An Annandale, Va., woman was cited by police after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport intercepted a firearm among her carry-on items at one of the airport checkpoints on Thursday (October 31). The 9mm handgun was loaded with 12 bullets and was the fifth firearm that TSA officers detected at the airport during October.
When TSA officers intercepted the firearm, they notified the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police who responded to the checkpoint, confiscated the gun and issued the woman a criminal citation. She also faces a Federal civil penalty for bringing a loaded firearm to a TSA checkpoint. The Federal penalty for carrying weapons can reach a maximum of $15,000.
“Bringing a gun to an airport security checkpoint on Halloween or at any time of the year is no joke,” said John Busch, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “Loaded guns are deadly weapons and present a threat. People who own firearms need to be more cognizant of where and when they are carrying their weapon. It is no secret that guns cannot be carried onto an aircraft. If you own a firearm, it is critically important that you always know where it is, and you know that it is not among the items in your carry-on bag when you come to an airport. That is part of being a responsible gun owner.”