Summary
- TSA personnel discovered loaded firearms in a passenger's carry-on bag at SEA Airport.
- Travelers who violate TSA regulations regarding firearms can face criminal citations, civil penalties, and the revocation of privileges such as TSA PreCheck®.
- The TSA urges travelers to familiarize themselves with the proper policies and procedures for packing firearms in checked baggage.
Two loaded firearms were discovered by the Transport Security Administration (TSA) personnel in a passenger’s carry-on backpack at Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA) on Friday. During the routine screening at the security checkpoint, TSA officers detected the firearms in the bag of a male traveler who was ticketed for Honolulu, Hawaii. The law enforcement agents confiscated the firearm before considering the traveler for penalties for breaking the TSA regulations.
The law enforcement agents take matters into their hands
The X-ray machine at one of the security checkpoints at SEA discovered the firearms around 10:15 hours PDT. The TSA personnel noticed the Port of Seattle Police Department (POSPD), who immediately responded to the security area. The POSPD officer removed the firearms from the X-ray machine before making contact with the traveler.
From there on, the law enforcement officers took control of the case, freeing the TSA checkpoint for the following passenger traffic. According to the TSA Federal Security Director for Washington, Greg Hawko,
The discovery of these two firearms in a single carry-on is a stark reminder of why every bag that enters the sterile area of an airport and flies in the cabin of an aircraft must be screened for potential security threats. I am personally grateful for the TSA officers who conduct security screening of one bag, one passenger at a time. Furthermore, I ask that if you are traveling with a firearm, please take a few moments before you come to the airport to refresh your memory on the proper policies and procedures on how to pack your gun.
Possible charges and penalties for the traveler
The traveler carrying the firearms in the carry-on bag can face criminal citations as well as civil penalties. Firearms are strictly prohibited in the carry-on, let alone a loaded one. The law enforcement authorities are identifying whether both firearms were actually loaded with accessible ammunition. Charges and penalties may be greater for loaded firearms compared to concealed ones.
TSA regulations also state that failure to abide by the regulations by travelers with Trusted Traveler status and TSA PreCheck® expedited screening benefits will get the privileges revoked for a period of time. The duration of the revoked status depends on the seriousness of the offense and the history of violations. Following a violation case, travelers will also face enhanced screening, irrespective of their privileges.
The TSA provides ample information about carrying firearms on commercial flights through various digital channels. TSA states that firearms can only be transported in checked baggage, given that they are unloaded and packed in a locked, hard-sided case. Moreover, the traveler must declare the firearm during the check-in process prior to the flight.
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TSA personnel at SEA Airport have detected 76 firearms since the beginning of the year. Nationwide, TSA officers have discovered more than 4,200 firearms to date, and 92% of those have been loaded. In 2022, a total of 6,542 firearms were found in carry-on luggage at airports across the country, and 89% of those were loaded.
What are your thoughts on yet another incident involving firearms at security checkpoints at SEA Airport? Tell us in the comments section.
Source: TSA