TSA officers caught this loaded handgun at the T. F. Green International Airport checkpoint on February 20. (TSA photo)
WARWICK, RI –A Florida woman was arrested by airport police yesterday (Feb. 20) after Transportation Security Administration officers at T.F. Green International Airport (PVD) caught her with a Derringer loaded with two bullets in her hand-bag at the security checkpoint.
TSA officers, who spotted the gun in the checkpoint X-ray machine, contacted the airport police, who arrived at the checkpoint, confiscated the gun and detained the woman, a resident of Florida, for questioning before arresting her on weapons charges.
Nationwide last year, 4,239 firearms were discovered in carry-on bags at checkpoints across the country, averaging about 11.6 firearms per day, approximately a 7% increase nationally in firearm discoveries from the total of 3,957 detected in 2017. Eighty-six percent of firearms detected at checkpoints last year were loaded and nearly 34% had a bullet in the chamber.
Guns caught at T.F. Green International Airport checkpoints 2015 to 2020
Year | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 (As of 2/20/20) |
Number of Guns at T.F Green Int’l Airport | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
As a reminder, individuals who bring firearms to the checkpoint are subject to possible criminal charges from law enforcement. Even travelers with concealed firearm permits are not allowed to bring guns onto airplanes. In addition, TSA has the authority to assess civil penalties of up to $13,000 for weapons violations. A typical first offense for carrying a handgun into a checkpoint is $4,100. The complete list of penalties is posted online here: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/civil-enforcement.
TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its web site here: http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/firearms-and-ammunition. Airlines may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition. Travelers should also contact their airline regarding firearm and ammunition carriage policies.