Firearm discovered at Idaho Falls Airport
Transportation Security Administration agents discovered an unloaded firearm at a security checkpoint at the Idaho Falls Regional Airport Thursday. The handgun was in the carry-on bag of a 50-year-old Rexburg man who was flying from Idaho Falls to Las Vegas.
The passenger was cited for a misdemeanor under a state “weapons aboard an aircraft” law. He was then allowed to board the plane. The gun was seized by police.
It was the second firearm discovered by TSA agents at the Idaho Falls Airport so far this year. Idaho Falls police Sgt. Allen Bowers said in the few cases that he has seen, people are usually just in a rush and forget.
“What we see is just human error. People just take a backpack hunting and they forget or miss a bullet when they try to empty out the backpack, so those are what were seeing. Just human-error mistakes,” said Bowers.
According to the TSA, travelers may only transport firearms unloaded andin a locked, hard-sided container as checked baggage. All firearms, ammunition and firearm parts, including firearm frames and receivers, are prohibited in carry-on luggage.
