Texas man caught with loaded handgun at Pittsburgh International Airport
A Texan man told officials he didn’t know he had a .40 caliber handgun loaded with 14 bullets, including one in the chamber, when he was stopped Thursday at a checkpoint at Pittsburgh International Airport, according to the Transportation Security Administration.
It was the 31st gun found at the checkpoint this year, according to a TSA news release.
In 2018 there were 34 guns found at the checkpoint, the TSA said.
Allegheny County Police confiscated the gun and detained the man for questioning. He told authorities he didn’t know he had the gun with him, the TSA said.
TSA spokeswoman Linda Farbstein said the TSA can fine people up to $13,333 for weapons violations. A typical first offense for carrying a handgun into a checkpoint is $4,100, she said in a news release.
On its website, the TSA details how people can legally travel with a firearm.
Tom Davidson is a TribLive news editor. He has been a journalist in Western Pennsylvania for more than 25 years. He can be reached at tdavidson@triblive.com.
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