TSA Officers Intercept Sixth Gun at Reagan National Airport This Month

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport have intercepted their sixth firearm at airport checkpoints in April, highlighting ongoing security concerns. The most recent incident occurred on April 23, involving a 9mm handgun loaded with 10 bullets.

This latest apprehension revealed that the Florida resident caught with the firearm had a similar incident at Pensacola International Airport in 2019, where the same weapon was also loaded with 10 bullets. In 2019, local police allowed him to return the gun to his car, but this time, the Washington Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police confiscated the weapon and issued a criminal citation.

The individual claimed he carried the firearm for personal protection. However, guns are prohibited through airport security checkpoints, and violators face significant financial penalties. TSA's fines for carrying weapons can reach up to $15,000. The TSA's Federal Security Director, John Busch, criticized the repeat offender, noting that his penalty could be harsher due to his repeated transgression, calling it "irresponsible."

TSA officers recorded a rising number of guns intercepted at Reagan National Airport's checkpoints over the years, with 16 caught in 2018, 14 in 2019, 10 in 2020, and a spike of 30 in 2021. The number of firearms apprehended in 2022 stood at 29, then rose to 39 in 2023, with 16 guns seized as of April 23, 2024.

Civil penalties for bringing guns to airport checkpoints apply to travelers with or without concealed carry permits. A concealed carry permit does not grant permission to carry a firearm onto an airplane, emphasizing the seriousness of this offense. Travelers with a gun may also lose TSA PreCheck® privileges.