TSA Nabs Fifth Gun In A Month At Pittsburgh International Airport

MOON TOWNSHIP, PA — Transportation Security Administration officials expressed concern Thursday after confiscating the fifth handgun in a month at a Pittsburgh International Security checkpoint.

This latest incident occurred when a TSA officer spotted a Texas woman's .22 caliber handgun on the checkpoint X-ray machine monitor as her belongings were being screened. The gun had a bullet in the chamber. TSA alerted the Allegheny County Police, which confiscated the weapon and questioned the woman.

“In 2020, our TSA officers detected 21 guns at the checkpoints here at Pittsburgh and so far in less than two full months of 2021 we’ve caught six guns," said Karen Keys-Turner, TSA federal security director for the airport. "That is already nearly one third of the way to matching what
was caught during all 12 months of the previous year.

“It’s inexcusable to bring a gun to a checkpoint. You will be caught. The police will be notified, and you could be subject to criminal charges. Plus, I can assure you that these individuals will face stiff
federal financial civil penalties that can cost them thousands of dollars.”