THE BUSY HOLIDAY TRAVEL SEASON APPROACHES, THE TRANSPORT SECURITY ADMINISTRATION SAYS SO FAR THIS YEAR, A RECORD NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE PUTTING GUNS IN THEIR CARRY ON LUGGAGE AND THEN TRYING TO GET THROUGH SECURITY CHECKPOINT. THEY SAY THE PROPER THING TO DO IS TO PUT YOUR GUN IN A CARRYING CASE. A HARD CARRYING CASE HEAD ON OVER TO THE TICKET COUNTER AND THAT’S WHERE YOU CHECK IN YOUR GUN. LOADED GUNS CONFISCATED AT THE SECURITY CHECKPOINT. IT’S HAPPENING SO OFTEN. TSA SAYS IT’S BECOMING ALARMING. THIS HANDGUN WAS CONFISCATED OCTOBER 7TH. THIS ONE LAST MONTH. SO FAR THIS YEAR, 39, WHICH IS A RECORD. THERE ARE SIGNS ALL OVER THIS AIRPORT REMINDING YOU. AND SO PAY ATTENTION TO THE SIGNS THERE. YOU HAVE TO WALK BY A A LARGE SCREEN THAT SAYS NO FIREARMS TO GET TO THE CHECKPOINT. YET STILL THE MOST COMMON EXCUSE WE HEAR IS THAT I FORGOT I HAD MY FIREARM WITH ME AND THAT EXCUSE DOES NOT FLY. IT IS INEXCUSABLE. AND LIKE SHE POINTED OUT A LITTLE BIT AGO, RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERS KNOW WHERE THEIR GUNS ARE AT ALL TIMES. TSA EVEN CONDUCTED A DEMONSTRATION ON HOW TO PROPERLY STORE A FIREARM WHEN TRAVELING THROUGH THE AIRPORT. AUTHORITIES SAY AMMUNITION SHOULD BE REMOVED FIRST. THE FIREARM SHOULD BE PLACED IN A CARRYING CASE WITH THE AMMUNITION OPEN AND THEN LOCKED AFTER IT’S SECURED. THE FIREARM SHOULD BE CHECKED AS LUGGAGE AT THE TICKET COUNTER. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR GUNS AT HOME WHEN COMING TO THE AIRPORT. THIS IS NOT NEW. THIS IS A REQUIREMENT THAT’S BEEN AROUND FOR DECADES. ALLEGHENY COUNTY POLICE RESPOND WHEN GUNS ARE FOUND, YOU WILL BE ARRESTED. YOU WILL GO TO JAIL AND YOU WILL APPEAR IN COURT. WE’D LIKE TO REMIND EVERYBODY, BE A RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNER. KNOW WHERE YOUR GUNS ARE AT ALL TIMES AND DOUBLE CHECK YOUR BAGS WHEN FLYING OUT. FINALLY, TSA SAYS THAT VIOLATORS CAN BE FINED UP TO $15,000 WHILE LOSING THEIR FIREARM. AT PITTSBU
TSA warning to gun owners: ‘Leave your guns at home’ when traveling through Pittsburgh International Airport
Updated: 7:24 PM EDT Oct 31, 2023
A record-breaking number of guns confiscated at the security checkpoint has prompted an urgent and stern response from the Transportation Security Administration, the Allegheny County Airport Authority and Allegheny County police.A TSA spokesperson traveled from agency headquarters in Washington, D.C., to conduct a demonstration on how to properly pack firearms before arriving at the airport.This is in response to 39 detected at the security checkpoint so far this year, more than any year prior.”The most common excuse we hear is, ‘I forgot I had my firearm with me,'” said TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein. “That excuse does not fly. It is inexcusable. Responsible gun owners know where their guns are at all times.”TSA and the Airport Authority have made aggressive attempts to improve messaging throughout the landside terminal, with full-size signs and digital screens that warn travelers not to carry guns through security, but Farbstein says guns are still detected, “there are signs all over this airport reminding you. Pay attention to the signs. You have to walk past a large screen that says no firearms to get to the checkpoint.”Airport Authority Security Director Valerie Townsend is blunt in her message to gun owners.”Please leave your guns at home when coming to the airport,” Townsend said. “This is not new. This is a requirement that’s been around for decades.”If a firearm is detected by TSA agents, Allegheny County police is the law enforcement agency that responds to confiscate the weapon and arrest the gun owner.A civil penalty is enforced, carrying a fine of up to $15,000, depending on whether the owner is a repeat offender.You will be arrested, you will go to jail, and you will appear in court,” said Ken Ruckel, Allegheny County police inspector. “We’d like to remind everybody, be a responsible gun owner, know where your guns are at all times, and double check your bags when flying out of the airport.”
A record-breaking number of guns confiscated at the security checkpoint has prompted an urgent and stern response from the Transportation Security Administration, the Allegheny County Airport Authority and Allegheny County police.
A TSA spokesperson traveled from agency headquarters in Washington, D.C., to conduct a demonstration on how to properly pack firearms before arriving at the airport.
This is in response to 39 detected at the security checkpoint so far this year, more than any year prior.
“The most common excuse we hear is, ‘I forgot I had my firearm with me,'” said TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein. “That excuse does not fly. It is inexcusable. Responsible gun owners know where their guns are at all times.”
TSA and the Airport Authority have made aggressive attempts to improve messaging throughout the landside terminal, with full-size signs and digital screens that warn travelers not to carry guns through security, but Farbstein says guns are still detected, “there are signs all over this airport reminding you. Pay attention to the signs. You have to walk past a large screen that says no firearms to get to the checkpoint.”
Airport Authority Security Director Valerie Townsend is blunt in her message to gun owners.
“Please leave your guns at home when coming to the airport,” Townsend said. “This is not new. This is a requirement that’s been around for decades.”
If a firearm is detected by TSA agents, Allegheny County police is the law enforcement agency that responds to confiscate the weapon and arrest the gun owner.
A civil penalty is enforced, carrying a fine of up to $15,000, depending on whether the owner is a repeat offender.
You will be arrested, you will go to jail, and you will appear in court,” said Ken Ruckel, Allegheny County police inspector. “We’d like to remind everybody, be a responsible gun owner, know where your guns are at all times, and double check your bags when flying out of the airport.”
Source
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