A loaded 9mm handgun was detected in a West Newton man’s carry-on bag Wednesday morning at Pittsburgh International Airport.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers detected the gun and an additional loaded gun magazine at the security checkpoint as it entered the checkpoint X-ray machine.
Allegheny County police were notified and confiscated the gun.
When a traveler brings a gun to the airport checkpoint, the U.S. States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania requests county sheriffs to rescind a resident’s firearm concealed carry license due to negligence.
So far this year, 25 guns have been detected at Pittsburgh International Airport’s security checkpoints. Last year, there were 32 detected.
“The recent uptick in the number of guns that people are bringing to the airport in their carry-on bags is disappointing,” said Karen Keys-Turner, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport in a press release. “There are multiple signs, banners and electronic reminders all along our checkpoint line warning travelers not to bring a firearm into the checkpoint.”
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