A Maryland man was arrested by police after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers prevented him from carrying a loaded handgun onto his flight at LaGuardia Airport on Saturday, March 5. The 9mm gun was loaded with eight bullets.
A TSA officer spotted the handgun on the checkpoint X-ray machine’s monitor as the man’s belongings entered the X-ray unit. TSA immediately alerted the Port Authority Police, which responded to the checkpoint, confiscated the gun, and detained the man for questioning before arresting him on a weapons charge. In addition to being arrested, the Odenton, Md., resident also faces a stiff federal civil penalty for bringing a gun to an airport security checkpoint.
“Last year our TSA officers stopped four guns at our security checkpoints and here it is early March and already two travelers have been caught carrying guns so far this year,” said Robert Duffy, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “Our officers are good at preventing prohibited items and deadly weapons from getting past the checkpoints and people who try to bring a gun onto a flight will pay a stiff price. I can assure you that the civil penalty will be costly. If you own a firearm, pack it correctly for transport in checked baggage or leave it at home.”
