TSA officers stop ninth gun this year at RIC checkpoint
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Transportation Security Administration officers at Richmond International Airport prevented a Hampton man from bringing his loaded handgun onto a flight June 16. It was the ninth gun stopped at a checkpoint at the airport this year, a level slightly behind the pace last year, when a record 24 guns were stopped there.
The gun was detected as the man 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.
“Summer travel season is in full swing and yesterday alone TSA officers screened more than 2.7 million passengers at security checkpoints across the country,” said Robin “Chuck” Burke, TSA’s federal security director for Richmond International Airport. “Carrying prohibited or illegal items to security checkpoints slows down the security lines for everyone. Sunday is Father’s Day and Monday is the Federal Juneteenth holiday and it is going to be extremely crowded at airports through Monday. If you’re flying this weekend or any day this summer, it is vitally important to know that the items you have in your carry-on bag are allowed through our security checkpoints.”
Burke advised travelers to start their packing with an empty back so that they know with certainty that there is nothing prohibited inside.
Passengers are only permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage. Firearms must be unloaded then packed in a hard-sided locked case, and that 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, airlines may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.
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.
