Travelers at the Pittsburgh International Airport experienced delays last week after Transportation Security Administration officers intercepted two guns at security checkpoints. According to WPXI, a revolver was found in a woman’s backpack on Sunday, resulting in charges for carrying a firearm without a license. Earlier on Friday, TSA officials discovered a loaded handgun in the carry-on of a Claysville man.
The recent findings bring the total number of firearms intercepted at airport security to ten since mid-June. TSA’s federal security director for Pittsburgh International Airport, Karen Keys-Turner, emphasized the strict prohibition of firearms beyond checkpoints. "Let's be very clear about this. Firearms are not permitted past our security checkpoints. Period," Keys-Turner stated, as per WPXI. She also highlighted the disruptions caused by such incidents: "guns at airport checkpoint slow down lines, because the lane comes to a complete standstill until police respond and remove the gun, traveler’s belongings and traveler from the checkpoint."
Under TSA regulations, passengers may travel with firearms only in checked baggage, where they must be unloaded and packed in a hard-sided locked case. These regulations are detailed on the TSA website, and travelers are encouraged to declare these items at the airline check-in counter. Those found in violation can face federal civil penalties reaching up to $15,000.
According to CBS News, there have been over 18,000 passengers screened on peak days, a substantial increase from the previous year. "When we detect a firearm via the X-ray unit, the checkpoint lane and conveyor belt come to complete standstill until the police arrive and remove the firearm, the carry-on bag and all of the other traveler's belongings and remove them and the traveler from the checkpoint," said Keys-Turner, mirroring her sentiment about the resulting delays.
