TSA officers at Pittsburgh International Airport detected this firearm at the checkpoint on Oct. 10. (TSA photo)
PITTSBURGH – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Pittsburgh International Airport caught a traveler with a loaded handgun at one of the checkpoints on Tuesday, Oct. 10, bringing the total number caught so far this year to a record-setting 36 guns.
The previous record of 35 guns caught in a year was set in 2019.
“We seem to have a very disturbing number of guns being carried to our checkpoints this month,” said Karen Keys-Turner, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “Tuesday’s gun catch was the sixth firearm caught in the first 10 days of the month and the 36th gun caught so far this year. Thirty-six is now our record high number of guns caught at our checkpoints in a single year. Let me be very clear when I say that there is absolutely no excuse for bringing a gun to our checkpoints. Stop and think about it--you certainly can’t carry a firearm onto your flight.”
Because it is only early October, TSA officials expect the total number of guns stopped at the airport checkpoints will only grow this year. “We would much rather see fewer people toting guns in their carry-on bags, but that’s not the way this is trending,” Keys-Turner said. “Our officers are good at their jobs and are very vigilant when it comes to helping ensure that no illegal or prohibited items are carried onto a flight.”
On Tuesday, a Uniontown, Pa., man was stopped with a 9mm handgun loaded with five bullets in his carry-on bag. When TSA officers detected the weapon, they contacted the police, who confiscated the gun and arrested the traveler.
“Not only was this individual arrested, but he also faces a stiff federal financial penalty that is likely to cost him thousands of dollars,” Keys-Turner added.
Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms only in checked baggage if they are unloaded and packed in a hard-sided locked case. Then the locked case should 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.
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 weapon into a checkpoint can reach up to $15,000, depending on the specific weapon and the 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. This also applies to travelers who are enrolled in the TSA PreCheck® program, who will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges if they bring a gun to a checkpoint.
The complete list of civil penalties is posted online.
When a gun is detected in the checkpoint X-ray unit, the conveyor belt is stopped and the police are notified. Police remove the carry-on bag from the X-ray unit because TSA does not want its officers handling firearms. Police determine whether a traveler is arrested or issued a criminal citation. Meanwhile the remaining passengers in the checkpoint lane either wait for the issue to be resolved or they are shifted to another checkpoint lane, thus delaying dozens of passengers from getting to their gates.
TSA firearms catches at airport checkpoints at Pittsburgh International Airport, 2017 to 2023
|
Year |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 (as of 10/10/23) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Pittsburgh International Airport |
32 |
34 |
35 |
21 |
32 |
26 |
36 |
Last year, 6,542 firearms were caught at airport security checkpoints nationwide. During the first nine months of 2023, TSA officers detected more than 5,000 guns at checkpoints across the country and the agency is on track to surpass the record-setting number of guns caught nationwide in 2022.
“Unfortunately, Pittsburgh International Airport is part of this unfortunate trend,” Keys-Turner said.
Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality and passengers should do their homework to make sure that they are not violating any local firearm laws. Travelers should also contact their airline as they may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.
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).