TSA officials stop woman with loaded gun at RIC

The 9mm firearm was loaded with nine bullets in the woman's carry-on bag. It was the 13th weapon stopped at the airport's checkpoint this year, following 17 such occurrences all of last year.

“It is disappointing to see so many travelers bringing their firearms to our checkpoints,” TSA Federal Security Director for RIC Robin "Chuck" Burke said. “We are quickly approaching the same number of guns that we caught during all 12 months of last year and it’s still only May. We have no issue with travelers who want to transport their firearms on a flight if they pack them properly for that flight. To do so, make sure the firearm is unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided case and taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared. "

TSA has guidelines about how to properly travel with firearms posted on its website.