2 Guns Stopped By TSA Within 3 Days At Reagan National Airport: Report

ARLINGTON, Va. – Transportation Security Administration officers stopped two people at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport checkpoints over a three-day period, according to a release.

On Friday, TSA stopped a man from McGaheysville, Virginia, who was in possession of a 9mm handgun loaded with six bullets along with six additional accessible bullets in a gun magazine, according to reports. Then on Sunday, they stopped a New Hampshire man with a 9mm handgun along with an accessible gun magazine that was loaded with 15 bullets.

In both cases, TSA officers detected the firearms via X-ray located at the airport’s checkpoint. Officers from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police confiscated the weapons and issued a criminal citations to each of the men. They face potential civil penalties of up to $15,000.

“Travelers need to have a full understanding of the contents of their carry-on bags,” said John Busch, TSA’s federal security director for the airport. “The best way to prepare for a flight is to start with an empty bag when packing. That way you know with certainty that there is nothing illegal or prohibited that you may have inside."

TSA officers detected 41 firearms at Washington National in 2024, which was two more than the 39 stopped in 2023. TSA officers have detected six firearms at airport checkpoints to date in 2025.

How To Travel Legally With A Firearm

Passengers are allowed to travel with firearms only in checked baggage if they are unloaded and packed in a hard-sided locked case, with ammunition stored separately. Then the locked case should be taken to the airline check-in counter, where it will be checked with the traveler's baggage.

The TSA has details online that explain how to properly travel with a firearm.