By: Najla Alexander
TSA authorities announced that police arrested a Seattle, Wash., man after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers intercepted the man’s handgun when he entered a security checkpoint at Newark Liberty International Airport on April 3.
The .45 caliber handgun was loaded with 15 bullets, including one in the chamber, according to TSA officials. It was accompanied by a gun magazine loaded with five hollow-point bullets.
When TSA officers detected the firearm, they contacted Port Authority Police, who confiscated the gun and ammunition and arrested the man, TSA officials say.
“This individual told us that he forgot that he had a loaded gun with him,” said Thomas Carter, TSA’s Federal Security Director for New Jersey.
“An important part of being a responsible gun owner is knowing where your firearm is at all times. Telling us that you forgot that you had a loaded gun with you is an accident waiting to happen.
“The last 30 days have been the most significant timespan of firearm detections ever at Newark for TSA,” he added.
“We have detected eight firearms overall for the year, a record-setting pace, and have detected six guns in the last 30 days. This is certainly not a trend we want to see. Our officers are certainly being extra vigilant.”