On Tuesday, November 12, TSA authorities stopped a man from Williamsville at Buffalo-Niagara International Airport after they allegedly discovered a gun in the guy’s carry-on luggage.
A 9mm handgun with 11 rounds, including one in the chamber, was found, according to TSA officials. According to officials, the gun in the carry-on luggage set off an alarm during the checkpoint X-ray scanning.
TSA agents halted the screening procedure and alerted the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Police (NFTA) once they discovered the handgun in the X-ray image.
After seizing the firearm, NFTA took the man into custody so they could question him.
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In addition to being cited with a Notice of Violation on a weapons charge, the man possessed a valid New York State pistol permit. TSA is also imposing a pecuniary decency penalty on him.
Carrying a weapon can result in a fine of up to $15,000. Later, the man and his gun were permitted to exit the airport. NFTA police officers rushed to the checkpoint and made sure the individual did not keep his loaded gun, and “I would want to express my gratitude to the TSA agents who acted quickly”, said Bart R. Johnson, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Upstate New York.
Further added, “bringing a loaded firearm to a checkpoint represents a threat and potentially dangerous situation to everyone in the vicinity… I hope that others learn from this traveler’s mistake.”
Guns must be unloaded and then stored in a lockable, hard-sided case. Passengers are only permitted to bring firearms in checked baggage.
To declare the locked case, it must be brought to the airline check-in desk. On its website, TSA provides information on how to travel with a firearm.
Four firearms have been intercepted at Buffalo-Niagara International Airport as of Nov. 12, 2024. Five firearms were intercepted in 2022, and seven were in 2023.