A Silver Spring woman now faces fines and criminal charges after TSA officers intercepted a loaded gun in her carry-on luggage at Reagan National Airport.
The incident occurred last Thursday, August 8, when Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inspectors discovered a 9mm firearm loaded with six bullets, including one bullet in the barrel, during a routine security check.
The airport police responded to the check, confiscated the weapon and filed a criminal complaint against the woman.
The case highlights the ongoing problem of travelers attempting to bring firearms through airport security checkpoints.
“It is disturbing to see travelers continue to bring their firearms to our checkpoints instead of properly packing them for the flight,” said John Busch, TSA’s federal airport security director.
Busch expressed concern about the potential dangers of unsecured firearms at airports.
“A loaded, unsecured firearm in the hands of those who do not know it is a tragedy waiting to happen,” he said.
This incident marks the 26th firearm intercepted at National Airport checkpoints in 2024, continuing a trend that has seen an increase in the number of firearm interceptions at the airport in recent years.
In 2023, TSA officers intercepted 39 firearms at DCA checkpoints, up from 29 in 2022 and 30 in 2021. The numbers have increased significantly since 2018, when 16 firearms were intercepted.
Travelers caught with firearms at TSA checkpoints face severe consequences, including possible criminal charges and civil penalties of up to $15,000. The TSA stresses that firearms may never be taken through security checkpoints, regardless of whether a traveler has a concealed carry permit or not.
Busch found that many travelers claimed they had simply forgotten that the gun was in their bag.
“Almost every traveler we encounter with a firearm says, ‘I forgot it was there,'” Busch said. “That’s very disturbing.”
The TSA provides clear guidelines for travelers who wish to legally transport firearms on flights.
“If you want to travel with your firearm, all we ask is that you pack it properly,” Busch explained. “It’s a pretty simple process.”
The proper procedure is to pack an unloaded firearm in a locked hard-shell case and declare it at the airline check-in counter. The airline will then arrange for the firearm to be transported in the aircraft’s cargo hold and not accessible during the flight.
Travelers caught with firearms at checkpoints may face fines and lose their TSA PreCheck privileges if they are participants in the program.
