WICHITA, Kan. — The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) discovered two loaded firearms in two days at Kansas airports. The first was found at Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) and the second at Manhattan Regional Airport (MHK) at the security screening checkpoints.
At ICT, TSA discovered a loaded North American .22 caliber revolver on Sunday, July 15. On Monday, July 16, a loaded 9MM Beretta 92FS was intercepted at MHK. Both were detected during X-ray screening at the checkpoints. In both cases, local law enforcement was notified, interviewed the passengers, and took possession of the weapons. Any determination about a criminal charge is up to law enforcement.
“So far this year, we’ve found three times the number of firearms at the ICT checkpoint than in all of 2017,” said TSA Kansas Federal Security Director Jay Brainard. “If you want to travel with a firearm, it can only be transported in a checked bag.” Firearms in checked bags must be declared to the airline at the ticket counter and properly packed in a locked, hard-sided container. Firearm parts, ammunition, and realistic replicas also are not allowed through security checkpoints, but can travel in checked bags.
The two catches bring the total number to 12 firearms discovered by TSA at ICT this calendar year, and one at MHK. In calendar year 2017, TSA found four firearms at ICT and none at MHK. Nationwide in 2017, TSA officers found 3,957 firearms in carry-on bags at airports across the nation, an average of almost 11 per day.
TSA has the authority to levy a civil penalty of up to $13,000 against a passenger who brings a firearm to the checkpoint. The average civil penalty for carrying a loaded firearm to a checkpoint is $3,900. For more information, visit the prohibited items and firearms and ammunition pages at tsa.gov.
WICHITA, Kan. — The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) discovered two loaded firearms in two days at Kansas airports. The first was found at Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) and the second at Manhattan Regional Airport (MHK) at the security screening checkpoints.
At ICT, TSA discovered a loaded North American .22 caliber revolver on Sunday, July 15. On Monday, July 16, a loaded 9MM Beretta 92FS was intercepted at MHK. Both were detected during X-ray screening at the checkpoints. In both cases, local law enforcement was notified, interviewed the passengers, and took possession of the weapons. Any determination about a criminal charge is up to law enforcement.
“So far this year, we’ve found three times the number of firearms at the ICT checkpoint than in all of 2017,” said TSA Kansas Federal Security Director Jay Brainard. “If you want to travel with a firearm, it can only be transported in a checked bag.” Firearms in checked bags must be declared to the airline at the ticket counter and properly packed in a locked, hard-sided container. Firearm parts, ammunition, and realistic replicas also are not allowed through security checkpoints, but can travel in checked bags.
The two catches bring the total number to 12 firearms discovered by TSA at ICT this calendar year, and one at MHK. In calendar year 2017, TSA found four firearms at ICT and none at MHK. Nationwide in 2017, TSA officers found 3,957 firearms in carry-on bags at airports across the nation, an average of almost 11 per day.
TSA has the authority to levy a civil penalty of up to $13,000 against a passenger who brings a firearm to the checkpoint. The average civil penalty for carrying a loaded firearm to a checkpoint is $3,900. For more information, visit the prohibited items and firearms and ammunition pages at tsa.gov.