A North Carolina man was cited by police on Sunday, July 7, after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Richmond International Airport intercepted a gun among the traveler’s carry-on items on what was the busiest day in TSA’s 22-year history nationwide. The 9mm firearm was loaded with seven bullets including one in the chamber.
The handgun was caught as the man entered the security checkpoint. The X-ray unit alerted on the carry-on bag, which required a closer inspection by TSA officers. The firearm was removed by the Richmond Airport Police, who confiscated the weapon and cited the man on a weapons charge. TSA does not confiscate firearms caught at checkpoints, law enforcement does.
“When our officers detect a firearm at the checkpoint, the checkpoint lane comes to a halt until police come and remove the carry-on bag with the gun. This is done because we do not want our officers to handle firearms as that is an accident waiting to happen,” said Robin “Chuck” Burke, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “As a result, all of the travelers in that checkpoint lane either shift to another lane or wait for the police to resolve the situation. Either way it inconveniences other travelers and on a busy day at our airport, I can assure you that any delay is not appreciated by fellow travelers.”