BALTIMORE - A woman and a man were each arrested at Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) on Friday, May 5, in separate incidents after each individual was caught with a gun at a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint. The incidents were not related.
In the morning, a man was found to have an unloaded 9 mm semi-automatic handgun in his carry-on bag. And later that same afternoon, a woman was found with a hot pink.380 caliber semi-automatic handgun loaded with four bullets in her carry-on bag.
TSA officers detected the guns as each passenger entered the TSA checkpoint and placed their carry-on items on the x-ray conveyor belt. TSA officers contacted the Maryland Transportation Authority Police who responded to the checkpoints, confiscated the firearms and arrested each individual on weapons charges.
As a reminder, individuals who bring firearms to the checkpoint are subject to possible criminal charges from law enforcement and civil penalties from TSA of up to $12,000.
TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on TSA.gov. Airlines may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition. Travelers should also contact their airline regarding firearm and ammunition carriage policies.
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration
