TSA officers at Reagan National Airport intercepted this loaded gun at a security checkpoint on April 24. The same gun was detected at the Pensacola International Airport in 2019. (TSA photo)
ARLINGTON, Va. – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport intercepted their sixth firearm at one of the airport checkpoints so far this month, the latest stopped on Tuesday, April 23. The 9mm handgun was loaded with 10 bullets.
The man, a resident of Florida, was caught with the same gun at the Pensacola International Airport in 2019. It also was loaded with 10 bullets. At the time, local police allowed the man to return the gun to his car. But this time after TSA officers intercepted the firearm and notified police, the Washington Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police confiscated the weapon and issued him a criminal citation.
The man told officials that he wanted to travel with the firearm for protection.
Guns are not permitted through the security checkpoint and the travelers face a stiff financial civil penalty from TSA. The penalty for carrying weapons can reach a maximum of $15,000.
“This individual did not learn his lesson the first time he carried his gun to a checkpoint and this second time could be costlier because his financial civil penalty may be significantly more for repeating his same mistake,” said John Busch, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “Under any circumstances it is unacceptable to bring a loaded gun to an airport checkpoint, but to do it twice is just plain irresponsible.”
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 4/23/24) |
|
Guns caught at the Reagan National Airport checkpoints |
16 |
14 |
10 |
30 |
29 |
39 |
16 |
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.
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).