By: Richard L. Smith
Within a mere seven-day span, officers from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at Newark Liberty International Airport successfully intercepted two firearms from being brought onto flights.
TSA officials said on August 25, a resident of Fort Lee was apprehended with a loaded .380 caliber gun concealed in his duffle bag.
This incident occurred exactly one week after a female employee of an airport retail shop was intercepted with her loaded 9mm gun on August 18, while on her way to work.
Whenever these handguns were detected by the X-ray machine at the security checkpoint, Port Authority Police were promptly notified.
They arrived at the scene, took possession of the firearms, and conducted interviews with the individuals involved.
The woman, a Newark resident, was taken into custody on a weapons charge, and her airport identification was revoked.
Consequently, her ability to work at the airport was revoked due to the absence of valid airport ID credentials.
Apart from the legal consequences, those caught in possession of firearms at a TSA checkpoint also face substantial federal financial civil penalties.
Depending on the circumstances, the penalty for bringing a weapon to a security checkpoint can reach as high as $15,000.
Thomas Carter, TSA’s Federal Security Director for New Jersey, emphasized, “There is absolutely no excuse for bringing a firearm to one of our checkpoints.
Travelers are responsible for the items that they have in their possession. I strongly encourage gun owners to take a few moments before they come to the airport to refresh their familiarity with the proper procedures on how to pack a gun for a flight.
Firearms should never be brought to the security checkpoint in carry-on luggage. Responsible gun owners know this.”
These recent incidents mark the 13th and 14th firearms intercepted at the airport this year, equaling the record for the highest number of guns caught at the airport in a single year.
In the previous year, a total of 6,542 firearms were discovered at 262 out of 430 airport security checkpoints nationwide. Notably, 88% of these seized firearms were found to be loaded.