The 20th gun of the year was stopped by the Transportation Security Administration Wednesday morning.
A Pittsburgh man was stopped going through security with a loaded handgun found in his carry-on bag.
It was a 9mm gun with eight bullets.
Police were made aware of the situation and confiscated the weapon.
The person, and anyone else who tries to bring a gun through security, faces stiff federal penalties with fines as high as $15,000 possible.
“This past week has been one of the busiest travel periods of the year across the country,” said Karen Keys Turner, TSA Federal Security Director for the airport. “It was and is no time to be carrying guns and other prohibited items around in a carry-on bag. There is absolutely no excuse for bringing a firearm to an airport security checkpoint. Responsible gun owners know where their guns are at all times and they know not to bring them to a security checkpoint.
Travelers play an important part in ensuring a smooth checkpoint experience and it is the responsibility of the traveler to know the contents of their carry-on items before they get to the airport,” she added.
Firearms are only allowed in checked baggage, unloaded and packed in a hard-sided locked case. It should also be declared at the counter. You can get more information on the TSA’s website
The 20th gun of the year is six shy of last year’s number. 2019 had the most guns confiscated over the past seven years with 35 stopped.