DULLES — Police cited a Newport News woman after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Newport News/Williamsburg Airport detected a gun in her handbag Thursday.
The woman’s .380 caliber handgun was loaded with six bullets, according to TSA.
The firearm was caught when the X-ray unit alerted on her handbag at the security checkpoint on Feb. 13. TSA officers identified the firearm inside the woman’s bag and notified the police, who confiscated the firearm and cited the traveler on a weapons charge.
“I’m extremely proud of our officers for their continued focus on our mission,” said Robin “Chuck” Burke, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “When someone carries a firearm to one of our checkpoints, they are introducing a security threat into the entire airport environment. There’s truly no excuse for bringing a deadly weapon to our checkpoints because you can’t carry it onto a flight.”
In addition to the citation by airport police, the individual now faces a stiff financial civil penalty, TSA noted. Civil penalties for carrying weapons can reach a maximum of $15,000, even for travelers with concealed carry permits. Travelers enrolled in the TSA PreCheck program who bring a gun to a checkpoint will also lose their privileges.
TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website. The complete list of civil penalties is posted online.
TSA cautions that firearm possession laws vary by state and locality and passengers should do their homework before traveling to make sure that they are not violating any local firearm laws. Travelers should also contact their airline as they may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.
Unsure if an item should be packed in a carry-on bag, checked bag, either or neither? The free myTSA app has a “What can I bring?” feature that allows travelers to type in an item to find out if it can fly. Travelers can also ask on Twitter or Facebook Messenger at @AskTSA or send a question by texting “Travel” to AskTSA (275-872).
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
