TSA stops man with loaded handgun at Green International Airport

Man claims he forgot he had a loaded gun with him
Local Press Release
Monday, March 2, 2020
TSA officers caught this loaded handgun at the T. F. Green International Airport checkpoint on March 2. (TSA photo)

WARWICK, RI –A Cranston, Rhode Island, man was stopped by Transportation Security Administration officers at T.F. Green International Airport (PVD) today after they caught him with a .45 caliber handgun loaded with nine bullets in his backpack at the security checkpoint.   

TSA officers, who spotted the gun in the checkpoint X-ray machine, contacted the airport police, who arrived at the checkpoint, confiscated the gun and detained the man for questioning before releasing him. The man told officials that he forgot that he had his loaded gun with him.

Nationwide last year, 4,432 firearms were discovered in carry-on bags at checkpoints across the country, averaging about 12.1 firearms per day, approximately a 5% increase nationally in firearm discoveries from the total of 4,239 detected in 2018. Eighty-seven percent of firearms detected at checkpoints last year were loaded.

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 addition, TSA has the authority to assess civil penalties 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 here: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/civil-enforcement.

Guns caught at T.F. Green International Airport checkpoints 2015 to 2020

Year

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

(As of 3/2/20)

Number of Guns at T.F Green Int’l Airport

1

2

2

4

3

2

TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its web site here: http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/firearms-and-ammunition. Airlines may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition. Travelers should also contact their airline regarding firearm and ammunition carriage policies.

###