Albany, N.Y. –Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers stopped a Guilderland, N.Y., man from carrying a loaded firearm onto an airplane on Tuesday, May 9 during security screening at Albany International Airport (ALB). It was the second firearm detected by security officers at an ALB security checkpoint so far this year.
The Albany County Sheriff’s Office discovered the Micro semi-automatic 9 mm firearm was loaded with 7 rounds and none chambered.
To fly with a firearm, travelers must follow TSA rules and regulations and ensure that they personally pack their unloaded gun in a locked hard-sided case and declare it at the airline ticket counter so that the airline representative can ensure it is transported in the belly of the plane. By following this very simple procedure, the travelling public can be assured they are safe from potential harm.
“If you own a firearm, it is your responsibility to properly pack and declare it,” said Bart R. Johnson, TSA’s Federal Security Director for airports in Upstate New York. “Not knowing where your loaded firearm is at all times is reckless and it places everyone at the airport in danger. I would like to acknowledge the alertness of the TSA Officers in detecting the firearm and I am also thankful for the immediate onsite response of the Albany County Sheriff’s Office.”
Last year TSA officers detected 6,542 firearms at 262 out of 430 airport security checkpoints nationwide. Of the guns caught by TSA in 2022, about 88 percent were loaded. In 2022 TSA officers detected seven firearms at ALB security checkpoints.
TSA Firearm Detections at ALB Checkpoints
|
Airport |
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
|
Albany International Airport (ALB) |
2 |
7 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms only in checked baggage if they are properly packaged and declared at their airline ticket counter. TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website.
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 individuals 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 people to always know the contents of their carry-on bag prior to coming to the security checkpoint. TSA has multiple resources available to help 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.