TSA: Quit Bringing Guns To Pgh. Airport Security Checkpoints

Pittsburgh PA

06 October, 2021

11:40 AM

Description

PITTSBURGH, PA — Transportation Security Administration officials expressed concern Wednesday over the large number of handguns Pittsburgh International Airport travelers have brought to security checkpoints this year. Most of the guns have been loaded. TSA and Allegheny County police officials held a news conference at the airport to call attention to the 27 firearms confiscated at the checkpoints thus far this year. In all of 2020, 21 firearms were detected; 35 were confiscated in 2019. "There is no excuse for a traveler who tries to carry a gun onto their flight," said Karen Keys-Turner. TSA's federal security director for the airport. "The vast majority of violators claim that they forgot that they had their loaded guns with them. Responsible gun owners know where their guns are at all times and they know the proper way to transport a handgun to their destination." The agency can fine violators as much as $13,910 in civil penalties for bringing a weapon to a checkpoint, and criminal charges also can be filed. The penalties and charges can be brought regardless of whether the traveler has a concealed carry permit; in fact, those with such permits potentially could lose them in the near future if caught with a weapon at a checkpoint. "We are often told by the passenger, 'I didn't know it was in my bag' or 'I forgot it was in there,'" said Kenneth Ruckel, inspector and division commander of the county police department at the airport. "We will be requesting that the county sheriff's office revoke concealed carry permits on the basis of irresponsible gun ownership." Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are properly packaged and declared at their airline ticket counter. Firearms must be unloaded, placed in a hard-sided locked case, and packed separately from ammunition. Then the locked case must be taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared. The TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website. Be the first to know what's happening in your community and region. With a free Patch subscription, you'll always be up to date on local and state news: https://patch.com/subscribe.