BGR TSO’s detected this .380 caliber firearm and a magazine containing a total of 7 rounds on Saturday, September 3, 2022. (TSA Photo)
BANGOR, Maine – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers stopped a passenger from carrying a loaded firearm onto an airplane on Saturday at Bangor International Airport (BGR).
During Saturday afternoon security screening, TSA officers detected a firearm in a 71-year-old female’s carry-on bag. Bangor police responded and discovered the .380 caliber firearm was a loaded with a chambered round. Bangor police let a friend of the passenger later retrieve the firearm. She was allowed to continue to Florida.
“Once again our officers are on top of preventing firearms from entering the secure area of the airport,” said Bob Allison, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Maine. “Carelessly traveling with a loaded firearm is dangerous and a public safety concern, considering it could accidentally be discharged during a search. Gun owners need to ensure they know where their firearm is before traveling to the airport.”
This was the second firearm detected at a BGR security checkpoint this year, both of which have been loaded.
|
Bangor International |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
|
Number of Firearm Detections |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
There have been 27 firearm detections at New England security checkpoints in 2022, 19 at BOS, 3 at PVD, 2 at BDL, 2 at BGR and 1 at MHT.
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.