Flew Delta to Atlanta and back this weekend and when I picked up my suitcase in Atlanta. it had a large zip tie around it. Same thing when I got home. In both cases, I was able to retrieve the gun without cutting the tie

My knife was also in the suitcase and had the thing worked, it would have been difficult getting to the guncase.

wonder if the bag was on the verge of opening and they zip-tied it to keep it together

No, that's SOP now after the guy in Florida got his gun our of his bag at baggage claim and started shooting.

This is actually Delta's new policy after the shooting in the baggage claim area.

When your bag comes off the plane and goes to the baggage claims office they do it in the back room when you arrive to pick up the bag. I watched the woman do it in Minneapolis when I went to claim my bag after coming back from a match.

I now carry a clipper in my carry-on that is capable of clipping the zip tie off. I stood right in front of the woman running the counter and cut the zip tie off and when she gave me a dirty look I just mentioned to her that legally they cannot be doing what they are doing because this is now an indicator to others in the area that I have a firearm and I walked away.