BOS TSO’s detected this 9mm firearm and two magazines containing a total of 28 rounds on Friday, June 24, 2022. (TSA Photo)
BOSTON – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers stopped another passenger from carrying a loaded firearm onto an airplane on Friday at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).
On Friday evening, during security screening in Terminal A, TSA officers detected a firearm in a man’s carry-on bag. TSA immediately alerted the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) who responded and discovered the 9mm firearm was loaded with a chambered round. MSP confiscated the firearm and issued the Massachusetts resident a summons.
“Summer travel season is here and it is getting busier at security checkpoints, thankfully 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.”
TSA officers have now detected 14 firearms at BOS security checkpoints this year, 12 of which have been loaded. TSA detected 18 firearms at BOS security checkpoints in 2021.
There have been 17 firearm detections at New England security checkpoints in 2022, 14 at BOS, 1 at BDL, 1 at MHT and 1 at PVD.
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.