GSP police were alerted in each firearm incident and all passengers were cited on local charges.
• At approximately 9:32 a.m. March 17, a loaded .38 was discovered in a passenger’s carry-on bag.
• At approximately 3:45 p.m. March 18, a loaded .380 was discovered.
• Another loaded .380 was discovered at approximately 12:40 p.m. today.
Airport police were alerted in each incident and all passengers were cited on local charges.
TSA officers at GSP have discovered four firearms in passenger carry-on bags in 2014.
There were 50 reported firearms, 43 loaded and 7 unloaded, March 14-20 in United States airports.
While firearms may be transported in checked baggage (provided they are declared to the airline, in a proper carrying case and unloaded) they are prohibited in carry-on bags.
“Passengers are responsible for the contents of bags they bring to the checkpoint,” said Mark Howell, TSA spokesman. “Our advice is to look through bags thoroughly before coming to the airport to make sure there are no illegal or prohibited items.”
In addition to potential criminal charges, passengers who bring firearms to a checkpoint face civil penalties from TSA.