26°
The Myerstown man, who wasn’t even scheduled to fly, had a “gate pass” to enter the secure area for a performance on Thursday, Feb. 20, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said. But as he emptied his pockets at the checkpoint, he suddenly realized he was still carrying his loaded .380 caliber handgun.
TSA officers immediately sounded the alarm, and Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority police swooped in, seizing the firearm and removing the man from the checkpoint. He now faces criminal charges, officials said.
“This individual realized too late that he had a loaded gun on him when he came to our security checkpoint,” said Gerardo Spero, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Pennsylvania. “Part of being a responsible gun owner is knowing where your firearm is at all times and knowing that it is not permitted past a security checkpoint.”
Bringing a firearm to an airport checkpoint is a federal offense that can result in civil penalties up to $15,000. Even those with concealed carry permits are banned from carrying guns past security, and TSA PreCheck members caught doing so lose their privileges immediately.
When an X-ray detects a firearm, TSA halts the conveyor belt, calls police, and removes the bag, often causing major delays for other travelers, officials said.
Want to avoid an embarrassing and costly mistake? Travelers unsure about what they can bring through security should use the TSA’s free myTSA app.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Dallastown and receive free news updates.
