Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers prevented a Henrico man from bringing an antique gun onto a flight from the Richmond International Airport.
According to a TSA official, on the morning Monday, March 11, a Henrico man tried to bring an antique .22 caliber revolver onto his flight in his carry-on. The gun was detected in his by by the x-ray unit at a security checkpoint.
Richmond Airport Police were contacted following the discovery of the gun, and police took the revolver from the man. He was cited on a weapons charge and could face a penalty as high as $15,000.
The gun was detected in his bag by the x-ray unit at a TSA security checkpoint. After discovering the gun, Richmond Airport Police were contacted, as it is police who confiscate firearms rather than TSA officers.
“I’d expect to see a gun like this in a western movie, but, alas, a traveler brought this antique firearm to the checkpoint this morning,” said Robin “Chuck” Burke, the TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “It’s an actual functioning deadly weapon and as such needs to be packed like any other gun. It doesn’t matter how old a gun is. It is still prohibited from being carried onto a flight.”
Firearms must be transported in a specific way, according to TSA guidelines.
“To transport a firearm, it needs to be unloaded and packed in a locked hard-sided case,” Burke said. “Then it needs to be declared at the airline check-in counter to be stored in the belly of the plane during the flight.”
