LYNCHBURG, Va. (WFXR) — Officers with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) stopped a loaded gun at the Lynchburg Regional Airport on Feb. 2nd.
They say an Arkansas man tried to bring a .38 caliber gun loaded with 15 bullets. The X-ray machine alerted officers to a carry-on bag. Upon searching the bag, the firearm was found and taken by local police. The man is being cited on weapons charges and faces a financial civil penalty.
“Our TSA team at Lynchburg perform their jobs well with special focus to our mission. I hope this serves as a reminder to others not to bring their guns to an airport security checkpoint. We are happy to make sure that firearms travel with their owners as long as the guns are packed properly. That begins with ensuring that they are unloaded. Please understand that any time dangerous items are presented in the screening checkpoint, we have serious safety concerns for everyone in the area. The resulting mandatory search disrupts the process for passengers behind the offender. Individuals who own firearms are able to familiarize themselves with regulations regarding where their weapons can and cannot be carried on the TSA website“
Robin “Chuck” Burke, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport
The TSA says the penalty for carrying weapons recently increased to a maximum of $15,000. They remind passengers that firearms are only able to travel, unloaded in checked baggage in a hard-sided locked case. The locked case has to be taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared.
