LYNCHBURG, Va.-Transportation Security Administration officers prevented a Bedford County, Virginia, man from bringing a loaded handgun on board an airplane at the Lynchburg Regional Airport checkpoint, Tuesday, Sept. 5.
The man was stopped by TSA officers at the checkpoint with a 9 mm handgun loaded with 12 bullets, including one in the chamber. An additional magazine contained 13 more bullets.
This loaded 9 mm handgun and ammunition was detected by TSA officers at the Lynchburg Regional Airport checkpoint Tuesday, Sept. 5. (Photo courtesy of TSA.)
TSA officers detected the gun as the man’s carry-on bag was passing through the conveyor belt in the checkpoint X-ray machine.
TSA officers immediately contacted the Lynchburg Regional Airport Police, which responded, confiscated the gun and arrested the man, a resident of Goode, Virginia, on a state weapons charge. There was no impact to airport operations.
This incident serves as a reminder that passengers are responsible for the contents of bags they bring to the security checkpoint and TSA’s advice to passengers is to look through bags thoroughly before coming to the airport to make sure there are no illegal or prohibited items. Visit the Travel page on tsa.gov to view a comprehensive list of prohibited items.
Weapons-including firearms, firearm parts and ammunition-are not permitted in carry-on bags, but can be transported in checked bags if they are properly packed and declared to the airline. Passengers who bring firearms to the checkpoint are subject to possible criminal charges from law enforcement and civil penalties from TSA up to $12,000.
Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are unloaded, packed in a hard-side 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’s website has details on how to properly travel with a firearm. Airlines may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition. Travelers should also contact the airline regarding firearm and ammunition carriage policies.
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration
