Man found with loaded gun in carry-on bag at State College airport - pennlive.com

Oct 16, 2024

Transportation Security Administration officers found this .357 in a man’s carry-on bag at the State College Regional Airport security checkpoint on Tuesday, Oct. 15. Photo provided by the Transportation Security AdministrationPhoto provided by the Transportation Security Administration

A Mifflin County man was found with a loaded handgun in his carry-on bag at the State College Regional Airport security checkpoint on Tuesday, according to airport authorities.

Transportation Security Administration officers said they discovered the .357 caliber firearm loaded with five bullets during security screening.

Officials notified the police who allowed the man to exit the airport with his firearm. He now faces a stiff financial penalty that can reach a maximum of $15,000. The man was not identified except to indicate he was a resident of Mifflin.

This was the second firearm intercepted at the airport in the past month.

On Sept. 16, airport authorities found a 9mm firearm loaded with nine bullets, including one in the chamber, in a backpack belonging to a man from Drums, Luzerne County, during security screening.

“Bringing loaded guns to checkpoints is a serious security violation and this individual can expect to receive a federal fine that will be in the thousands of dollars,” said Donald Weston, TSA’s Acting Federal Security Director for the airport. “It is disappointing to continue to see travelers bring their guns to our checkpoints.”

Passengers are allowed to travel with firearms but they must be unloaded, packed in a hard-side locked case and placed in checked baggage. The locked case should be declared at the check-in counter.

This applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits because even though an individual may have a permit, it does not allow for a firearm to be carried onto an airplane. TSA rules are listed here.

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