I regularly fly and check a firearm. It does piss the counter agents off because they always throw a fit on why I don't use the kiosk. Then I have to loudly announce across the line of people that I need to check a firearm. Then they get all huffy and puffy.

But I have never had an issue traveling with any law enforcement agency needing to investigate firearms possession at the airport. I agree that there has to be more to the story and someone didn't know what the law was