BOSTON Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers prevented a passenger from carrying a loaded firearm along with seven rounds onto an airplane Wednesday, July 5 at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).
During Wednesday afternoon security screening in Terminal C, TSA officers detected a firearm in a passengers carry-on bag. TSA immediately notified Massachusetts State Police (MSP) who responded and interviewed the 54-year-old female passenger. MSP eventually arrested the Massachusetts woman for illegal possession of a firearm.
Once again our officers are on top of preventing a loaded firearm from entering the secure area of the airport, said Bob Allison, TSAs Federal Security Director for Massachusetts. Bringing a loaded firearm into a security checkpoint is dangerous for everyone in the vicinity.
TSA officers have now detected eleven firearms at BOS security checkpoints this year.
Boston Logan International
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
Number of Firearm Detections
11
31
18
11
18
20
TSA officers have detected a total of 28 firearms at New England security checkpoints in 2023; 11 at BOS, 4 each at BDL and PWM, 2 each at BGR, BTV and HVN, and 1 each at AUG, MHT and PVD. In 2022 there was a record 47 firearm detections at New England security checkpoints.
TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns and gun parts with them at a checkpoint. A typical first offense for carrying a loaded gun into a checkpoint is $3,000 and can go as high as $15,000 depending on any mitigating circumstances.
This applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits because even though an individual may have a concealed carry permit, it does not allow for a firearm to be carried onto an airplane. The complete list of civil penalties isposted online. If a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges.
Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are unloaded, packed separately from ammunition in a locked hardback case and declared at the airline check-in counter.
TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website. Travelers should also contact their airline as they may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration