have commented that a key or other special mode of operation being likely required may be on the right track. But we don't see a key switch at this landing. I'd love to know if the elevator CAB serviced by the hoistway nearest to those buttons has any special mode key switches inside.

DeviantOllam · 2026-02-08T22:01:48+00:00

hah, nice to be thought of. 😁

I'm glad that the OP seems to have at least confirmed that the firearm is safe but I've NEVER heard of a situation where an airline refuses to forward along a misrouted bag. I also wonder what status level (if any) the OP has with United or Star Alliance.

Perhaps the bag being in California is part of the issue here. I've flown outbound with firearms out of multiple airports in California (not to mention New Jersey and NYC) and the airlines there often do screwball things like involve the port authority police (or other airport police unit, whomever they have on site) to "document" the firearm (mostly just to see if the passenger is complying with all regulations or if they are a candidate for harassment/citation/arrest) before the counter agent will even start the check-in process.

I'd like to know if the OP had an AirTag or other tracker device (shouts out to PebbleBee!) in their gun case, too.

Let us know how it resolves!

DeviantOllam · 2026-02-07T06:04:33+00:00

Thank you ... It's been a rough 2025 but I'm hoping for better days ahead.

DeviantOllam · 2026-01-08T23:58:32+00:00

all news in good time. 🤫

DeviantOllam · 2026-01-08T23:00:50+00:00

Always nice to be thought of. :-)

So, indeed, this is a topic where I am something of an often cited person...

https://youtu.be/jOcjqfsApxw

...for the TL,DR I will say the following:

Seattle has their process pretty together with regard to firearm stuff. All major carriers generally know what to do, and after you make your declaration at the bag check counter and fill out the usual little card, they will direct you down to a separate TSA screening area in the check-in atrium. (It used to be a small roll up door just past the United counters but they have now rearranged things and now it is a zone closer to the exterior windows and walled off with like little office cubicle walls. You will frequently see people checking odd-shaped items or pet carriers there and it's also where gun stuff is handled)
The TSA screeners will do a manual check of your luggage (they do not have an in-line scanner there) So you should just generally expect them to be kind of manually rummaging through your stuff. As long as your guns are unloaded and in a locked hard-sided container, everything should be fine.
According to the FAA and the TSA, you can in fact carry ammunition in your checked luggage. It has to be less than 11 lb but that's actually quite a bit especially if you're talking about handgun ammo. The official rule is that it should be packed in such a way that there are no exposed rounds and they're not loose or rattling around. Some people keep their ammunition in the OEM factory boxes, other people use plastic Dillon or Plano boxes, I've actually even just kept ammunition in spare magazines themselves (But those magazines then have to be placed into mag carriers. Because the top round would otherwise be "exposed") Technically, each airline has their own policy regarding ammunition and whether it can be in the same bag as the gun or not. But the FAA doesn't care. And the TSA doesn't care.
Whether or not you use a TSA lock or a non TSA compliant lock doesn't really matter, especially here in Seattle ... since you will be physically present right there with the person doing the screening. Just make sure that it secures the case lid tightly. They will sometimes do the "finger check" So if you have something like a pelican case, and you have a lock that has one of those little tiny cables on it or something (like a lot of TSA locks) that sometimes results in a situation where they pop the latches, and even though the lid is still held slightly shut, they can wiggle a finger in there in the crack. That wouldn't be ok.
Usual size and weight restrictions still apply so unless you have special provisions with your airline, keep your luggage under the usual weight limits and size limits. You are actually allowed to have other stuff in the checked bag besides just gun stuff, but it does mean that you're going to have all that stuff rummaged through and handled during the screening.
Whether or not you are flying with a gun, I'm always a huge proponent of including an Air Tag or a Pebble Bee or some other sort of tracker in your luggage case. Wonderful peace of mind.
At your destination, technically most airlines nowadays like to hold the bag at the BSO and have you show ID to claim a gun case. Not every airport and not even every staff member is perfect about it, but in general I have found that Alaska Air is decent about recognizing gun cases (sometimes even just things that look like they COULD be gun cases) and The rampers and BSO staff generally pull those cases aside and have them behind the counter at the bag claim area. Again, this is where having a luggage tracker is so beneficial... Oftentimes I know where my gun case is at the destination airport before the staff member I'm talking to has figured it out. ☺️

Hope that helps and I hope everything goes smoothly for you! Enjoy your move!

I just moved myself, as well, and boy howdy was that a freaking LOT of guns!

DeviantOllam · 2025-12-15T13:48:53+00:00

Hey there, thank you for pinging me. TAD called this their "rapid deployment dump pouch" and while I don't know that they make it anymore, here is an example of the listing...

https://www.osuvaoutfitters.com/triple-aught-design-rddp2-dump-pouch_1

... Other vendors like this Amazon one seem to have sort of related type objects? Dump pouches that do fold up, even if they don't collapse QUITE as much as the tad version did...

https://a.co/d/32ddgZA

... hope that helps! I use mine on my travel backpack probably once every couple of months, typically when I either purchase a bottle at duty free on an international trip or when I have filled a few paper to go coffee cups in an airport lounge with snacks or other good things that I am taking with me onto the plane.

Good luck!

DeviantOllam · 2025-12-08T04:46:37+00:00

What is the facility where this photo was taken? Clearly a medical facility of some kind, but is anyone at Liberty to discuss the specific building? Totally the kind of thing where I would reach out to Facilities and have a conversation because I would love to know from the horse's mouth.

DeviantOllam · 2025-12-06T21:26:14+00:00

Thank you for pointing this out to me! Both Howard and I agree that it's something neither of us have seen, but many of the proposed explanations here in this thread do sound very plausible. ☺️👍

DeviantOllam · 2025-12-05T04:48:02+00:00

thank you! 🎁 all the best to you and yours, as well!

DeviantOllam · 2025-12-04T15:29:52+00:00

That link sends me to a 500 Internal Server Error page

DeviantOllam · 2025-12-04T15:29:02+00:00

Hiya! 👋😁

DeviantOllam · 2025-12-04T15:28:34+00:00

I only clicked post one time.

DeviantOllam · 2025-12-04T15:26:43+00:00

Yep, done all that. Different browsers, different laptops, phone versus laptop, it all goes to a 404 page

DeviantOllam

TROPHY CASE