TSA officers detected this loaded handgun in a man’s carry-on bag at Reagan National Airport on Dec. 21. (TSA photo)
WASHINGTON – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) detected a 9mm handgun loaded with nine bullets, including one in the chamber, in a carry-on bag of an Alexandria, Virginia, resident on Monday, Dec. 21.
The gun was spotted by a TSA officer in the checkpoint X-ray machine. TSA alerted the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police, who arrived at the checkpoint, confiscated the gun and cited the man on a weapons charge.
“In spite of the pandemic, our officers remain vigilant in their mission to ensure that no prohibited items or weapons are brought onto aircraft in a carry-on bag or checked bag,” said Scott T. Johnson, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Reagan National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport. “This traveler faces a stiff financial civil penalty from TSA for bringing his gun to the checkpoint.”
TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns with them at a checkpoint. A typical first offense for carrying a loaded handgun into a checkpoint is $4,100 and can go as high as $13,669 depending on any mitigating circumstances. 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. If a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck® that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges.
Guns caught at DCA checkpoints from 2015 to 2020
|
Year |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 (as of 12-21-20) |
|
Guns caught at DCA checkpoints |
15 |
17 |
13 |
16 |
14 |
10 |
When an individual 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.
Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are properly packaged and declared at their airline ticket counter. Firearms must be unloaded, packed in a hard-sided case, locked, and packed separately from ammunition. Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality.
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.