Guns At Checkpoints Are ‘Alarming’ Trend At Newark Airport, Feds Say

NEWARK, NJ — “I didn’t know it was in my bag,” some people explain. “I forgot it was in there,” others plead. But these commonly given excuses don’t fly when it comes to taking a gun through a checkpoint at Newark Liberty International Airport, authorities say.

On Wednesday, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Port Authority Police (PAPD) officials held a news conference to announce that an “alarming” trend continues at Newark Airport.

So far in 2022, the TSA team at Newark Airport has detected nine guns at security checkpoints. It’s a total that’s up from 2021, when 12 guns were found, and 2020 and 2019, when 11 firearms were detected.

Nationwide, TSA officers detected 5,972 guns at airport security checkpoints in 2021. Eighty-six percent of those guns were loaded. Read More: Here's How Many Guns Are Seized At Newark Airport Every Year

Officials have noted that passengers may not have criminal intentions when they try to take a gun through an airport checkpoint – but it’s still not acceptable to do, even if you have a concealed carry permit.

“There appears to be an epidemic of ammunition that is cropping up at our security checkpoints—one that is easily preventable,” said Thomas Carter, TSA’s federal security director for New Jersey.

“Guns and ammunition are never allowed to pass through a security checkpoint to be carried onto a flight, even if a traveler has a concealed carry permit,” Carter said. “However, passengers can transport their guns and ammunition for their trips if they pack them properly in checked baggage and declare them to the airline.”

According to the TSA:

“Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are properly packaged and declared at their airline ticket counter. Firearms must be unloaded, placed in a hard-sided locked case, and packed separately from ammunition. Then the locked case must be taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared. TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website.”

What about ammo? According to the TSA:

“Ammunition is prohibited in carry-on baggage, but may be transported in checked baggage. Firearm magazines and ammunition clips, whether loaded or empty, must be securely boxed or included within a hard-sided case containing an unloaded firearm. Small arms ammunition (up to .75 caliber and shotgun shells of any gauge) must be packaged in a fiber (such as cardboard), wood, plastic, or metal box specifically designed to carry ammunition and declared to your airline. Ammunition may be transported in the same hard-sided, locked case as a firearm if it has been packed as described above. Travelers cannot use firearm magazines or clips for packing ammunition unless they completely enclose the ammunition. Travelers should check with their airline for quantity limits for ammunition.”

The penalties can be stiff for people who bring weapons with them to an airport checkpoint, officials said. According to the TSA:

“Civil penalties for bringing a handgun into a checkpoint can stretch into thousands of dollars, depending on mitigating or aggravating 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 complete list of civil penalties is posted online. If a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges.”

TSA officials added 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. Travelers should also contact their airline, as it may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.

It isn’t just the gun owner who faces a huge hassle when firearms are brought through security checkpoints. According to the TSA, when someone shows up at a checkpoint with a gun, the lane comes to a standstill until the Port Authority police can resolve the incident.

And ignorance of the law isn’t an excuse, officials say.

“The most common excuses we hear from travelers is that ‘I didn’t know it was in my bag’ or ‘I forgot it was in there,’” Carter said, adding that “responsible gun owners know where their guns are at all times.”

“The Port Authority continues to work in partnership with our TSA colleagues to ensure a safe and secure travel experience for the tens of millions of passengers who pass through our airports each year,” Port Authority Chief Security Officer John Bilich said.

“Make no mistake – those who break the law will be held accountable,” Bilich said.

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