This loaded handgun and ammunition were tucked inside a traveler’s laptop bag at North Central West Virginia Airport and detected by TSA officers at the security checkpoint on Feb. 23. (TSA photo)
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at North Central West Virginia Airport prevented a Harrison County, W.Va., resident from bringing a handgun onto his flight yesterday (Feb. 23).
The .38 caliber gun was loaded with four bullets. The man also had three speed loaders loaded with five bullets each packed alongside the gun, which was tucked into his laptop carrying case.
The gun was caught as the man, a resident of Salem, W.Va., entered the security checkpoint. The X-ray unit alerted on the carry-on bag, which required a closer inspection. The firearm was removed by a Bridgeport Police officer who was staffing the airport.
The man now faces a stiff financial civil penalty for bringing a gun to a TSA security checkpoint. The maximum penalty for carrying weapons recently increased to a $15,000.
“Our TSA team at North Central West Virginia Airport are focused on ensuring that no prohibited or illegal items pass through our security checkpoints,” said John C. Allen, TSA’s Federal Security Director for West Virginia. “Any time dangerous items such as loaded guns are brought to a security checkpoint, it represents a serious security and safety concern. Passengers should not be carrying their guns—loaded or otherwise, to our security checkpoints because they will be stopped and we will submit a report related to the incident, which will result in a civil financial penalty that can run into thousands of dollars. Bringing a loaded gun to a checkpoint is a serious offense.”
Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage. Firearms must be unloaded then packed in a hard-sided locked case. The locked case should be taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared. TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website.
Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality and gun owners have a duty to ensure they are not violating any local firearm laws. Additionally, contacting the respective airline could reveal any additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.
Bringing a gun to an airport checkpoint carries a federal civil penalty because TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns and gun parts with them at a checkpoint. Civil penalties for bringing a gun into a checkpoint can stretch into thousands of dollars, depending on mitigating circumstances. This applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits because a concealed carry permit does not allow a firearm to be carried onto an airplane. The complete list of civil penalties is posted online. Additionally, if a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck®, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges.
Last year, 6,542 firearms were caught at 262 out of 430 airport security checkpoints nationwide. Eighty-eight percent of those guns were loaded.
Unsure if an item should be packed in a carry-on bag, checked bag, either or neither? Download the free myTSA app, which has a handy “What can I bring?” feature that allows you to type in the item to find out if it can fly. Or ask on Twitter or Facebook Messenger at @AskTSA. Travelers may send a question by texting “Travel” to AskTSA (275-872).