TSA officers at Reagan National Airport intercepted this loaded gun at a TSA security checkpoint on October 29. (TSA photo)
ARLINGTON, Va. – An Alexandria, Va., man was cited by police after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport intercepted a firearm among his carry-on items at one of the airport checkpoints on Tuesday (October 29). The .380 caliber firearm was loaded with seven bullets.
When TSA officers intercepted the firearm, they notified the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police who responded to the checkpoint, confiscated the gun and issued the man a criminal citation. He also now faces a Federal civil penalty for bringing a loaded firearm to a TSA checkpoint. The Federal penalty for carrying weapons can reach a maximum of $15,000.
“This was the fourth firearm that our officers have intercepted at one of our checkpoint lanes this month,” said John Busch, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “If you own a firearm, it is vitally important that you always know where it is and you know that it is not among the items in your carry-on bag when you come to an airport. That is part of being a responsible gun owner. There is no excuse for bringing a loaded gun to a checkpoint because you will not be permitted to carry it with you onto the plane. Not if you have a permit to carry. Not if you are enrolled in TSA PreCheck. Not ever.”
TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website. To transport a firearm for a flight, it must be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided case and declared at the airline counter so it can be placed in the belly of the aircraft with the checked baggage.
TSA firearms caught at TSA checkpoints at Reagan National Airport, 2018 to 2024
| Year | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 (As of 10/29/24) |
| Guns caught at the Reagan National Airport checkpoints | 16 | 14 | 10 | 30 | 29 | 39 | 33 |
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/aggravating 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).