Weekend Gun Arrest Made At BWI Airport: TSA

HANOVER, MD — A Maryland man was arrested Saturday at Baltimore Washington International Airport after a Transportation Security Administration officer allegedly caught him trying to bring a loaded handgun past the security checkpoint.

The Queen Anne’s County resident had a 9 mm handgun loaded with three bullets when his carry-on bag entered the TSA checkpoint X-ray machine, where the gun was spotted by a TSA officer, authorities said. The Chester man told TSA officials that he forgot that he had his loaded gun with him. Saturday’s case was the sixth gun caught at the airport so far this year.

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 said a Maryland man was stopped with this loaded gun at a BWI Airport security checkpoint on Saturday, April 7. (Photo courtesy of TSA.)