Friday, April 5, 2024
TSA stops a woman with a loaded gun at Richmond International Airport, marking the second such incident in a week. Vigilance at security checkpoints heightens.
At Richmond International Airport, security personnel intercepted a woman from Yorktown, Virginia, attempting to pass through security with a handgun on April 3, marking the second such incident in less than a week.
The weapon, a 9mm handgun loaded with a total of 10 rounds, one of which was chambered, was identified when the woman approached the security area. The detection was facilitated by the X-ray screening of her carry-on, prompting a thorough examination by the TSA team. Subsequently, airport police took custody of the weapon and issued a citation to the woman for a firearm violation, as TSA officials themselves do not seize weapons at security checkpoints.
This event subjects the individual to a severe monetary civil penalty for attempting to bring a firearm through a TSA checkpoint, with fines potentially escalating to $15,000 based on specific details of the incident.
Robin “Chuck” Burke, the Federal Security Director at the airport, expressed gratitude towards the TSA officers for their role in preventing the woman from maintaining possession of the loaded firearm, highlighting the unnecessary complications and security threats such actions pose to airport operations, especially during the peak of the spring travel period. He praised the vigilance of the TSA staff in contributing to the safety of air travel.
The incident is part of a continuing trend, with TSA officers at Richmond having intercepted a total of 17 firearms at security checkpoints last year, and this latest catch being the eighth in 2024. In the previous year, a nationwide total of 6,735 firearms were detected at airport checkpoints, 93% of which were loaded.
Statistics reveal a fluctuating pattern in the number of firearms intercepted at Richmond International Airport from 2018 to 2024, with an increasing trend observed over the years.
Travelers are reminded that firearms are only permitted in checked luggage and must adhere to specific guidelines available on the TSA website. Gun owners are also responsible for ensuring compliance with local and state firearm laws and may need to consult with airlines for additional travel requirements with firearms and ammunition.
The act of bringing a firearm to an airport checkpoint incurs a federal civil penalty, highlighting TSA’s authority to impose fines on travelers found with firearms or firearm components at checkpoints. Such penalties can amount to thousands of dollars, irrespective of whether the traveler has a concealed carry permit, as such permits do not authorize firearm carriage on flights. The full list of penalties is accessible online, and TSA PreCheck® members found with firearms at checkpoints risk losing their expedited screening benefits.
For guidance on whether an item is allowed in carry-on or checked baggage, travelers can consult the free myTSA app or inquire through TSA’s social media channels or text messaging service.
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
