This firearm was detected at a checkpoint by TSA officers at Philadelphia International Airport on December 9. (TSA photo)
PHILADELPHIA – A West Chester, Pa., man was arrested by police after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Philadelphia International Airport intercepted a handgun among the man’s carry-on items on Monday, December 9. The .38 caliber revolver was loaded with six bullets along with an additional nine bullets for a total of 15 bullets.
The firearm was intercepted when the checkpoint X-ray unit alerted a TSA officer of the gun inside the carry-on bag. Police responded to the checkpoint and confiscated the firearm from the man and arrested him on a weapons charge. The man also faces a stiff Federal financial penalty that is likely to run into the thousands of dollars.
“It is disappointing to continue to see travelers bring their firearms to our checkpoints,” said Gerardo Spero, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “Loaded guns represent a threat because the intention of the traveler is unknown. If you own a firearm, please do not bring it to a checkpoint. If you must travel with your gun, there’s a way to do so. The proper way to do it is to make sure it’s unloaded, packed in a hard-sided locked case and taken to the airline check-in counter. The airline will ensure it is transported in the belly of the aircraft so that nobody has access to it during a flight.”
Firearms caught at TSA checkpoints at Philadelphia International Airport, 2017 to 2024
| Year | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 As of 12/9/24 |
| Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) | 35 | 25 | 20 | 26 | 39 | 44 | 45 | 38 |
TSA has details on how to travel with a firearm and ammunition posted on its web site. Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality and passengers 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.
Bringing a gun to an airport checkpoint carries a federal civil penalty because TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to individuals 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 individuals with or without concealed gun carry permits because a concealed carry permit does not allow a firearm to be carried through a checkpoint. 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).