Cleveland, OH - Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers stopped a man from carrying a loaded .38 caliber handgun and a magazine with 8 bullets onto an airplane at Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) Thursday.
At approximately 11:30 a.m., a TSA officer detected the gun in the local man’s carry-on bag. TSA officials immediately alerted the Summit County Sheriff’s Department and a deputy responded who took possession of the weapon and escorted the passenger and weapon away from the checkpoint.
“During this pandemic, TSA officers continue to be vigilant and intercept firearms and prohibited items at the airport security checkpoints,” said Don Barker, TSA Federal Security Director for Ohio. “We recommend that all travelers pack from empty luggage and carry-on bags to ensure prohibited items are not included in their belongings.”
TSA issues civil penalties to travelers who bring guns to a checkpoint. A typical first offense for carrying a loaded handgun into a checkpoint is $4,100. The complete list of civil penalties is on the TSA website If a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck®, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges for a period of time.
This is the 3rd firearm detected at CAK this year. A total of 3 were detected at CAK security checkpoints last year.
Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are unloaded, packed separately from ammunition in a locked hardback case and declared at the airline check-in counter. Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality. Travelers should check for firearm laws in the jurisdictions they are flying to and from.
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.
Photo courtesy of Akron-Canton Airport
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