TSA officers detected this firearm at the Reagan Airport checkpoint on April 8. (TSA photo)
ARLINGTON, Va. – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport intercepted three firearms in carry-on bags within a four-day span. The guns were caught on April 5, 7 and 8.
Just yesterday, April 8, TSA officers prevented a Florida woman from carrying her .380 caliber handgun that was loaded with seven bullets, including one in the chamber. On April 7, they stopped a Leesburg, Va., man who was carrying an unloaded .380 handgun in his backpack. And on April 5, TSA officers prevented a Falls Church, Va., man from carrying his 9mm gun that was loaded with 10 bullets from getting through the checkpoint.
In all three instances, the guns were detected as the individuals entered the security checkpoint. The X-ray unit alerted TSA to take a closer look inside the carry-on bags. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police confiscated the guns and cited each person on a weapons charge. TSA does not confiscate firearms, law enforcement does.
Guns are not permitted through the security checkpoint and the travelers each face a stiff financial civil penalty from TSA. The penalty for carrying weapons can reach a maximum of $15,000.
“It is extremely disappointing to continue to see travelers bringing their firearms to our security checkpoints,” said John Busch, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “Travelers need to know the contents of their carry-on bags and they should know not to bring a gun to a checkpoint because if they do, our TSA officers will stop them and notify the police to take control of the firearm. Bringing a firearm to a checkpoint may result in a criminal citation or arrest by police in addition to the federal financial penalty.”
TSA encourages travelers double-check the contents of their carry-on bags to ensure that there are no illegal or prohibited items inside.
TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website.
TSA firearms caught at TSA checkpoints at Reagan National Airport, 2018 to 2024
|
Year |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 (As of 4/8/24) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Guns caught at the Reagan National Airport checkpoints |
16 |
14 |
10 |
30 |
29 |
39 |
13 |
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 firearm 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.
Last year, 6,735 firearms were caught at airport security checkpoints nationwide and 93 percent were loaded.
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).