This handgun was detected by TSA officers in a carry-on bag at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Nov. 2. (TSA photo)
MINNEAPOLIS – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers prevented an airline employee from bringing a handgun through a checkpoint at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) Thursday.
The employee was randomly selected for screening. After a TSA officer spotted the image of a handgun on the X-ray screen during the screening of the passenger’s luggage, TSA officials immediately alerted the MSP Airport Police, who responded to the checkpoint. The firearm was loaded.
“Our officers are focused on ensuring that firearms and other weapons do not make it through our security checkpoints,” said Marty Robinson, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Minnesota. “I’m grateful that our officers here and nationwide remain vigilant during this busy travel season. Firearms should never be brought to the security checkpoint in carry-on luggage, and airline employees should certainly be aware of that.”
This is the 49th firearm detected at MSP so far this year. Last year, 58 firearms were detected at MSP security checkpoints, and 56 were stopped in 2021.
TSA recently announced that during the first three quarters of 2023, officers intercepted 5,072 firearms at airport security checkpoints, and at the current rate, the agency will surpass last year’s record 6,542 firearms prevented from getting onboard aircraft.
The penalty amount for a firearm violation, which TSA determines based on the circumstances in each case, can reach as high as $14,950. TSA will continue to revoke TSA PreCheck® eligibility for at least five years for passengers caught with a firearm in their possession.
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. Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality. Travelers should check for firearm laws in the jurisdictions they are flying to and from.
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.