Hagerstown Man Cited For Having Gun At Dulles Airport

The weapon was found in a carry-on bag.Handgun seized at Dulles on Monday  (Photo from TSA)Dulles, Va. (KM) A Hagerstown man was prevented from boarding a flight on Monday at Washington Dulles International Airport after a gun was found in his carry-on bag. The US Transportation Security Administration says an X-Ray machine alerted personnel to the weapon as the man was going through a security checkpoint.TSA says the man had a nine-millimeter handgun with 15 bullets, including one in the chamber, and 12 additional bullets. The weapon was confiscated and turned over to Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police.The man was issued a citation by airport police. He also faces civil penalties for carrying a weapon on board which could reach up to $15,000.In a statement, TSA says firearms are not permitted through security checkpoints because passengers should not have  access to guns during a flight. This even applies to travelers with concealed carry permits, or are enrolled in the TSA PreCheck program. Such persons could lose their TSA PreCheck privileges if they bring a gun to a security checkpoint.   They also face a federal financial  civil penalty.TSA says passengers are permitted to bring firearms in checked baggage if they are unloaded and are packed in a hard-sided locked case. Then the locked case should be taken to a check-in counter to be declared.By Kevin McManus