HUNTINGTON, W.Va. —A Kentucky man was caught by the Transportation Security Administration with a loaded gun in his carry-on bag at the Huntington Tri-State Airport checkpoint on Monday, June 11.
TSA officers stopped the Van Lear, Kentucky, resident with a .380 caliber handgun loaded with six bullets. TSA contacted the airport police, who came to the checkpoint, confiscated the gun, questioned the man and cited him on a weapons violation.
The Johnson County, Kentucky, man told TSA officials that he forgot that he had his loaded gun with him.
As a reminder, individuals who bring weapons to a checkpoint are subject to federal civil penalties of up to $13,000. Even individuals with gun carry permits are not permitted to carry a gun on an aircraft. A typical first offense for carrying a handgun into a checkpoint is $3,900. The complete list of penalties is posted online.
Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are properly packaged and declared. Firearms must be unloaded, packed in a hard-side case, locked, and packed separately from ammunition. The gun must be brought to the airline check-in counter to be placed in the belly of the plane with other checked baggage. Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality. Travelers should familiarize themselves with state and local firearm laws for each point of travel prior to departure.
TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on TSA.gov. Airlines may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition. Travelers should also contact their airline regarding firearm and ammunition carriage policies.