TSA officers stopped a Massachusetts resident from carrying this 9mm onto his flight on Wednesday, December 8. (TSA photo)
BOSTON – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers detected another firearm in a man’s carry-on bag at a Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) security checkpoint yesterday.
On Wednesday around 5:30pm in terminal B, TSA officers detected the loaded 9mm firearm along with a magazine containing ten rounds.
TSA officers immediately notified Massachusetts State Police, who confiscated the firearm. The Massachusetts resident was issued a summons to appear in court and eventually cleared to fly.
During questioning, the man stated he had not used that bag in over a year and was unaware that a firearm was present.
“Gun owners need to know where their firearms are at all times,” said Bob Allison, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Massachusetts. “We take it very seriously when our officers stop a traveler with a gun during the screening process. Carelessly traveling with a firearm is a public safety concern, considering it could accidentally be discharged during a search. Passengers need to ensure when traveling with a firearm they are properly packed in their checked baggage.”
TSA officers have now detected 18 firearms at BOS security checkpoints so far this year. In 2020, TSA discovered 11 firearms at BOS security checkpoints and 18 in 2019, which was prior to the pandemic when more individuals were traveling.
TSA reserves the right to issue a federal financial 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 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.
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.