BOISE — An officer with the Transportation Security Administration at Boise Airport discovered two firearms and 50 rounds of .380 caliber ammunition in the carry-on luggage of a male traveler Monday morning.
“The firearms, an unloaded Ruger .380 and a Walter P-22 loaded with six rounds of ammunition, and the additional rounds of ammunition were spotted during the routine screening of carry-on luggage (about 7 a.m.),” said TSA spokeswoman Lorrie Dankers.
TSA notified the Boise Police Department and an officer responded to the security checkpoint.
“They interviewed the traveler who was ticketed for travel to Las Vegas McCarran International Airport. The law enforcement officer confiscated the weapons and the incident has been referred to the Ada County Prosecutor’s office for review,” Dankers said.
“TSA officers have stopped a double threat to aviation today. In my 27 years working in and around airports, this is the first time two guns have been found in the same passenger’s carry-on bag,” said Andy Coose, TSA Federal Security Director for Idaho. “This incident should serve as a reminder for all passengers –- especially gun owners -- to double-check before they head out to catch a flight to make sure there is nothing dangerous or prohibited in their carry-on property.”
The recommended civil penalty for a firearm starts at $2,000 and can go up to the statutory maximum of $13,333 per violation.
Factors TSA considers when determining the civil penalty amount include whether the firearm was loaded and whether there was accessible ammunition. TSA evaluates each incident on a case-by-case basis.
These two firearms bring the total number of guns discovered by TSA at Boise Airport in 2019 to five. Of those, four were loaded. Nationwide, TSA officers have discovered more than 1,500 firearms in carry-on luggage so far this year.
Firearms can be transported on a commercial aircraft only if they are unloaded, packed in a locked, hard-sided case and placed in checked baggage. Ammunition and firearm parts, including firearm frames, receivers, clips and magazines are also prohibited in carry-on baggage and must be checked. Any type of replica firearm is prohibited in carry-on baggage and must be transported in checked luggage.
At the airport during the check-in process, a passenger needs to go to the airline ticket counter to declare the firearm, ammunition and any firearm parts. Prior to traveling, passengers are encouraged to check gun laws and regulations at their destination to ensure they are in compliance with local and state laws. TSA also recommends travelers check with their airline prior to their flight to ensure they comply with any airline-specific requirements.
