Madison Wis. —The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) discovered a loaded firearm at Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) yesterday at a security screening checkpoint.
The Titan .25 caliber firearm, loaded with 3 rounds, was detected during x-ray screening at a checkpoint on Monday, June 3. The Dane County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) department responded, interviewed the passenger, and took possession of the weapon. Any determination about a criminal charge is up to law enforcement.
TSA also reviews the incident and can assess a civil penalty of up to $13,333 per violation. Factors TSA considers when determining the civil penalty amount include whether the firearm was loaded. Individuals who violate rules regarding traveling with firearms will have Trusted Traveler status and TSA Pre✓® expedited screening benefits revoked for a period of time.
“Firearms can only be transported in a checked bag, if declared to the airline at the ticket counter and properly packed in a locked, hard-sided container,” said TSA Wisconsin Federal Security Director Mark Lendvay. “Firearms detected at TSA security checkpoints cause significant operational disruptions for our Transportation Security Officers, supporting law enforcement officials and the traveling public.”
This is the second firearm discovered at MSN so far this year. In 2018, TSA intercepted four firearms at MSN checkpoints. TSA found a record-breaking 4,239 firearms--an average of 11.6 per day--at airport security checkpoints around the country in 2018, a 7 percent increase over 2017.
For more information, visit the prohibited items and firearms and ammunition pages at tsa.gov.