BGR TSO’s detected this .380 caliber firearm containing a total of 6 rounds on Monday, March 20, 2023. (TSA Photo)
BANGOR, Maine – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers stopped a 57-year-old passenger from carrying a loaded firearm onto an airplane on Monday at Bangor International Airport (BGR).
During Monday afternoon security screening, TSA officers detected a firearm in a male passenger’s carry-on bag. Bangor police responded and discovered a loaded .380 caliber firearm along with six rounds. During questioning the man stated he forgot the firearm was in his bag. He was eventually escorted back to his vehicle by Bangor police to secure his firearm.
“Once again our officers are on top of preventing firearms from entering the secure area of the airport,” said Michael Hughes, Assistant Federal Security Director for Screening. “Passengers who are traveling with firearms need to ensure they are properly packed in their checked baggage, and declared. When an individual shows up at a checkpoint with a firearm it can slow or shut down security screening until the police resolve the incident.”
This was the second firearm detected at a BGR security checkpoint this year.
|
Year |
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
BGR Detections |
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
There have been 12 firearm detections at New England security checkpoints in 2023, 5 at BOS, 2 at BDL, 2 at BGR, and 1 each at BTV, MHT and PWM.
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 $3,000 and can go as high as $15,000 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.