TSA officers at Boston-Logan International Airport found this Ruger pistol in a carry-on bag at a security checkpoint Saturday, August 1. (TSA photo)
BOSTON – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers stopped a passenger traveling through Boston Logan International Airport from carrying a Ruger pistol onto an airplane Saturday morning.
The male passenger was traveling with two children and had packed the firearm in one of their travel-on bags.
TSA officials immediately notified Massachusetts State Police, who responded to the checkpoint and confiscated the unloaded weapon.
“Our TSA officers continue to remain vigilant in performing their security duties during this pandemic,” said Bob Allison, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Massachusetts. “I strongly urge any gun owner to ensure they know where their firearm is before traveling to the airport.”
When a passenger shows up at a checkpoint with a firearm, the checkpoint lane comes to a standstill until the police resolve the incident. Guns at checkpoints can delay travelers from getting to their gates.
TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns with them at a checkpoint. This applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits because even though an individual may have a concealed carry permit, it does not allow for a firearm to be carried onto an airplane. The complete list of civil penalties is posted online.
Guns caught by TSA at the Boston-Logan International Airport checkpoint 2016 to 2020
|
Year |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 (As of 8-3-20) |
|
Guns caught at checkpoint |
16 |
12 |
21 |
18 |
8 |
Last year, TSA discovered 4,432 firearms in carry-on bags at checkpoints, averaging about 12.1 firearms per day, approximately a 5% increase from the 4,239 detected in 2018. Of the firearms TSA found at checkpoints last year, 87% were loaded.
TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website. Travelers should also contact their airline as they may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.