This handgun was detected by TSA officers at a Norfolk International Airport security checkpoint on July 22. (TSA photo)
NORFOLK, Va. – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Norfolk International Airport prevented a North Carolina man from bringing his loaded handgun onto a flight on Saturday, July 22. The .380 caliber gun was loaded with five bullets.
The gun was caught as the man entered the security checkpoint. The X-ray unit alerted on the carry-on bag, which required a closer inspection. The firearm was removed by the local police, who cited the man on a weapons charge. The man also faces a stiff financial civil penalty for bringing a gun to a TSA security checkpoint. The penalty for carrying weapons can reach as high as $15,000, depending on the circumstances.
The case will be forwarded to the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney for possible criminal prosecution.
“Summer travel season is in full swing and it is no time to be bringing prohibited or illegal items to our security checkpoints because it slows down the screening process for everyone until the incident is resolved,” said Robin “Chuck” Burke, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “In this instance it appears that the traveler missed one crucial step. He packed his unloaded firearm in a locked hard-sided case, but instead of taking it to the airline check-in counter to be transported in the belly of the plane, he placed the case in his carry-on bag. The reason that we mandate that travelers declare their firearms with the airline to be transported with checked baggage is to ensure that there are no guns in the cabin of planes.”
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).
Firearms caught by TSA officers at Norfolk International Airport checkpoints, 2016 to 2023
|
Year |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 As of 7/23/23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Guns caught at Norfolk International Airport (ORF) checkpoints |
14 |
10 |
21 |
15 |
12 |
23 |
27 |
21 |
Passengers are only permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage. Firearms must be unloaded then packed in a hard-sided locked case. The locked case must 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.
During the first six months of the year, TSA prevented more than 3,200 guns from being carried onto planes. Last year, 6,542 firearms were caught at 262 out of 430 airport security checkpoints nationwide. Eighty-eight percent of those guns were loaded.