With air travel slowly returning to normal and the spring and summer season spurring on increased travel across the United States, I thought it might be fitting to give you all a reminder of what is at stake every time you head to the TSA checkpoint at your departing airport. A recent news story posted by Idaho Fall’s Local News 8 (KIF) reported that a passenger traveling from Idaho Falls to Salt Lake City, UT had a Glock 43X in their carry-on luggage which prompted TSA to contact airport law enforcement who then questioned the traveler and then let them continue to their destination. This marks the second time this year that the relatively small airport has found a firearm in a passenger’s carry-on bag while they were attempting to get through the TSA checkpoint.

More Air Travel Related Firearms News @ TFB:

• The 5 Airports That Seize the Most Guns
• Passenger with Pistol Slips Through TSA Checks at Atlanta Airport
• Zip Ties of Freedom – Packing in the Friendly Skies – Article 3

Photo: Local News 8 Twitter

TSA Finds Glock 43X In Carry On – Don’t forget to Check Your Bags!

It’s not illegal to fly with a firearm. Friend of TFB Deviant Ollam did a great series of articles on that particular subject and I’ve also personally flown with firearms too many times to count without incident. However, coming to the TSA checkpoint with a firearm, and a loaded firearm at that is a huge no-no and could lead to fines, revocation of TSA pre-check status, and even jail time. However, since the TSA deals with these types of incidents on a case-by-case basis, the passenger in this story was allowed to continue to his destination, but it is not clear whether or not he was fined for the incident. The firearm was loaded with a 10-round magazine and an additional loaded 10-round magazine was also discovered in the carry-on luggage.

Security checkpoint at Idaho Falls Regional Airport

It’s incidents like this that give me a good reminder to religiously check my bags, pockets, and backpacks for stray ammunition, magazines, and even spent shell casings that might have wandered into any pockets during my travels that involve firearms in some shape form or fashion. I usually do this the night before I leave for the airport when I am certain I won’t be handling any more ammunition, firearms, or firearms components. I empty out each bag completely, check all of my pockets including clothes that are dirty, and lay everything out just to make sure I don’t get myself slapped with a $10,000 fine or jail time just because I forgot to perform my due diligence. It’s a simple check and it’ll save you a lot of time and probably money just if you travel with firearms frequently.

Since Idaho Falls is a fairly lightly trafficked airport (they only have about a dozen or so inbound/outbound commercial flights per day), two discovered firearms in 4 months is a pretty high rate (double the amount they normally find). However, as previous articles here at TFB have shown, TSA is not infallible and they often do miss prohibited items in both checked and carry-on luggage. So anyway, just a friendly reminder to check your bags as you’re all gearing up for spring and summer travel, fly safe everyone!