This handgun was detected by TSA officers in a passenger’s carry-on bag at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) on Aug. 22. (TSA photo)
MILWAUKEE – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers prevented another handgun from making its way onboard an airplane at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) Sunday.
This was the 16th gun stopped at MKE in 2021, the same number caught in all of 2019. In 2020, which saw far fewer passengers because of the pandemic, 10 guns were detected at checkpoints.
“In less than eight months, TSA officers have stopped as many guns as they did in all of 2019. This is truly a sad milestone,” Wisconsin TSA Federal Security Director Mark Lendvay said. “The vast majority of passengers say they simply forgot their firearm was in their carry-on bag, but this is not a valid excuse. Bringing a gun to a TSA checkpoint is never OK, and you can face serious consequences for doing so.”
On Sunday, during the routine screening of carry-on luggage, a TSA officer spotted the image of a handgun on the X-ray screen. The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m., and TSA officials immediately alerted the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office. The firearm was loaded with five rounds. The traveler, an Amarillo, Texas, resident, said he forgot the gun was in his bag. A deputy responded to the checkpoint, confiscated the firearm, and issued a citation.
TSA may impose civil penalties of up to $13,910 per violation per person. A typical first offense for carrying a loaded handgun into a checkpoint is $4,100. The complete list of civil penalties is on the TSA website. If a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck®, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges for a period of time.
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. Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality. Travelers should check for firearm laws in the jurisdictions they are flying to and from.
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.