A month ago, I wrote a post about the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) catching a prominent member of Congress and others with guns in carry-on luggage at DC airports. Victoria Spartz was issued a citation for carrying an unloaded gun at Dulles International Airport and was let go shortly after to catch her flight to Europe.
Unfortunately, bringing guns through airport security checkpoints is a real problem and appears to be getting worse. According to the TSA, in 2023, they “intercepted a total of 6,737 firearms at airport security checkpoints. Approximately 93% of these firearms were loaded. This total surpasses the previous year’s record of 6,542 firearms stopped at checkpoints and represents the highest one-year total in TSA’s history.”
If you’re wondering what happens to guns and weapons found in carry-on bags left behind, according to the TSA website: “All weapons detected in carry-on bags are turned over to local law enforcement authorities.” They also say: “Guns are not permitted through the security checkpoint and the traveler faces a stiff financial civil penalty from TSA. The penalty for carrying weapons can reach a maximum of $15,000.”
TSA spokesperson, Lisa Farbstein, just shared a video on social media (embedded below) of TSA officers intercepting a backpack with a gun it. The criminal grabbed it and tried taking off before being tackled by either security or a fellow traveler. Farbstein wrote: “.@TSA officers intercepted a backpack with a gun in it at a @LGAairport checkpoint on Wednesday. Traveler jumped over the conveyor belt, grabbed the backpack and took off. He was subdued and police arrested him.”
.@TSA officers intercepted a backpack with a gun in it at a @LGAairport checkpoint on Wednesday. Traveler jumped over the conveyor belt, grabbed the backpack and took off. He was subdued and police arrested him. https://t.co/qrIfr5EYPu$
— Lisa Farbstein, TSA Spokesperson (@TSA_Northeast) August 2, 2024
Here’s the original video posted to Instagram.
View this post on Instagram
Here are some of the comments:
@Tristajamieson: That’s was a pretty good tackle 😂
@tre625: Who would think in this day and time after 911, that you would take a loaded gun thru TSA 🙄
@oliveandtwocats: NFL: Give that guy a contract ! Nice take down!
According to the press release issued by the TSA: “A Queens, N.Y., man was arrested by police after his backpack alarmed for a loaded firearm at a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint at LaGuardia Airport on Wednesday, July 31.
When the backpack was identified as containing a firearm, it was automatically diverted to a different conveyor belt to be held for law enforcement to inspect, when the man jumped onto the rollers, grabbed the backpack and ran. TSA officers chased the man as he fled, removed the bag from his possession, and they held him while waiting for Port Authority Police to arrive.
The police arrested the man and charged him with weapons violations.
The man, a resident of the St. Albans neighborhood in Queens was ticketed to fly to Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, N.C., and was in possession of a 9mm handgun that was loaded, including a bullet in the chamber.”
This traveler should feel fortunate that the firearm was discovered stateside because entering most countries with a loaded weapon will most likely mean a lot more trouble.
As you may recall, recently, five Americans, all on separate trips to Turks and Caicos, were busted by the island’s security just for having stray bullets in their bags that the TSA missed. They were facing a minimum of 12 years in prison but fortunately, the courts only gave them hefty fines and close to 100 days in jail.
KEEP READING
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“Wow, what a shocking incident! 😲🚨 It’s incredible how quickly things escalated. Kudos to the TSA for handling the situation swiftly and ensuring everyone’s safety. Thanks for keeping us informed about such important events.”