Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Norfolk International Airport prevented a Virginia Beach man from bringing his gun onto a flight yesterday, September 15, just three days after they stopped another man with a loaded gun at the airport. The 9mm firearm was loaded with 15 bullets, with an additional bullet accessible in the carry-on bag.
The firearm was removed from the checkpoint and confiscated by the Norfolk Airport Authority Police, who cited the man. TSA does not confiscate firearms; law enforcement officers do. The case will be forwarded to the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney for possible criminal prosecution.
“Within four days of the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attack on our nation, it is obvious that this individual is tone deaf to what is going on around him,” said Robin “Chuck” Burke, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “We just commemorated the anniversary date of the 9/11 attacks, and it was broadcast on every newscast in the nation, every newspaper, television station, radio station and social media outlet. Everyone should know that you cannot carry a loaded firearm or any other weapon on a plane. This individual may have placed his gun in a case, but it was loaded and not properly declared at his airline check-in counter for the airline to transport it in the belly of the aircraft. Instead, he tried to carry it through the checkpoint and onto his flight. Never bring a gun to a checkpoint. Never!”