Monday, June 03, 2013

Loaded firearm found in carry-on at Tri-Cities Regional Airport (KTRI), Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, Tennessee

 
(Photo courtesy Transportation Security Administration)
Passenger brought loaded .357 to Tri-Cities Regional Airport  (KTRI) checkpoint.




 
Gun found at Tri-Cities Regional Airport(KTRI) on Sunday. 
(Contributed/Transportation Security Administration)


June 3rd, 2013 1:55 pm by Wes Bunch 

BLOUNTVILLE — A loaded firearm was discovered at a security checkpoint at Tri-Cities Regional Airport Sunday morning, Transportation Safety Administration officials said.

The loaded .357 revolver was discovered in a passenger's carry-on bag, TSA Public Affairs Officer Jon Allen said Monday afternoon.

Lee R. Osborne, 61, of Castlewood, Va.,  was brought to the Sullivan County Jail by airport police Sunday morning. He has been released on a $3,000 bond and he is charged with prohibited possession of a handgun.

Weapons, including guns, are not permitted in carry-on baggage. Passengers found bringing loaded firearms to a checkpoint face a civil penalty between $3,000 to $7,500 and referral for possible criminal charges.

Allen said Sunday's discovery was the first weapon found at TRI in 2013. Two firearms were found in 2012 at checkpoints at TRI, Allen said. Last year, a total of 1,549 firearms were discovered nationwide at security checkpoints, according to the TSA.

Nationwide more than $1.8 million in civil penalties were assessed in 2012 as a result of those discoveries.

Allen said airline passengers are allowed to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are properly packed and declared. The firearm must be unloaded, packed in a hard-sided case and locked and packed away from ammunition.

Because passengers are responsible for the content of their baggage, Allen said they should check bags thoroughly before coming to the airport.


Weapons—included guns—are not permitted in carry-on baggage. Passengers are responsible for the contents of bags they bring to the security checkpoint, and TSA’s advice to passengers is to look through bags thoroughly before coming to the airport to make sure there are no illegal or prohibited items.

Passengers who bring firearms to a checkpoint face a civil penalty from TSA (see page 7 of the following document for additional information):

http://www.tsa.gov/sites/default/files/assets/pdf/enforcement_sanction_guidance_policy.pdf

Last year TSA assessed more than $1.8 million in civil penalties for firearms discovered in passenger carry-on bags.

Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are properly packaged and declared. Firearms must be unloaded, packed in a hard-side case, locked, and packed separately from ammunition. Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality. Travelers should familiarize themselves with state and local firearm laws for each point of travel prior to departure. Information about the proper transport of firearms is available on our web site:

http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/firearms-and-ammunition

Airlines may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition. The said TSA travelers should also contact the airline regarding firearm and ammunition carriage policies.

Source:  http://www.timesnews.net

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