TSA officer detects loaded firearm at Boston Logan International Airport

6 firearms caught at BOS so far this year
Local Press Release
Monday, July 6, 2020
TSA officers at Boston-Logan International Airport caught this Walter PPS 9MM gun in a woman’s bag at security checkpoint B209 on Thursday, July 2. (TSA photo)

BOSTON – A Hancock, Maine woman who was escorting her daughter to her gate was stopped by a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer on Thursday, July 2, with a firearm in her handbag at Boston Logan International Airport.

TSA officials notified Massachusetts State Police, who responded to the checkpoint and eventually issued a summons to the woman.

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.

“The public should feel reassured that our TSA officers continue to remain vigilant in performing their security duties during this pandemic,” said Bob Allison, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Massachusetts. “Gun owners should know where their firearm is at all times. There is really no excuse for trying to bring a handgun onto an airplane where someone would have access to it during a flight.”

Guns caught by TSA at the Boston-Logan International Airport checkpoint 2016 to 2020

Year 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 (As of 7-5-20)
Guns caught at checkpoint 16 12 21 18 6

TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns with them at a checkpoint. This applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits because even though an individual may have a concealed carry permit, it does not allow for a firearm to be carried onto an airplane. The complete list of civil penalties is posted online.

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.

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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