This handgun was detected by TSA officers in a passenger’s carry-on bag at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport on June. 11. (TSA photo)
MILWAUKEE – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers recently stopped two men from carrying loaded handguns onto airplanes at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) in unrelated events.
On Friday, June 11, at approximately 1:30 p.m, TSA officers discovered a loaded firearm in a man’s carry-on baggage.
At approximately 5:30 p.m. on Monday, June 14, a TSA officer detected a loaded gun in a another man’s belongings.
In both incidents, TSA officials immediately alerted the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department and deputies responded who removed the passengers and weapons away from the checkpoint.
“As the busy summer travel season ramps up we are reminding all travelers to be mindful of the whereabouts of their firearms and any prohibited items in their belongings,” said Wisconsin’s TSA Federal Security Director Mark Lendvay. “The detection of firearms and prohibited items at the airport security checkpoints can cause delays and can lead to travelers missing their flights. Check and recheck your carry-on bags to help prevent any unnecessary delays.”
TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns and gun parts 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 aggravating 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.
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.