Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Norfolk International Airport prevented a Virginia Beach man from bringing his loaded handgun onto a flight on June 20. The .45 caliber handgun was loaded with eight bullets, including one in the chamber. An additional 16 bullets were also removed from the man’s carry-on bag.
The gun was detected as the man entered the security checkpoint. The X-ray unit alerted on the carry-on bag, which required a closer inspection. The firearm was removed by the local police, who confiscated the weapon and cited the man on a weapons charge. TSA does not confiscate firearms; law enforcement officers do.
“The busy summer travel period is in full swing, and we don’t need travelers bringing their firearms to our checkpoints,” said Robin “Chuck” Burke, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “When individuals bring their firearms to our checkpoints, it represents a risk to everyone in the area and slows down the checkpoint screening process for everyone.”
Checkpoint volume at Norfolk has been so high recently that on Sunday, June 16, TSA set a record for the most people screened at the airport in a single day when 11,104 people passed through the security checkpoint.
“What’s important to know is that our officers are good at their jobs and even with sky-high checkpoint volume, they remain alert and vigilant in screening individuals who are arriving at our checkpoints,” Burke continued. “I commend our officers on their good catch in preventing an individual from boarding a plane with a loaded firearm.”
The case will be forwarded to the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney for possible criminal prosecution.
