LINTHICUM, Md. — A Texas man was arrested at BWI Airport after security found a loaded gun in his bag, which he claims he forgot about.
The man has not been identified, but officials with the airport said he had driven up to Maryland from Texas and had forgotten that he had his .380 mm handgun, which had six bullets, including one in the chamber, with him.
The gun was spotted by a TSA officer in the checkpoint X-ray machine and it was confiscated after its discovery.
This is now the 10th handgun caught by TSA officers at BWI Airport so far this year, which is nearly half of the number of guns found during all of 2018. Nationwide, 4,239 firearms were found in carry-on bags, approximately a 7 percent increase from 2017.
If a gun is found at a checkpoint, you are subject to possible criminal charges, even if you have a concealed firearm permit. Penalties for violating this could result in up to a $13,000 fine; typically $3,900 for your first offense.
