Fifth weapon of the year discovered by security forces at Roanoke-Blacksburg Airport

The weapon was a 9mm gun loaded with nine bullets, according to a TSA press release.

According to the airport, the man was identified as 55-year-old Terry Owen.

The gun was discovered as the man entered the security checkpoint. The X-ray unit highlighted the carry-on baggage, which required closer inspection by TSA officers, the press release said.

The gun was confiscated by police. The TSA does not confiscate firearms intercepted at checkpoints; law enforcement does.

The man now faces a civil penalty for bringing a gun to a TSA security checkpoint. The fine for carrying weapons can be as high as $15,000, depending on the circumstances.

Passengers are permitted to carry firearms in checked baggage only. Visit the TSA website for details on properly traveling with firearms.

Last year, TSA officers intercepted five firearms at security checkpoints at Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport, matching last year’s total, four months before the end of the year, according to the press release.

Gun ownership laws vary by state and locality, and gun owners must ensure they do not violate local gun laws. Additionally, you may want to check with your airline for additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.

Bringing a gun to an airport checkpoint carries a civil penalty under federal law, as the TSA reserves the right to impose a civil penalty on travelers who carry guns and gun parts at a checkpoint. The civil penalty for bringing a gun to a checkpoint can be thousands of dollars, depending on extenuating circumstances. This applies to travelers with or without a permit to conceal carry a gun, as a permit to conceal carry a firearm does not allow a firearm to be brought onto an airplane, the release said.