A Mechanicsburg, Pa., man was stopped by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Harrisburg International Airport when they detected a handgun in the man’s carry-on bag on Friday, March 31. 

The 9mm gun was loaded with 10 bullets.

The gun was caught as the man entered the security checkpoint. The X-ray unit alerted the TSA officer to check the carry-on bag, which was opened by officials for a closer inspection. The man told officials that he carries the gun with him when he goes to church because he serves on the church security detail and forgot that he had it with him when he headed to the airport for his flight.  

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) | Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

Guns are not permitted through the security checkpoint and now the man faces a stiff financial civil penalty from TSA. The penalty for carrying weapons can reach a maximum of $15,000.

“The TSA officers in Harrisburg perform their jobs exceptionally well,” said Karen Keys-Turner, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “When dangerous items such as loaded guns are brought to a security checkpoint, it represents a serious security and safety concern. Individuals are not permitted to carry a firearm through a security checkpoint— not someone with a concealed weapons permit, not someone who is enrolled in TSA PreCheck®, not an airport worker and not a traveler who forgot that he had it with him.”

Passengers are only permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage.  Firearms must be unloaded then packed in a hard-sided locked case.  The locked case should be taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared. TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website.

Original source can be found here