Hatari:
Had a similar experience at JFK in 2010. I had flown SAA from Joberg to NYC via Dakar. NYPD threatened arrest me if I left the international terminal to check in at the domestic terminal with my rifles, claiming it was a violation of the infamous Sullivan Law to do so. Finally, a sympathetic NYPD officer walked me and my rifles to the domestic terminal.
As a result, I will never fly into JFK with rifles again. From then on it's always been the Delta 777 nonstop from and into ATL. Never a problem there.
Supposedly, AA is going to soon start a routing from Miami (MIA) to Capetown, nonstop in a 777. Never had a problem traveling with firearms via AA through MIA.
