Woman arrested with loaded gun at Huntington Tri-State Airport security checkpoint

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Laeger, W.Va. woman was arrested by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents at West Virginia’s Yeager International Airport with a loaded firearm in her luggage at hand on Monday June 10. The 22 caliber pistol was loaded with five bullets, one of which was in the chamber.

TSA officers interrupted the screening process and immediately notified police, who proceeded to the checkpoint and allowed the woman to return the firearm to her vehicle.

Firearms are not allowed into or through the security checkpoint and the woman now faces a hefty financial civil penalty from the TSA. The penalty for carrying a weapon can reach a maximum of $15,000.

“It is disappointing to see travelers continue to bring their firearms to our checkpoints instead of properly packing them for a flight,” said John C. Allen, TSA Federal Security Director for West Virginia. . “If you want to travel with your firearm, all we ask is that you pack it properly for a flight. It’s a fairly simple process. To start, you have to unload it. Pack the unloaded gun in a locked hard case. Take the suitcase to the airline check-in counter and declare that you wish to travel with it. The airline will ensure that it is transported to your destination in the belly of the plane so that no one has access to it during the flight. It really is that simple.

Passengers are only allowed to travel with firearms in checked baggage. The TSA posts details on how to properly travel with a firearm on its website.

Laws regarding gun ownership vary by state and locality, and gun owners have a duty to ensure that they are not violating any local gun laws. Additionally, contacting the applicable airline could reveal additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.

Bringing a firearm to an airport checkpoint results in a federal civil penalty, as TSA reserves the right to impose a civil penalty on travelers who have weapons and gun parts with them at an airport checkpoint. control. Civil penalties for bringing a firearm into a checkpoint can run into the 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 permit carrying a firearm on an airplane. The full list of civil penalties is posted online. Additionally, if a traveler armed with a firearm is a TSA PreCheck® member, that person will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges.

Not sure if an item should be packed in carry-on baggage, checked baggage, one or the other, or neither? Download the free myTSA app, which features a convenient “What can I bring?” » feature that lets you grab the object to see if it can fly. Or ask on Twitter or Facebook Messenger at @AskTSA. Travelers can submit a question by texting “Travel” to AskTSA (275-872).

###