TSA officers stop local man with gun at Lynchburg Regional Airport

LYNCHBURG, Va. - Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Lynchburg Regional Airport prevented a Lynchburg man from bringing his gun onto a flight this morning, September 16. The 9mm firearm was loaded with four bullets.

The firearm was removed from the checkpoint and confiscated by the police, who cited the man on a weapons charge. TSA does not confiscate firearms; law enforcement officers do.

"Our officers intercepted this firearm five days after the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on our nation. It was a day that the commemoration of that date was carried in every newspaper, television, radio and social media outlet," said Robin "Chuck" Burke, TSA's Federal Security Director for the airport. "Everyone should know that you cannot carry a loaded firearm or any other weapon on a plane. Never bring a gun to a checkpoint. Never!"

In addition to being criminally cited by police, the man also faces a stiff financial civil penalty for bringing a gun to a TSA security checkpoint. The penalty for carrying weapons can reach as high as $15,000, depending on the circumstances.

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 must 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.

Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality and gun owners have a duty to ensure they are not violating any local firearm laws. Additionally, contacting the respective airline could reveal any additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.

Bringing a gun to an airport checkpoint carries a federal civil penalty because TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns and gun parts with them at a checkpoint. Civil penalties for bringing a gun into a checkpoint can stretch into thousands of dollars, depending on mitigating circumstances. This applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits because a concealed carry permit does not allow a firearm to be carried onto an airplane. The complete list of civil penalties is posted online. Additionally, if a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck®, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges.

Unsure if an item should be packed in a carry-on bag, checked bag, either or neither? Download the free myTSA app, which has a handy "What can I bring?" feature that allows you to type in the item to find out if it can fly. Or ask on Twitter or Facebook Messenger at @AskTSA. Travelers may send a question by texting "Travel" to AskTSA (275-872).