Man Tries To Bring Loaded Gun Through Newark Airport Checkpoint

Airport authorities stopped and arrested a New York man for trying to pass through a Newark Airport security checkpoint with a .32 caliber handgun loaded with hollow point bullets on Sunday.

Inspectors with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) found the weapon in the carry-on bag of Gregory J. Soltanoff, 40, of Woodstock, NY, as he passed through an airport X-ray machine.

Police charged Soltanoff with unlawful possession of a handgun and unlawful possession of hollow-point ammunition.

A Port Authority spokesman told NorthJersey.com that Soltanoff didn’t have a prior arrest record.

GUNS IN LUGGAGE: A COMMON OCCURANCE

According to the TSA’s official blog, 45 loaded firearms were discovered in carry-on bags throughout the nation from June 5 to 11 alone.

“You can travel with your firearms in checked baggage, but they must first be declared to the airline,” the TSA states.

Travelers can click here to learn more about how to safely travel with firearms.

“Unfortunately these sorts of occurrences are all too frequent,’ the TSA states. “Each time we find a dangerous item, the line is slowed down and a passenger that likely had no ill intent ends up with a citation or in some cases is even arrested. The passenger can face a penalty as high as $11,000.”

“Just because we find a prohibited item on an individual does not mean they had bad intentions; that’s for the law enforcement officer to decide. In many cases, people simply forgot they had these items.”