TSA officers at LaGuardia Airport removed this handgun and ammunition from among a traveler’s carry-on items at a security checkpoint on April 25. (TSA photo)
NEW YORK – A Brooklyn, N.Y., man was arrested by police after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers detected a loaded handgun and more than 100 bullets in the man’s carry-on bag at a LaGuardia Airport security checkpoint on Tuesday, April 25. The .22 caliber firearm was loaded with 10 bullets alongside two boxes of 50 bullets each for a total of 110 bullets.
The handgun was detected when the man entered the security checkpoint with his carry-on items. The checkpoint X-ray unit triggered an alarm, requiring that the carry-on items be more closely inspected, which is when the firearm and ammunition were removed.
When the TSA officer spotted the gun, Port Authority Police were alerted, confiscated the weapon and arrested the man on a weapons charge.
The man told officials that he had taken his bag to a shooting range and forgot that the gun and ammunition were in the bag when he took it with him to the airport.
In addition to his arrest, the man also faces a stiff federal financial penalty. Federal penalties can reach as high as $15,000 for bringing a weapon to an airport checkpoint, depending on the circumstances.
“People carrying guns to our checkpoints represent a serious security and safety concern,” said Robert Duffy, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “The fact that the majority of people tell us that they forgot that they had their loaded gun with them is equally disconcerting. If you own a firearm, you need to know where it is at all times. That’s part of being a responsible gun owner,” he said.
“In addition, bringing a loaded firearm to a security checkpoint slows down the individuals in that lane because everyone behind the gun owner has to shift to another lane, which increases the wait at that line,” Duffy explained. “Guns should never be brought to the security checkpoint in carry-on luggage.”
It was the second firearm that TSA officers have detected at the airport’s checkpoints so far this year.
Last year, 6,542 firearms were caught at 262 out of 430 airport security checkpoints nationwide. Eighty-eight percent of those guns were loaded.
TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to individuals who have guns and gun parts with them at a checkpoint. This applies to people 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 an individual with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck®, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges.
TSA reminds passengers and airport employees 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.