This firearm was detected by TSA officers at Reagan National Airport on Feb. 14. (TSA photo)
ARLINGTON, Va. – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers intercepted two guns in three days at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport—one on Friday, Feb. 14 and one on Sunday, Feb. 17.
A McGaheysville, Va., man was stopped with a 9mm handgun loaded with six bullets along with six additional accessible bullets in a gun magazine on Friday, Feb. 14. Then on Sunday, Feb. 17, a New Hampshire man was stopped with a 9mm handgun along with an accessible gun magazine that was loaded with 15 bullets.
When TSA officers detected the guns via X-ray at the checkpoint, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police were notified, confiscated the weapons and issued a criminal citation to each individual.
Guns are not permitted through the security checkpoint and travelers face a stiff financial civil penalty from TSA if they bring a gun to a checkpoint. The penalty for carrying weapons can reach a maximum of $15,000.
“Travelers need to have a full understanding of the contents of their carry-on bags,” said John Busch, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “The best way to prepare for a flight is to start with an empty bag when packing. That way you know with certainty that there is nothing illegal or prohibited that you may have inside.”
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 2025
| Year | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 (As of 2/18/25) |
| Guns caught at the Reagan National Airport checkpoints | 16 | 14 | 10 | 30 | 29 | 39 | 41 | 6 |
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).