According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), a Silver Spring woman was issued a police citation after officers intercepted a gun in her carry-on luggage at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The 9mm weapon was loaded with six bullets, one of which was lodged in the barrel.

According to the TSA: “When TSA officers intercepted the firearm and notified police, Washington Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police responded to the checkpoint, confiscated the firearm, and issued her a criminal complaint.

Weapons are not allowed through security and travelers can expect a hefty fine from the TSA. The fine for carrying weapons can be up to $15,000.

“It is troubling that travelers continue to bring their firearms to our checkpoints instead of properly packing them for flight,” said John Busch, TSA’s federal airport security director. “A loaded, unsecured firearm with an unsuspecting owner is simply a tragedy waiting to happen. Almost every traveler we encounter with a firearm says, ‘I forgot it was there…’ That is very troubling. If you plan to travel with your firearm, all we ask is that you pack it properly. It’s a fairly simple process. First, it must be unloaded. Pack the unloaded gun in a locking hard-sided case. Bring the case to the airline check-in counter and explain that you plan to fly with it. The airline will arrange for it to be transported in the belly of the plane to your destination so no one can access it during the flight. It really is that simple.”

Details on how to properly travel with a firearm are posted on the TSA website.

Firearms discovered at TSA checkpoints at Reagan National Airport, 2018 to 2024

Bringing a firearm to an airport checkpoint carries a civil penalty under federal law, as the TSA reserves the right to impose a civil penalty on travelers who carry weapons and weapon parts at a checkpoint. The civil penalty for bringing a weapon to a checkpoint can be thousands of dollars, depending on extenuating circumstances. This applies to travelers with or without a concealed carry permit, as a concealed carry permit does not allow a firearm to be brought onto an airplane. The full list of civil penalties is posted online. In addition, a traveler with a weapon who is a member of TSA PreCheck® will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges.

Not sure if an item belongs in carry-on, checked baggage, both, or neither? Download the free myTSA app, which has a handy “What Can I Bring?” feature that lets you enter the item to find out if it’s allowed to fly. Or ask on Twitter or Facebook Messenger at @AskTSA. Travelers can submit a question by texting “Travel” to AskTSA (275-872).”