Firearm discovered at Boise Airport Thursday morning
BOISE, Idaho - Officers with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at the Boise Airport (BOI) detected an unloaded 9 mm Taurus PT709 handgun in the carry-on luggage of a female passenger ticketed for travel to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. This occurred around 4:10 a.m. MDT Thursday during the routine X-ray screening of carry-on luggage at the security checkpoint.
Upon discovery of the firearm, TSA notified officers with the Boise Police and they responded to the security checkpoint. The traveler was questioned by law enforcement and eventually allowed to continue to her flight without the firearm.
This is the 21st firearm discovered by TSA in carry-on luggage at BOI in 2022 and the fourth one found this month. At this same point in 2021, TSA officers had detected 12 guns in carry-on luggage at BOI. This is a 75% increase over the same point last year.
On Monday, TSA officers at Lewiston Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport (LWS) detected an unloaded 9 mm Sig Sauer P290 gun in the carry-on luggage of a female passenger ticketed for travel to Salt Lake City International Airport. That was the first firearm find of 2022 at LWS.
Since January 1, 2022, TSA officers have discovered more than 2,900 firearms in travelers’ carry-on luggage at airports nationwide.
“Today’s firearm discovery in a traveler’s carry-on luggage at the Boise Airport is disappointing. We continue to message to owners of firearms that guns are not allowed to travel through the security checkpoint. Unfortunately, these advisements have been ignored,” said TSA Federal Security Director for Idaho Andy Coose. “I continue to be grateful to the TSA officers here and across the country who work day in and day out to keep travelers safe by ensuring security threats do not make it into the cabin of an aircraft.”
TSA reviews the circumstances of firearm incidents and may levy a civil penalty against the passenger. The recommended civil penalty for a firearm starts at $2,050 and can go up to the statutory maximum of more than $10,000 per violation. TSA evaluates each incident on a case-by-case basis.
In addition to civil penalties, individuals who violate rules regarding traveling with firearms will have Trusted Traveler status and TSA PreCheck® expedited screening benefits revoked for a period of time. The duration of the disqualification will depend upon the seriousness of the offense, and if there is a repeated history of violations.
Firearms can be transported on a commercial aircraft only if they are unloaded, packed in a locked, hard-sided case and placed in checked baggage. Ammunition and firearm parts, including firearm frames, receivers, clips and magazines are also prohibited in carry-on baggage and must be checked. Any type of replica firearm is prohibited in carry-on baggage and must be transported in checked luggage.
At the airport during the check-in process, a passenger should go to the airline ticket counter to declare the firearm, ammunition and any firearm parts. Prior to traveling, passengers are encouraged to check gun laws and regulations at their destination to ensure they are in compliance with local and state laws. TSA also recommends travelers check with their airline prior to their flight to ensure they comply with any airline-specific requirements.
TSA reminds travelers to be aware of the contents of their bag to ensure they are not bringing firearms, or other prohibited items in carry-on luggage. More information on traveling legally with a firearm is available on TSA’s website. For information on how to travel with any type of item, visit TSA’s “Can I Bring” website.