Fredericksburg man arrested after bringing gun to Richmond International Airport

Airport police arrested a Fredericksburg man at Richmond International Airport Aug. 30 after a Transportation Security Administration officer found a loaded semi-automatic handgun in the traveler’s carry-on bag.

The handgun was loaded with six bullets.  A TSA officer who was staffing the checkpoint X-ray monitor detected the .380 caliber firearm inside the man’s carry-on bag as it entered the X-ray machine.

TSA officials notified the airport police, which responded to the checkpoint, confiscated the gun and arrested the man on weapons charges.

Thursday’s gun catch marks the ninth firearm that TSA officers have made at the airport so far this calendar year. Last year, 18 guns were caught at the airport’s checkpoints.

Anyone who brings weapons to the checkpoint is subject to federal civil penalties of as much as $13,000. The penalties apply to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits. A typical first offense for carrying a handgun into a checkpoint is $3,900. The complete list of penalties is posted online here: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/civil-enforcement.

Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are properly packaged and declared. Firearms must be unloaded, packed in a hard-sided case, locked, and packed separately from ammunition. Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality. Travelers should familiarize themselves with state and local firearm laws for each point of travel prior to departure.

TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted at http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/firearms-and-ammunition. Airlines may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition. Travelers should also contact their airlines about firearm and ammunition carriage policies.