TSA catches woman with handgun at Boston Logan International Airport checkpoint

Local Press Release
Sunday, April 19, 2020
TSA officers detected this handgun in the carry-on bag of a traveler ticketed to fly out of Boston Logan International Airport on April 19. (TSA photo)

BOSTON – Transportation Security Administration officers remain vigilant in their duties during this pandemic, and on Sunday at Boston Logan International Airport, a TSA officer prevented a woman from bringing a .22 caliber handgun along with four loose bullets onto an airplane.

The TSA officer stopped the woman, a resident of Florida, when the gun was spotted as her belongings entered the checkpoint X-ray machine. TSA officials contacted the Massachusetts State Police, who confiscated the handgun and detained the woman for questioning prior to citing her on a state weapons charge. 

Even travelers with concealed firearm permits are not allowed to bring guns onto airplanes in their carry-on bags. 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, 4,432 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.

 Guns caught at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) checkpoints from 2017 to 2020

Airport

Firearms caught in 2017

Firearms caught in 2018

Firearms caught in 2019

Firearms caught in 2020 (as of 4-19-20)

BOS

14

21

18

5

As a reminder, individuals who bring firearms to the checkpoint are subject to possible criminal charges from law enforcement. If an individual is a TSA Pre✓® member, then that person could even lose TSA Pre✓® status. In addition, TSA has the authority to assess civil penalties for weapons violations. 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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