TSA stops another gun at Pittsburgh International Airport, reaches average of 4 stops a month

PITTSBURGH — Another gun was stopped at Pittsburgh International Airport over the weekend, in a trend officials call “alarming and disturbing.”

TSA says its officers stopped the loaded .380 caliber handgun at a checkpoint Friday in a carry-on bag of a man from McDonald, Pa. It brings the total of guns stopped at the airport this year to 39, continuing to increase the record high for guns stopped in a year. The previous record of 35 was set in 2019.

“The number of travelers who continue to bring guns to our checkpoints is alarming and disturbing,” said TSA Federal Security Director for the airport Karen Keys-Turner. “Our officers are stopping nearly four guns per month. Let me be very clear when I say that there is absolutely no excuse for bringing a gun to our checkpoints. Responsible gun owners know this.”

The man now faces a federal financial civil penalty of up to $15,000.

Passengers are permitted to travel with guns 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 travel with a firearm properly posted on its website.

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