INDIANAPOLIS - Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at an Indianapolis International Airport (IND) checkpoint stopped a male passenger from bringing a disassembled firearm through a security checkpoint yesterday. Airport police confiscated the firearm and ammo and cited the man, who resides in Nevada.
At approximately 1:45 p.m., during the x-ray of the passenger’s backpack, TSA officers detected a disassembled Taurus G-3 9mm firearm and two magazines, a box of ammunition, and nine loose bullets. TSA officers redirected the security screening line without delay and contacted airport police to intervene.
“A disassembled firearm is still a prohibited item, and our officers remain vigilant to seek out these items,” said Aaron Batt, TSA’s Indiana Federal Security Director. “Our agents remain thorough through this pandemic, and I commend them on a job well done.”
Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage, if they are properly packaged and declared at check-in. Firearms must be unloaded, packed in a hard-sided case, locked, and packed separately from ammunition. Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality.
This is the 22nd firearm detected by TSA officers at IND security checkpoints in 2020. A total of 62 firearms were detected during screenings last year.
Those who bring firearms to the checkpoint are subject to possible criminal charges. In addition, TSA has the authority to assess civil penalties of up to $13,333 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. Guns are prohibited items in airports and in the passenger compartments of airplanes, even with state-issued concealed firearm permits.
In addition to potential criminal charges, passengers who bring firearms to a checkpoint face civil penalties from TSA: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/civil-enforcement
For more information about TSA prohibited items, please follow these links:
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition