(TSA Photo)
WARWICK, R.I. – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers stopped a male passenger from carrying a firearm onto an airplane at T.F. Green Airport (PVD) on Thursday, April 20. This was the first firearm detection this year at a PVD security checkpoint.
On Thursday afternoon TSA officers detected the firearm along with six magazines in the man’s carry-on bag. Rhode Island Airport Police (RIAP) responded, and discovered a 9mm firearm along with a total of 72 rounds artfully concealed in the underlining compartment of the bag.
When questioned by RIAP, the passenger stated the firearm was not his and that bag belonged to his friend. RIAP took possession of the firearm and eventually arrested the 32-year-old Alabama resident on state charges.
“Our TSA officers continue to do an outstanding job preventing firearms from entering the secure area of the airport,” said Daniel Burche, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Rhode Island. “Passengers who are traveling with firearms need to ensure they are properly packed in their checked baggage. 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.”
In 2022, TSA detected three firearms at T.F. Green security checkpoints, and two in 2021.
TSA officers have detected a total of 15 firearms at New England security checkpoints in 2023; 6 at BOS, 2 at BDL and BGR, and 1 each at PVD, BTV, MHT, PWM and HVN. In 2022 there were a record 46 firearm detections at New England security checkpoints.
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.