Second Loaded Gun Found At BWI Airport In 3 Days: TSA

HANOVER, MD — Federal officers spotted a semi-automatic handgun at one of Baltimore Washington International Airport’s checkpoints Wednesday morning, marking the second gun caught at the airport in the past three days. The traveler, from Huntersville, North Carolina, was found to have a 9 mm handgun loaded with 15 bullets in his carry-on luggage when the carry-on bag entered the TSA checkpoint X-ray machine, said Lisa Farbstein, spokeswoman for the Transportation Security Administration.

The man was planning to fly to Texas for a business trip, and told TSA officer that he forgot he had his loaded gun with him. TSA contacted the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, who confiscated the weapon, and arrested the man on weapons charges.

On Monday, a York, Pennsylvania, man was arrested at BWI after a TSA officer allegedly found a loaded .357 caliber handgun in his carry-on luggage at the security checkpoint X-ray machine. The man told TSA officials that he forgot that he had his loaded gun with him. Maryland Transportation Authority Police confiscated the loaded gun, and arrested the man on weapons charges.

Wednesday's arrest marks the 10th gun that TSA officers have detected at the airport checkpoints so far this year, authorities said.

Last year, a record 25 arrests were made for guns detected by TSA officers at the airport's checkpoints this year, the most guns caught at the airport during a single calendar year.

In 2016 TSA officers stopped 24 guns at the airport's checkpoints, said Lisa Farbstein, TSA spokeswoman. The numbers of weapons spotted at security points have steadily increased since 2013, when 13 guns were found. That inched up to 14 firearms in 2014 and 16 guns in 2015.

Authorities remind airline passengers that firearms are never allowed at security checkpoints. Passenger who try to transport firearms through security checkpoints face criminal charges and the TSA has the authority to assess fines of up to $13,000. A typical first offense for carrying a handgun into a checkpoint is $3,900.

What is the proper procedure for transporting firearms on flights?

Firearms are never permitted in carry-on bags. Firearms are permitted in checked bags if the following requirements are met:

• They are declared to the airline in advance.
• They are unloaded and properly packed.
• The carrier possesses the necessary permits.

Firearms carried as checked baggage must be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided container, and declared to the airline at check-in. Read the guidelines.

Firearm parts, including magazines, clips, bolts and firing pins, are prohibited in carry-on, but may be transported in checked baggage.

Passengers should check with their airline if ammunition is permitted in checked baggage. Small arms ammunitions for personal use must be packed in fiber, wood or metal boxes designed to carry small amounts of ammunition. Ask about limitations or fees.

More information on how to travel with a firearm can be found on the TSA's website.

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PHOTO: TSA officers on May 16 stopped a man from bringing this loaded 9 mm handgun onto an airplane at BWI Airport. Photo courtesy of TSA