Va. woman forgets she's carrying loaded gun, attempts to board flight at Reagan Airport 04/11/2023

[RFBfromDE]

Unfortunately, no booking photo.

TSA officers stop woman from bringing handgun loaded with 5 bullets onto flight at DCA

TSA officers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport prevented a Spotsylvania woman from bringing loaded gun onto flight.

wjla.com

WASHINGTON (7News) — Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) prevented a Spotsylvania, woman from bringing her loaded handgun onto her flight on Monday. The .380 caliber gun was loaded with five bullets, TSA said.

The weapon was caught as the woman entered the security checkpoint. The X-ray unit alerted on her handbag, which was searched and the firearm discovered inside a zippered pouch inside the purse, officials said.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police confiscated the gun and cited the woman on a weapons charge. The woman told officials she carries the weapon for protection and forgot that she had her gun with her.

In addition to the citation by airport police, the woman now faces a stiff financial civil penalty that was recently increased to a maximum of $15,000.

 

[clandestine]

She should get a warning and have been sent on her way.

Meanwhile career criminals get a slap on the wrist for carrying illegally.

 

[RFBfromDE]

Maybe she was, the article didn't say if she was barred from getting on the plane.

 

[clandestine]

Maybe she was, the article didn't say if she was barred from getting on the plane.

Retired officer I know was fined 10k for the same mistake this woman did.

I doubt they let this woman off with a warning.

 

[Garet Jax]

She should get a warning and have been sent on her way.

Meanwhile career criminals get a slap on the wrist for carrying illegally.

This X1000

 

[RFBfromDE]

"Excuse us Miss, but we will have to move that to a locked compartment in your checked baggage"

"OMG, I'm so sorry! I forgot it was in there!"

"No problem Ma'am, just don't let it happen again. Thank you for choosing Southwest!"

 

[LAC_MD]

"Excuse us Miss, but we will have to move that to a locked compartment in your checked baggage"

"OMG, I'm so sorry! I forgot it was in there!"

"No problem Ma'am, just don't let it happen again. Thank you for choosing Southwest!"

Next thing the airlines will be selling lock boxes. But I guess that is definitely better than the potential fine…

 

[RFBfromDE]

Next thing the airlines will be selling lock boxes. But I guess that is definitely better than the potential fine…

Complimentary loaner lock boxes.

And a package of pretzels.

 

[MaxVO2]

She should get a warning and have been sent on her way.

Meanwhile career criminals get a slap on the wrist for carrying illegally.

****They don't even really get a slap on the wrist anymore if we are being honest about it. It seems to almost be at the discretion of a district attorney as to bring about some of the charges that would normally be pound you in the ass prison time for regular people who were not in the act of committing some pre-meditated crime (like robbing a RoFo for their chicken), but perhaps made a mistake carrying into D.C. with just ammunition and not even having the firearm it goes in to - there were cases regarding this some time back before the Bruen decision I think. Also, BLM/Antifa folks open carrying at rallies who turned out to be prohibited persons, but they seemingly got off on the gun charges. Crazy.

One of my fellow RSO's made the same mistake in the OP story and also got fined the $10k, several years back. He was pretty bitter about it, but was thankful he didn't end up in jail *and* have to pay the $10k fine. He missed his flight as well, and was on some kind of list, presumably for additional screening as a result of the original incident. He was a retired LEO, as well as a veteran who served for many years in Desert Shield/Storm - good guy who made a mistake but meant no harm, versus career criminals with long rap sheets robbing people, or causing all manner of mayhem because they are let out of prison, or never seem to go to prison, etc..

$10k fine would suck, but I guess prison would suck even more I guess - even though I've never been to prison, or even to re-education camp, etc... Hopefully I don't ever end up in either.

Crazy world we live in.

 

[lazarus]

Retired officer I know was fined 10k for the same mistake this woman did.

I doubt they let this woman off with a warning.

Heck, a close friend didn't clean a backpack out they were using at the range on a trip. Flew down to visit family in Florida and used her carry-on backpack for a range bag. Didn't clean it out properly and a live round was left in the bag. TSA found it. Let her board after an hour lecture. No fines (amazingly).

She has gotten stopped for enhanced screening every single time she is flown (which is generally ~twice a year). That was 15 years ago. Still happening. I have no doubt she is on a list as a result.

 

[RFBfromDE]

^^^^^

Trust, but verify.

 

[USAF05]

I got jammed up for a loose 9mm round at DCA. Was living in Utah at the time, not even carrying on this trip but as I lived in UT where you are free, I had bullets everywhere. Metro Airport police came in shut the whole security checkpoint down. Held up the bullet and said "This is considered a deadly weapon here!" I couldn't contain my laughter. OK man, so what we going to do? If I didn't have a military ID I believe my goose would've been cooked. But they let me go after taking my pic and information.

 

[antco]

Former coworker (field technician) was on call. He was called in to service some failed equipment at an airport construction project. TSA found a handgun in his truck at the vehicle gate to enter the flight line and construction zone. All hell broke loose of course.

He was terminated from the company.
That termination killed his employment visa and deportation order was issued. Back to Canada for you, eh.
He wasn't all about that so he killed himself.

[sarcasm]See, guns at airports kill people. Chalk that up to another deadly gun killing someone. [/sarcasm]

True story.

 

[Gun4Fun]

It happens all the time! That’s why they have all those signs at airport security line saying you can’t take guns though security.

Also had a friend who’s mother was in charge of payroll and training for Smithsonian security for years (she’s retired now) and she says they would confiscate tons of knives and guns at the security checkpoints at the museums.

 

[erwos]

I almost walked through with a shotgun slug in my pocket. Patted myself down one last time, found it, palmed it, and then threw it in the garbage. Last time I ever put a shotgun shell in that pocket.

 

[zx10guy]

****They don't even really get a slap on the wrist anymore if we are being honest about it. It seems to almost be at the discretion of a district attorney as to bring about some of the charges that would normally be pound you in the ass prison time for regular people who were not in the act of committing some pre-meditated crime (like robbing a RoFo for their chicken), but perhaps made a mistake carrying into D.C. with just ammunition and not even having the firearm it goes in to - there were cases regarding this some time back before the Bruen decision I think. Also, BLM/Antifa folks open carrying at rallies who turned out to be prohibited persons, but they seemingly got off on the gun charges. Crazy.

One of my fellow RSO's made the same mistake in the OP story and also got fined the $10k, several years back. He was pretty bitter about it, but was thankful he didn't end up in jail *and* have to pay the $10k fine. He missed his flight as well, and was on some kind of list, presumably for additional screening as a result of the original incident. He was a retired LEO, as well as a veteran who served for many years in Desert Shield/Storm - good guy who made a mistake but meant no harm, versus career criminals with long rap sheets robbing people, or causing all manner of mayhem because they are let out of prison, or never seem to go to prison, etc..

$10k fine would suck, but I guess prison would suck even more I guess - even though I've never been to prison, or even to re-education camp, etc... Hopefully I don't ever end up in either.

Crazy world we live in.

On the bolded part. Yes, this has happened. I have first hand knowledge of this because a good friend of mine was caught up in that BS mess. He was entering a Federal building going through security. They found a 9mm mag in his bag which he had used over the weekend at the range and forgot to take it out. No handgun mind you or any firearm anywhere close to use this magazine in. The guard was being a prick as usually, it's customary for these things to just have them hold the offending item and you pick it up when you leave. Nope. This guy decided to call Metropolitan PD.

They came and arrested my friend. He had to spend a night in jail. My friend that has had zero past criminal history and has the highest security clearance you can hold with the Federal government. Thinking this was all a misunderstanding, he thought this would go away. Nope. The DA went forward with pressing felony charges against him for having unregistered ammo and wouldn't budge off of it as he wanted to go to trial on this. My friend had to secure a lawyer and spent $50k in legal fees over this mess.

At trial, the judge took a look at charge and my friend's info. He dismissed the charge as he correctly should.

I used to be a bit anti-gun growing up. As I got older and woke up to see that I was brain washed by liberal ideology, I am now an owner of three firearms.

 

[John from MD]

I had my favorite pocket knife when I tried to get in the State House one time. The officer said "You have to either surrender it or leave it outside." I left it behind a bush and picked it up after I came out.

 

[willtill]

I had my favorite pocket knife when I tried to get in the State House one time. The officer said "You have to either surrender it or leave it outside." I left it behind a bush and picked it up after I came out.

I’ve done that before.

As possibly ridiculous as it may sound with some here, I have always been uber conscious of the exact number of rounds that I planning (or planned) to use in an event. Nothing is unaccounted for after the fact.

 

[Threeband]

Back in 2013, I was in the long line waiting to get into the House Office Building in Annapolis when I realized I had my assisted opening knife and my pepper blaster in my pockets. I really did not feel like walking all the way back to my car at the stadium and then returning, so I decided to just allow my charm and good looks carry me through the security checkpoint.

Bikebreath was with me that day, and he said he would deny even knowing me when I got caught, but my Pure Heart overwhelmed the Security Theater, and my contraband went undetected.

Somehow, Western Civilization survived.

 

[Alan3413]

Is she hot?