Officials with the Transportation Security Administration say that two area residents were stopped at the Rochester Airport Monday in unrelated incidents after TSA officers found guns in the men’s carry-on bags.
Authorities say that a man from Hemlock had a 9 mm gun that was loaded with seven bullets plus he had a magazine loaded with seven more bullets. TSA officers spotted the gun in the checkpoint X-ray machine early in the morning.
A few hours later, a man from Newark in Wayne County was found to have an unloaded handgun along with a magazine that contained six bullets. That was also detected by the x-ray machine in a carry-on bag.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s department was contacted and took possession of the guns. There was no impact to airport operations. These are the first two guns that TSA officers have spotted at the Rochester Airport so far this year. No guns were detected at the checkpoint in 2016.
“These incidents bring to light the critical role that the Transportation Security Administration, and the dedication of the officers assigned to the Greater Rochester International Airport, demonstrate in protecting the flying public--by keeping loaded firearms from being allowed onto a plane,” said TSA Upstate New York Federal Security Director Bart Johnson. “It is also a stark reminder of the importance that passengers play in making sure that they stop and think about what they have in their carry-on bags to ensure that they do not bring any prohibited items to an airport checkpoint.”
TSA reminds air travelers that firearms, firearm parts and ammunition—are not permitted in carry-on bags, but can be transported in checked bags if they are unloaded, properly packed and declared to the airline. Travelers who bring firearms to the checkpoint are subject to possible criminal charges from law enforcement and civil penalties from TSA of up to $12,000.
