A Hopelawn, N.J., man was arrested Friday, March 28, after attempting to bring a 9mm handgun through a security checkpoint at Newark Liberty International Airport. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers identified the firearm, prompting them to contact Port Authority Police, who confiscated the gun and arrested the man.
This marks the seventh gun-related arrest at the Newark airport this year, following 21 arrests in 2024. TSA’s Federal Security Director for New Jersey, Thomas Carter, expressed concern over the increasing number of firearms at security checkpoints. “We have seen a lot of handguns showing up at our security checkpoints so far this year,” Carter said. “At this rate, we will surpass last year’s record number of guns intercepted at checkpoints. We’d rather see fewer travelers bringing guns to checkpoints than set a new record.”
Carter emphasized that travelers should be fully aware of their carry-on bag contents before arriving at the airport. Even with a concealed carry permit, passengers are not allowed to bring firearms onto planes.
Bringing a firearm to a TSA checkpoint can result in fines of up to $15,000. TSA also has the authority to revoke TSA PreCheck privileges for those found carrying firearms. To legally transport firearms, passengers must ensure the gun is unloaded, placed in a locked, hard-sided case, and declared to the airline for checked baggage storage.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.