TSA officers detected this .38 Special along with five rounds and a pocketknife in an 86-year-old man’s carry-on bag on Saturday, February 3, 2024.
BOSTON – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers stopped a male passenger from carrying a firearm onto an airplane at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) on Saturday, February 3.
During Saturday morning security screening a TSA officer detected a firearm along with five rounds and a pocket knife in the man’s carry-on bag. TSA officers immediately alerted Massachusetts State Police (MSP) who confirmed there was an unloaded .38 pistol in the carry-on bag. During questioning the New Hampshire man stated he originally intended to check the firearm. An MSP trooper eventually took possession of the firearm and the man was allowed to continue.
Our TSA officers continue to remain vigilant in performing their security screening duties,” said Bob Allison, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Massachusetts. “I strongly urge all gun owners to ensure they know where their firearm is before traveling to the airport.”
This was the first firearm detection by TSA officers at a BOS security checkpoint this year. A total of 18 were discovered at security checkpoints in 2023 and 31 in 2022.
TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns and gun parts with them at a checkpoint. A typical first offense for carrying a loaded gun into a checkpoint is $3,000 and can go as high as $15,000 depending on any mitigating 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. 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.
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.
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.