TSA officers stopped a man with this handgun at a JFK Airport security checkpoint on August 1. (TSA photo)
NEW YORK – A Pennsylvania man was arrested by police after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at John F. Kennedy International Airport intercepted a loaded firearm among the man’s carry-on items yesterday, August 1. It was the seventh firearm that TSA officers have detected at the airport checkpoints so far this year. The 9mm gun was loaded with nine bullets, including one in the chamber.
The gun was caught as the man, a resident of Philadelphia, Pa., entered the security checkpoint in Terminal 4. The X-ray unit alerted the TSA officers that there was a gun in the man’s carry-on bag. TSA officials notified the Port Authority Police who responded to the checkpoint, confiscated the gun and arrested the man on a weapons charge. TSA does not confiscate guns, police do.
In addition to being arrested, this individual also faces a stiff federal financial civil penalty. Civil penalties for carrying weapons can reach a maximum of $15,000.
“Bringing guns to checkpoints is a serious security violation and this individual can expect to receive a federal fine that will be in the thousands of dollars,” said John Essig, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “It has been one of the busiest summer travel periods we have experienced and bringing an illegal item like a loaded gun to the checkpoint introduces a security threat into the checkpoint. Additionally, it slows down the checkpoint line. Responsible gun owners know where their firearms are at all times and they know not to bring them to a security checkpoint. I commend our officers for their continued vigilance during this very busy summer travel season.”
TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website.
Bringing a gun 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. 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.
Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality and individuals who want to travel with their gun should do their homework to make sure that they are not violating any local firearm laws. Travelers should also contact their airline as they may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.
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).