Another gun stopped at RIC checkpoint

For the second consecutive day, Transportation Security Administration officers at Richmond International Airport prevented a traveler from bringing a handgun onto a flight.

On Oct. 12, it was a New Kent County man who was cited with a loaded gun, just a day after a Glen Allen man had been stopped with one.

The New Kent man had a 9mm handgun loaded with five bullets, with five other bullets packed alongside.

The gun was caught as the man, a resident of Providence Forge, entered the security checkpoint. The X-ray unit alerted on the carry-on bag, which required a closer inspection. The firearm was removed by the Richmond Airport Police, who cited the man on a weapons charge.

The man also faces a stiff financial civil penalty for bringing a gun to a TSA security checkpoint. The penalty for carrying weapons can reach as high as $15,000, depending on the circumstances.

It was the 14th time this year a gun had been stopped at the airport, following a record of 24 such occurrences last year.

“Bringing guns to checkpoints is a serious security violation and this individual can expect to receive a fine that will be in the thousands of dollars,” said Robin “Chuck” Burke, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “Our officers are vigilant and this week they prevented two deadly weapons from getting onto an airplane. People who bring their guns to our checkpoints create a potentially dangerous situation through their own actions. Responsible gun owners know where their guns are and they know not to bring them to a checkpoint.”

Passengers are only permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage.  Firearms must be unloaded and packed in a hard-sided locked case. The locked case must be taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared. TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website.

Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality and gun owners have a duty to ensure they are not violating any local firearm laws. Additionally, contacting the respective airline could reveal any 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 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 person will lose his or her 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 “What can I bring?” feature that allows you to type in the item to find out if it can fly, or send a question by texting “Travel” to AskTSA (275-872).