TSA officers stop 2 guns at Richmond International Airport

Transportation Security Administration officers at Richmond International Airport prevented two travelers from bringing their loaded handguns onto their flights April 19.

Each gun was caught as the men entered the security checkpoint. The X-ray unit alerted on the carry-on bags, which required a closer inspection. The firearms were removed by the local police.

A Richmond man was cited by the police after a .38-caliber gun loaded with four bullets was removed from his carry-on bag, and a Montpelier, Virginia resident was arrested by police after his 9-mm handgun that was loaded with seven bullets was pulled from his carry-on bag. The men also face a stiff financial civil penalty for bringing a gun to a TSA security checkpoint. The penalty for carrying weapons can reach a maximum of $15,000, depending on the circumstances. The incidents were not related.

So far this calendar year, TSA officers have removed six guns from carry-on bags at Richmond International Airport. Last year, TSA officers detected 24 guns at the airport checkpoints.

“Our officers do an excellent job of maintaining the safety of all passengers.  It is disappointing to continue to see travelers bringing their guns to our security checkpoints,” said Robin “Chuck” Burke, TSA’s federal security director for the airport. “Let me be crystal clear on this point – you cannot carry a gun onto a plane. Even gun owners with a concealed carry permit or enrollment in the TSA PreCheck program are not exempt from the no guns on planes policy.”

Passengers are only permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage.  Firearms must be unloaded then 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. The complete list of civil penalties is posted online.

Last year, 6,542 firearms were caught at 262 out of 430 airport security checkpoints nationwide. Eighty-eight percent of those guns were loaded.

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.  Travelers may send a question by texting “Travel” to AskTSA (275-872).