WARWICK, RI – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers stopped a man from carrying a loaded firearm onto his flight at T.F. Green Airport (PVD) on Thursday, Apr. 1. It was the first firearm detected at PVD this year.
During security screening, a TSA officer detected the .40 caliber firearm pistol along with seven rounds in the passenger’s carry-on bag during. Rhode Island Police responded to the checkpoint and confiscated the firearm.
“When an individual shows up at a checkpoint with a firearm, the checkpoint lane comes to a standstill until the police resolve the incident,” said Daniel Burche, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Rhode Island. “It’s imperative gun owners ensure they know where their firearm is before traveling to T.F. Green Airport.”
If a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck®, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges. TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns and gun parts with them at a checkpoint. TSA may seek a penalty amount of up to $13,910 per violation, if there are aggravating factors. 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.
Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are unloaded, packed separately from ammunition in a locked hardback case and declared at the airline check-in counter.
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.