BOSTON – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers stopped a woman from carrying a firearm onto an airplane at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) on Monday, January 3.
During security screening around 4 p.m., a TSA officer detected the unloaded .380 caliber firearm in the woman’s carry-on bag. TSA officers immediately alerted the Massachusetts State Police who responded and discovered the woman’s firearm permit was expired. The state trooper took possession of the firearm and issued the Massachusetts resident a citation. She was eventually cleared to fly.
“It’s unfortunate that we already have a gun that was brought to the checkpoint so early in the new year,” said Bob Allison, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Massachusetts. “Carelessly traveling with a firearm is a public safety concern, considering it could accidentally be discharged during a search. I strongly urge all gun owners to ensure they know where their firearm is before traveling to the airport.”
Monday’s gun catch was the first detection by TSA officers at a BOS security checkpoint this year. Last year, BOS did not have its first gun detection until mid-May. TSA detected 18 firearms at BOS security checkpoints in 2021.
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 gun 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.