TSA intercepts handgun in man’s carry on bag at Wilkes Barre/Scranton International Airport

TSA officers stopped a man with this handgun at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport security checkpoint on December 19. (TSA photo)

AVOCA, Pa.- Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport intercepted a 9mm handgun loaded with 11 bullets at the airport checkpoint this morning, December 19.

It was the fourth firearm that TSA officers have detected at the airport checkpoint this year.

The weapon was caught as the man, a resident of Orangeville, Pa., 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 and then escorted the man back to his vehicle, returning the firearm to him to allow him to leave it in his car.

This individual now faces a stiff financial civil penalty. Civil penalties for carrying weapons can reach a maximum of $15,000.

"Responsible gun owners know where their firearms are at all times and they know not to bring them to a security checkpoint," said Gerardo Spero, TSA's Federal Security Director for Pennsylvania. "Travelers who own firearms need to know that guns can't be carried into the cabin of a plane. TSA has been in existence for 23 years and this regulation has been in place for decades before TSA even existed, so it's nothing new. Now this individual faces a stiff federal financial civil penalty that could set him back thousands of dollars. That's an expensive mistake on his part."

Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms only in checked baggage if they are unloaded and packed in a hard-sided locked case. Then the locked case should 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.

Bringing a gun to an airport checkpoint also 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. 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.

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.

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).