Local man cited by police after TSA spots two guns in his backpack at Yeager Airport checkpoint

Local Press Release
Monday, December 2, 2019
These two handguns were detected by TSA officers in a local man’s carry-on bag at Yeager Airport on Thanksgiving. (TSA photo)

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Kanawha County, West Virginia, man was cited by police after he was stopped by Transportation Security Administration officers at Yeager Airport on Thanksgiving, when they detected two handguns in his backpack at the security checkpoint.

The man, a resident of Sissonville, West Virginia, was in possession of a .40 caliber handgun loaded with 13 bullets and a .45 caliber handgun that had seven loose bullets with it.

TSA officials notified the Yeager Airport Police, who responded to the checkpoint, confiscated the guns and ammunition and detained the man for questioning prior to citing him on weapons charges.  

It marked the sixth and seventh guns stopped by TSA at the checkpoint so far this year, surpassing the number caught in 2018. Last year TSA officers detected six guns at the checkpoint.

When an individual shows up at a checkpoint with a firearm, the checkpoint lane comes to a standstill until the police resolve the incident. Guns at checkpoints can delay travelers from getting to their gates.

Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are properly packaged and declared. Firearms must be unloaded, packed in a hard-sided case, locked, and packed separately from ammunition. Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality.

Nationwide last year, 4,239 firearms were discovered in carry-on bags at checkpoints across the country, averaging about 11.6 firearms per day, approximately a 7% increase nationally in firearm discoveries from the total of 3,957 detected in 2017. Eighty-six percent of firearms detected at checkpoints last year were loaded and nearly 34% had a bullet in the chamber.

As a reminder, individuals who bring firearms to the checkpoint are subject to possible criminal charges from law enforcement. Even travelers with concealed firearm permits are not allowed to bring guns onto airplanes in their carry-on bags. If the individual is a TSA Pre✓® member, that person could even lose their TSA Pre✓® status. In addition, TSA has the authority to assess civil penalties of up to $13,333 for weapons violations. A typical first offense for carrying a handgun into a checkpoint is $4,100. The complete list of penalties is posted online.

TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website. Travelers should also contact their airline as they may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.

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