Officials stated that a man from Tennessee was apprehended on Thursday morning at Newark Liberty International Airport when he attempted to bring a loaded 9mm handgun through security.
Federal authorities reported that a Transportation Security Administration officer detected a loaded weapon containing 17 bullets as it went through an X-ray machine, resulting in the firearm’s confiscation.
According to authorities, a man residing in the Nashville area disclosed that he had taken a bus to the New Jersey region and intended to fly to another destination from Newark. The man will have to face civil penalties and gun charges.
In a statement, Thomas Carter, the Federal Security Director for New Jersey at TSA, emphasized the responsibility of travelers in monitoring the contents of their bags. He stated that being a responsible gun owner entails being aware of the location of one’s firearm at all times. Furthermore, he emphasized that bringing guns to checkpoints is a severe breach of security.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported that, this year, they have already seized eleven guns at the airport. In comparison, last year, the TSA confiscated a total of twenty guns, while in 2022, they took away fourteen.
When traveling with firearms on a commercial flight, it is important to keep in mind that they must be unloaded and packed in a locked, hard-sided case before being checked in. It is also worth noting that guns will be transported in the cargo hold of the plane during the flight.
