BOSTON – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers stopped a male passenger from carrying a loaded firearm onto an airplane on Monday at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).
During Monday evening security screening, TSA officers detected a firearm in a passenger’s carry-on bag. Massachusetts State Police (MSP) responded and discovered a loaded .22 caliber firearm. MSP then took possession of the firearm and informed the Massachusetts man he would receive summons to appear in court.
"Even if you have a valid permit to carry, there are proper procedures passenger’s still have follow in order to travel with a firearm,” said Bob Allison, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Massachusetts. “Carelessly traveling with a loaded firearm is dangerous and a public safety concern, considering it could accidentally be discharged during a search. Gun owners need to ensure they know where their firearm is before traveling to the airport.”
There have been 30 firearm detections at New England security checkpoints in 2022, 21 at BOS, 3 at PVD, 3 at BDL, 2 at BGR and 1 at MHT.
TSA officers have now detected 21 firearms at BOS security checkpoints this year, breaking the previous record of 20 in 2018.
Boston Logan International Number of Firearm Detections
2022 21
2021 18
2020 11
2019 18
2018 20
Despite its record number of firearms this year, BOS currently ranks 50th in checkpoint firearm detections at U.S. federalized airports.
TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns and gun parts with them at a checkpoint. A typical first offense for carrying a loaded gun into a checkpoint is $4,100 and can go as high as $13,669 depending on any mitigating circumstances. This applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits because even though an individual may have a concealed carry permit, it does not allow for a firearm to be carried onto an airplane. The complete list of civil penalties is posted online. If a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck®, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges.
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.
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.
BOS TSO’s detected this .22 caliber firearm and a magazine containing a total of 10 rounds on Monday, September 26, 2022. (TSA Photo)
