A Delray Beach, Fla., resident was stopped by TSA officers at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshal Airport Monday after the officer who was staffing the checkpoint X-ray machine spotted a gun in the woman’s carry-on bag.
TSA contacted the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, who determined the gun was actually a starter pistol, which is a realistic replica of a handgun. Police removed the pistol from the carry-on bag and allowed the woman to catch her flight to Connecticut.
Any weapons — including realistic replica firearms — are not permitted in carry-on bags but can be transported in checked bags if they are unloaded, properly packed and declared to the airline.
Passengers who bring firearms to the checkpoint are subject to possible criminal charges from law enforcement and civil penalties from TSA.
