A Salem woman was caught with a loaded handgun in her carry-on at Atlantic City International Airport last week, officials announced Monday.The loaded .380 caliber handgun was spotted by a TSA officer Friday, as it entered the checkpoint X-ray machine.TSA confiscated the gun and detained the woman, whose name was not released, for questioning. She was later released. There was no report of charges.It was the first gun caught at the airport this year.Last year, TSA caught two firearms a the airport’s checkpoint.
Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are properly packaged and declared at the airline check-in counter. Firearms must be unloaded, packed in a hard-sided case, locked and packed separately from ammunition. Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality.
Last year, 4,432 firearms were discovered in carry-on bags at checkpoints across the country, averaging about 12.1 firearms per day. That's about a 5 percent increase over 2018.Eighty-seven percent of firearms detected at checkpoints last year were loaded.
Anyone who brings a firearm to a security checkpoint is subject to possible criminal charges.Even travelers with concealed firearm permits are not allowed to bring guns onto airplanes in their carry-on bags. If the individual is a TSA Pre✓® member, that person could even lose their TSA Pre✓® status. In addition, TSA has the authority to assess civil penalties for weapons violations. A typical first offense for carrying a handgun into a checkpoint is $4,100. The complete list of penalties is posted online.
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.
