TSA officers at Philadelphia International Airport had a busy weekend, stopping two men on consecutive days from bringing loaded firearms onto their flights.
On Saturday, security officers intercepted a traveler carrying a 9mm handgun loaded with six bullets. The following day, another 9mm firearm was found in a different passenger’s possession—this time, loaded with 15 bullets, including one in the chamber. That individual was also carrying three additional magazines containing 45 extra rounds.
Philadelphia police arrested the first man and confiscated his weapon. The second man was allowed to leave the airport but still faces serious consequences.
Both individuals will now face federal financial penalties, which could amount to thousands of dollars.
TSA officials expressed frustration over the continued attempts to bring firearms through security. “It is disappointing to continue to see travelers bring their firearms to our checkpoints,” said Gerardo Spero, TSA’s Federal Security Director.
Travelers are reminded that firearms must be unloaded, secured in a locked, hard-sided case, and checked in at the airline counter for proper transport in the aircraft’s cargo hold.
A South Carolina man was recently sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison after a shocking display of public indecency at Indianapolis International Airport.
George Stevens, 38, pleaded guilty to interference with security screening personnel and assault of a federal officer. A federal judge sentenced him to 33 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana.
On July 15, 2023, Stevens was passing through a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint when officers selected him for additional screening. When a TSA agent began a routine pat-down, Stevens became confrontational, repeatedly calling the officer a “freak” and refusing to comply with instructions.
