BALTIMORE – A Pennsylvania resident was arrested at Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) early this morning, Friday, May 12, after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers caught him carrying a firearm at a security checkpoint.
The man, a resident of Wrightsville in York County, Pennsylvania, was found to have an unloaded 9 mm handgun in his carry-on bag alongside a magazine that was loaded with six bullets.
TSA officers detected the gun as the passenger entered the TSA checkpoint and placed his carry-on items on the X-ray conveyor belt. TSA officers contacted the Maryland Transportation Authority Police who responded to the checkpoint, confiscated the firearm and arrested the man on weapons charges.
Just one week ago, last Friday, May 5, TSA officers detected two other passengers with handguns at the airport’s checkpoints. Today’s gun catch marks the 14th firearm TSA officers have detected at BWI Airport so far this calendar year. In 2016 24 firearms were detected at the airport’s checkpoints by TSA officers.
TSA Firearms Caught at BWI
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|
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 |
14 |
As a reminder, individuals who bring firearms to the checkpoint are subject to possible criminal charges from law enforcement and civil penalties from TSA of up to $12,000. TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on TSA.gov. Airlines may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition. Travelers should also contact their airline regarding firearm and ammunition carriage policies.