HARRISBURG, Pa. — A Lancaster County man was found carrying a loaded 9mm handgun by Transportation Security Administration officers at Harrisburg International Airport Monday morning, the TSA said in a press release.
The handgun was loaded with 13 bullets, including one in the chamber, the TSA said. It was found in the passenger's carry-on luggage by the X-ray machine at a security checkpoint.
The man, a resident of Lititz, reportedly told the TSA he'd forgotten he was carrying the weapon, and was allowed to return it to his vehicle.
“Let this be an important reminder to firearm owners that they should not bring their guns to our checkpoints,” said Karen Keys-Turner, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “Don’t be that guy!”
Monday's incident was the third firearm that TSA officers have intercepted at the airport checkpoint so far this year.
“Travelers need to pay much closer attention to the items that they have inside their carry-on bags,” said Keys-Turner. “Travelers are responsible for the contents of their carry-on bags. In addition, responsible gun owners know where their firearms are at all times and they know not to bring them to a security checkpoint. This individual can expect that TSA will issue him a costly Federal civil penalty.”
Keys-Turner explained that the proper way to transport a firearm for a flight is to ensure it is unloaded; packed in a hard-sided locked case; and taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared. The airline will make sure that the firearm is transported in the belly of the aircraft so that nobody has access to it during the flight. TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website.
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 weapon into a checkpoint can reach up to $15,000, depending on the specific weapon and the circumstances.
This applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits because even though an individual may have a concealed carry permit, it does not allow for a firearm to be carried onto an airplane, the TSA said.
The complete list of civil penalties is posted online.
When a gun is detected in the checkpoint X-ray unit, the conveyor belt is stopped and the police are notified. Police remove the carry-on bag from the X-ray unit because TSA does not want its officers handling firearms. Police determine whether a traveler is arrested or issued a criminal citation.
"Meanwhile the remaining passengers in the checkpoint lane either wait for the issue to be resolved or they are shifted to another checkpoint lane, thus delaying dozens of passengers from getting to their gates," the TSA said.
Experts say that firearm possession laws vary by state and locality and passengers should do their homework to make sure that they are not violating any local firearm laws. Officials say that travelers should also contact their airline as they may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.
