A loaded handgun in a carry-on bag briefly brought the main security checkpoint at Pittsburgh International Airport to a halt early Monday morning, according to Allegheny County police. Investigators say the weapon belonged to 43-year-old Garrett Beattie of Cranberry Township, who is now charged with carrying a firearm without a license. Police also notified the FBI, and the Transportation Security Administration is reminding travelers that bringing a gun to a checkpoint can trigger serious civil penalties.
How the gun was spotted
Transportation Security Administration officers working the airport's main screening lane spotted the handgun on the X-ray around 5:36 a.m. and immediately alerted Allegheny County police, WTAE reports. Officers secured the weapon and detained the passenger while they sorted out permits and any potential criminal exposure.
What travelers are risking
The TSA notes that travelers caught with firearms at a checkpoint can face civil penalties in the thousands of dollars and may lose TSA PreCheck privileges. Firearms are only allowed in checked baggage if they are unloaded and properly declared. Penalties and possible criminal charges depend on whether a weapon was loaded, whether ammunition was accessible, and whether the traveler has a history of similar incidents.
Not an isolated incident at Pittsburgh International
Pittsburgh International has seen multiple firearm interceptions in recent months, often during early-morning screening shifts that X-ray operators routinely monitor. Hoodline previously covered a similar pre-dawn gun bust in late March that followed the same checkpoint procedure.
Where the case stands
Allegheny County police charged Beattie with carrying a firearm without a license and are keeping the handgun as evidence, according to WTAE. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has said that federal and local authorities often review these airport gun cases and may pursue administrative actions, including requests to revoke concealed-carry permits, in incidents they deem negligent, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
The seizure serves as yet another reminder to double-check bags before heading to security. The TSA posts step-by-step instructions on how to legally travel with firearms and ammunition on its website.
