AVOCA, LUZERNE CO. (WOLF) — TSA officers at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport intercepted a loaded .40 caliber handgun along with a total of 20 bullets in two gun magazines at the airport checkpoint on Thursday, officials said.
It was the first firearm that TSA officers have detected at the airport checkpoint this year.
The weapon was caught as the man, a resident of Georgia, entered the security checkpoint. The X-ray unit alerted on the firearm among his carry-on items. TSA officials notified the police who confiscated the gun. Law enforcement officers confiscate guns, not TSA officials.
The individual faces a civil penalty for carrying weapons, which can reach a maximum of $15,000.
“Bringing guns to checkpoints is a serious security violation and this individual can expect to receive a federal fine that will be in the thousands of dollars,” said Karen Keys-Turner, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport.
Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms only in checked baggage if they are unloaded and packed in a hard-sided locked case, according to officials. Then the locked case should be taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared.
Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality and individuals who want to travel with their gun should do their homework to make sure that they are not violating any local firearm laws. Travelers should also contact their airline as they may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.
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