BOS TSO’s detected this loaded .38 Special firearm along with six rounds on Thursday, December 8, 2022. (TSA Photo)
BOSTON – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers prevented two Massachusetts residents from carrying loaded firearms onto airplanes yesterday and this morning at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).
During Thursday morning security screening in Terminal C, TSA officers detected a firearm in a woman’s purse. Massachusetts State Police (MSP) responded and discovered a loaded .38 Special. During questioning the woman stated she was in a rush and forgot to place the firearm in a safe at home. MSP eventually confiscated the firearm and issued a summons to the Massachusetts resident.
TSA officers detected another firearm at Boston Logan this morning. This time, MSP discovered a loaded .380 caliber firearm in a man’s carry-on bag. The Massachusetts man was not able to provide his permit to carry and was arrested by MSP.
“Once again our officers are on top of preventing loaded firearms from entering the secure area of the airport,” said Bob Allison, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Massachusetts. “Carelessly traveling with a loaded firearm is dangerous and a public safety concern, considering it could accidentally be discharged during a search. Gun owners need to ensure they know where their firearms are before traveling to the airport.”
TSA officers have now detected 28 firearms at BOS security checkpoints this year, eight more than the previous record of 20 in 2018.
|
Boston Logan International |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
|
Number of Firearm Detections |
28 |
18 |
11 |
18 |
20 |
A total of 42 firearms have been detected at New England security checkpoints in 2022, 28 at BOS, 5 at BDL, 3 at PVD, 3 at BGR, 2 at PWM and 1 at MHT. In 2021 there were 40 firearm detections at New England security checkpoints.
TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns and gun parts with them at a checkpoint. A typical first offense for carrying a loaded gun into a checkpoint is $3,000 and can go as high as $15,000 depending on any mitigating circumstances.
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. If a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck®, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges.
Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are unloaded, packed separately from ammunition in a locked hardback case and declared at the airline check-in counter.
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.