BOS TSO’s detected this .9mm firearm and a magazine containing a total of 10 rounds on Tuesday, September 13, 2022. (TSA Photo)
BOSTON – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers stopped a female passenger from carrying a loaded firearm onto an airplane this morning at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).
During early Tuesday morning security screening, TSA officers detected a firearm in a female passenger’s diaper bag. Massachusetts State Police (MSP) responded and discovered the 9mm firearm was loaded. MSP took possession of the firearm and issued her a summons to appear. The woman, who is a Petty Officer in the Coast Guard was eventually allowed to continue to Dallas/Ft. Worth.
"Even if you have a valid permit to carry, there are proper procedures passenger’s still have follow in order to travel with a firearm,” said Bob Allison, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Massachusetts. “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.”
TSA officers have now detected 20 firearms at BOS security checkpoints this year, tying the record number in 2018
There have been 28 firearm detections at New England security checkpoints in 2022, 20 at BOS, 3 at PVD, 2 at BDL, 2 at BGR and 1 at MHT
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Boston Logan International |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
|
Number of Firearm Detections |
20 |
18 |
11 |
18 |
20 |
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.