(TSA photo)
BOSTON – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers stopped a man from carrying a firearm onto an airplane at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) on Tuesday, March 22.
During security screening around 10 a.m., a TSA officer detected a .22 caliber Mini-Revolver in the man’s carry-on bag. TSA officers immediately alerted the Massachusetts State Police who responded and confiscated the firearm from the Washington state resident. He was eventually cleared for entry into the secure area.
“Even if you have a valid permit to carry, there are proper procedures you still have follow in order to travel with a firearm,” said Bob Allison, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Massachusetts. “Carelessly traveling with a firearm is a public safety concern, so I strongly urge all gun owners to ensure they know where their firearm is before traveling to the airport.”
Tuesday’s gun catch was the fourth 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.