BALTIMORE — Transportation Security Administration officers at Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport stopped a Maryland woman from bringing a loaded handgun through the checkpoint Tuesday, April 4, just hours after a Pennsylvania man also was caught with a handgun at one of the airport checkpoints.
On Tuesday afternoon, a female resident of Ellicott City, Maryland, told officials that she keeps a gun in her purse for protection while working and forgot that she had it with her when she arrived at the checkpoint. It was loaded with seven bullets.
Also on Tuesday, during the early morning hours, a Carlisle, Pennsylvania man was arrested when he was caught with a .32 caliber handgun loaded with six bullets in one of his carry-on bags as it passed through the checkpoint X-ray machine.
The two incidents are not believed to be related.
In each instance, the TSA officers who were staffing the checkpoints spotted the guns as they passed through the metal detector at the checkpoint. TSA officials immediately contacted the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, who came to the checkpoint, confiscated the loaded handguns and arrested each individual on state weapons charges.
It marked the sixth and seventh guns caught at BWI Airport checkpoints so far in 2017.
TSA Firearms Caught at BWI
|
|
Number of Firearms Caught in 2013 |
Number of Firearms Caught in 2014 |
Number of Firearms Caught in 2015 |
Number of Firearms Caught in 2016 |
Number of Firearms to date in 2017 |
|
Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport |
13 |
14 |
16 |
24 |
7 |
Both of these incidents should serve as a reminder that passengers are responsible for the contents of bags they bring to the security checkpoint, and TSA’s advice to passengers is to look through bags thoroughly before coming to the airport to make sure there are no illegal or prohibited items.
Weapons—including firearms, firearm parts and ammunition—are not permitted in carry-on bags, but can be transported in checked bags if they are unloaded, properly packed and declared to the airline. Passengers who bring firearms to the checkpoint are subject to possible criminal charges from law enforcement and civil penalties from TSA up to $12,000.
TSA’s website has details on how to properly travel with a firearm. Airlines may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition. Travelers should also contact the airline regarding firearm and ammunition carriage policies.