Police have charged an Ohio man with a felony after a handgun was discovered in his carry-on luggage at Pittsburgh International Airport. The alarming find occurred early yesterday morning at the airport's main security checkpoint, authorities reported.
Transportation Security Administration officers at Pittsburgh International Airport were performing routine checks when they spotted the weapon at approximately 7:39 a.m. WTAE reported that Allegheny County Police were promptly alerted and took the passenger, identified as Justin Stanley, age 47, into custody after a verification process revealed he lacked a valid concealed carry permit.
Stanley, who hails from Negley, Ohio, now faces one count of carrying a firearm without a license, a serious felony charge that underscores the ongoing tension in American society regarding the carriage and ownership of guns.
Authorities have issued a stark reminder that passengers caught with weapons at an airport security checkpoint are not only subject to legal prosecution but can also face hefty federal civil fines. According to WPXI, the TSA can impose fines of up to $10,000 on first-time offenders and up to $13,910 for repeat violators.
