The Transportation Security Administration wants to send a clear message to passengers: No weapons allowed in flight.
On Thursday, TSA agents at a security checkpoint stopped an Atlanta man from bringing a loaded gun onto a flight at Washington Dulles International Airport.
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority police said the 9mm handgun had 17 bullets loaded inside, with another bullet in the man鈥檚 carry-on bag. Officers also confiscated the man鈥檚 walking stick, which had a dagger-like sword hidden inside.
The man has been cited on weapons charges.
Scott T. Johnson, TSA鈥檚 federal security director for the airport, said in a news release that there鈥檚 a right way to go about traveling with your gun.
鈥淔or starters, the gun should be unloaded,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淭hen packed in a locked hard-sided case and declared at the airline counter. The airline representative will make sure it gets loaded into the belly of the plane as checked baggage. The reason for this protocol is for safety. Nobody should have access to a loaded gun during a flight.鈥�
He also encouraged travelers who use walking sticks to unscrew them and see whether they contain any weapons.
鈥淥ftentimes people receive these items as gifts or they purchase them at a yard sale, flea market, garage sale or antique shop and are unaware that there is a weapon concealed inside,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淪o we want to remind people to twist and inspect.鈥�
This is the ninth gun caught at Dulles so far this year, and . This year鈥檚 total has already surpassed last year’s seven guns.
Last month, TSA agents at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, at security checkpoints, and a Virginia woman was caught with one earlier this week. Officers have caught 19 guns so far this year at Reagan.
In June, TSA agents at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in Baltimore, Maryland, at security checkpoints, bringing the year-to-date total to 12.
See more about traveling safely with a gun from the .
