TSA officers at Yeager Airport stopped a man with this loaded handgun at the security checkpoint on Jan. 12. (TSA photo)
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Transportation Security Administration officers at West Virginia International Yeager Airport stopped a Charleston, W.Va., man with a loaded handgun at the security checkpoint early this morning. The .22 caliber handgun was loaded with five bullets.
When the TSA officer spotted the gun in the checkpoint X-ray machine, airport police were alerted, came to the checkpoint and confiscated the weapon from the traveler. The man told officials that he forgot that he had his loaded gun with him. When an individual shows up at a checkpoint with a firearm, the checkpoint lane comes to a standstill until the police resolve the incident. Guns at checkpoints can delay travelers from getting to their gates.
“Our officers are focused on their mission to help ensure that dangerous weapons are not getting carried onto an aircraft,” said John C. Allen, TSA’s Federal Security Director for West Virginia. “Carrying a loaded gun to an airport security checkpoint is a costly mistake to make and this individual now faces a stiff Federal financial civil penalty that could run into the thousands of dollars.”
Last month TSA announced that the penalty for bringing weapons to the airport increased and can reach as high as $15,000, depending on the circumstances.
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.
TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns and gun parts with them at a checkpoint. 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.
TSA reminds passengers to always know the contents of their carry-on bag prior to coming to the security checkpoint. TSA has multiple resources available to passengers to help them determine whether an item is permitted in carry-on baggage, checked baggage, either or neither. Travelers can use the “Can I Bring?” feature on the TSA website or on the free downloadable myTSA app. Travelers can also tweet to @AskTSA or send a text message (275-872) if they have a travel question or are unsure if an item is allowed through security in a carry-on bag. Just snap a picture or send a question and get real-time assistance.