BOSTON – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers stopped a man from carrying a loaded firearm onto an airplane at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) on Friday, February 11.
During security screening Friday afternoon around 3:30, a TSA officer detected the loaded 9mm firearm and a magazine containing 10 rounds in the man’s carry-on bag. TSA officers immediately alerted the Massachusetts State Police who responded and discovered the man did not have a firearms permit. The state trooper took possession of the firearm and arrested the Texas resident for unlawful possession of a handgun.
“Our TSA officers continue to do an amazing job preventing firearms from entering the secure area of the airport,” said Bob Allison, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Massachusetts. “Carelessly traveling with a loaded 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.”
Friday’s gun catch was the second detection by TSA officers at a BOS security checkpoint this year. 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.