Grand Rapids, Mich. – Alert TSA officers at Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) discovered a loaded firearm at the security checkpoint on Wednesday morning.
The loaded .22 caliber High Standard firearm was discovered on Wednesday, April 25. TSA officers spotted the firearm in a 63-year-old female passenger’s carry-on luggage as it was screened at the checkpoint. When discovered, TSA immediately notified Airport Police who responded to the checkpoint to take possession of the firearm and arrest the Denver-bound passenger on a state charge.
TSA reminds passengers that they are solely responsible for the content of bags brought to the airport checkpoint.
Individuals who bring firearms to security checkpoints are referred to law enforcement and may be subject to criminal penalties by local law enforcement. In additional to criminal referrals, TSA imposes civil penalties ranging up to $9,800 for a single violation of a firearm brought to a security checkpoint. TSA continues to intercept firearms and other dangerous weapons at security checkpoints nationwide. The number of firearms detected at the checkpoint continues to rise nationwide. TSA discovered 3,957 firearms at checkpoints across the nation last year and nearly 3,400 firearms in 2016. This is the second firearm detected in carryon luggage at GRR this year.
Read more about firearms at the checkpoint go to TSA.gov.