Airport security again arrests travelers who try to bring handguns on planes

As the holiday travel rush begins, the Transportation Security Administration continues to write off, and in some cases arrest, many travelers attempting to board planes with guns.

Firearms are prohibited in carry-on baggage and must be carried in a locked hard-sided container as checked baggage. Despite this, travelers continue, by accident or design, to bring handguns with them to TSA security checkpoints.

Two incidents in the DC area on Friday illustrate the problem.

At Richmond International Airport, a Fredericksburg woman’s unloaded .380 handgun set off an alarm going through the security X-ray machine. Airport police confiscated the firearm and wrote the woman about a weapons violation.

Violation of the weapons rule, along with other civil violations, will void a person’s TSA PreCheck status.

“Friday kicked off the Thanksgiving holiday season, which is the busiest travel time of the year… It is important that gun owners recognize that they are prohibited from carrying a firearm on a theft from their hand luggage, regardless of their concealed weapon. transportation permit status,” said Richmond International Airport TSA Federal Security Director Robin Burke.

On Sunday, 19 people were arrested with firearms in their hand luggage at Richmond airport. In 2021, 20 of those passengers were apprehended, including 22 in 2020, according to the TSA.

In northern Virginia, a similar incident took place at Reagan National Airport, the 28th incident with such a firearm at the airport this year through Sunday.

A California man attempted to bring a loaded .40 caliber handgun onto a plane inside his carry-on. Authorities said 14 bullets were loaded into the gun, including one inside the gun chamber. Airport police confiscated the weapon and arrested the unnamed man, according to the TSA.

“If you are a firearm owner, please confirm that your firearm is in its secure location before you leave your home,” said John Busch, National Airport TSA Federal Security Director. Reagan.

DCA recorded 30 handgun-related seizures in 2021, including only 10 in 2020.