NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Norfolk International Airport confiscated a gun from a North Carolina man during the security checkpoint on Thursday.
The 9mm firearm was loaded with six bullets, including one in the chamber. The man told officers he forgot he had his gun with him, according to a release.
“It is disappointing to see someone bring their firearm to a checkpoint,” said Robin “Chuck” Burke, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “But to bring a loaded gun to a checkpoint one day after the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks tells me that this individual has no awareness or appreciation for the important role we play in aviation security. The fact that yesterday was the anniversary date of 9/11 was broadcast on every newscast in the nation, every newspaper and every social media outlet. So, to bring a gun to the airport was a careless and reckless act. If you own a firearm, you always need to know where it is.”
In addition to being criminally cited by police, the man also faces a stiff financial civil penalty for bringing a gun to a TSA security checkpoint. The penalty for carrying weapons can reach as high as $15,000, depending on the circumstances.
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