TSA officers at Reagan National Airport intercepted this loaded firearm at a security checkpoint on May 30. (TSA photo)
ARLINGTON, Va. – A Prince George’s County, Md., man was cited by police after Transportation Security Administration officers intercepted a loaded firearm among the man’s carry-on items at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Thursday, May 30. The 5.7 caliber firearm was loaded with 23 bullets, including one in the chamber.
The man, a resident of Capitol Heights, Md., told officials that he forgot that he had his loaded gun with him. Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police seized the weapon and issued the man a citation. Police confiscate firearms, not TSA.
Guns are not permitted through the security checkpoint and the traveler faces a stiff financial civil penalty from TSA. The penalty for carrying weapons can reach a maximum of $15,000.
“Responsible gun owners know where their guns are at all times,” said John Busch, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “Telling us that you forgot that you were carrying a loaded gun is no excuse. It is unacceptable to bring a gun to an airport checkpoint. Now this individual faces a federal financial civil penalty in addition to having to deal with the criminal citation issued by the police.”
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 5/30/24) |
|
Guns caught at the Reagan National Airport checkpoints |
16 |
14 |
10 |
30 |
29 |
39 |
19 |
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).