ARLINGTON, Va. — Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport seized another gun at a security checkpoint this week.
A man from Ashburn, Virginia, tried to bring a 9mm handgun loaded with 13 bullets past a security checkpoint on Thursday. The handgun was found when the bag went through an X-ray.
It was the 34th gun that TSA officers have found at DCA checkpoints at the airport this year. This points to a spike at the national level of the number of travelers attempting to bring guns past security checkpoints.
The man told officials that he forgot he had his loaded gun with him, according to a press release.
“There is no excuse for bringing a gun to the checkpoint,” said John Busch, TSA’s federal security director for the airport. “It is disappointing to continue to see so very many travelers continuing to bring their firearms to checkpoints. It’s careless to do so. Responsible gun owners know where their guns are at all times. This man now faces a federal civil penalty that could cost him thousands of dollars.”
The man was cited on a weapons charge, and will face "a stiff financial civil penalty," according to the press release. Penalties for carrying weapons can reach a maximum of $15,000.