CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Pocahontas County, W.Va., man was stopped by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at West Virginia International Yeager Airport on Wednesday, April 3, with a loaded firearm among his carry-on items.
As the man, a resident of Marlinton, W.Va., began the security screening process, TSA officers intercepted the .32 caliber handgun, which was loaded with two bullets. It was the second firearm that TSA officers have detected at the checkpoint so far this year. Last year nine guns were stopped at the airport’s checkpoint.
TSA officers halted the screening process and immediately notified the police, who responded to the checkpoint and confiscated the gun. TSA does not confiscate guns, law enforcement does. Police also cited the man on a weapons charge.
Guns are not permitted to be carried into or through the security checkpoint and now the man also faces a stiff financial civil penalty from TSA. The penalty for carrying weapons can reach a maximum of $15,000.
“I would like to acknowledge my appreciation to the TSA officers who acted to ensure that the man did not retain control of his loaded weapon,” said John C. Allen, TSA’s Federal Security Director for West Virginia.
Passengers are only permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage. Firearms must be unloaded then packed in a hard-sided locked case. The locked case should be taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared. TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website.
Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality and gun owners have a duty to ensure they are not violating any local firearm laws. Additionally, contacting the respective airline could reveal any additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.
Bringing a gun to an airport checkpoint carries a federal civil penalty because TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns and gun parts with them at a checkpoint. Civil penalties for bringing a gun into a checkpoint can stretch into thousands of dollars, depending on mitigating circumstances. This applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits because a concealed carry permit does not allow a firearm to be carried onto an airplane. The complete list of civil penalties is posted online. Additionally, if a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck®, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges.
Unsure if an item should be packed in a carry-on bag, checked bag, either or neither? Download the free myTSA app, which has a handy “What can I bring?” feature that allows you to type in the item to find out if it can fly. Or ask on Twitter or Facebook Messenger at @AskTSA. Travelers may send a question by texting “Travel” to AskTSA (275-872).