Wyoming County Man Charged with Bringing Gun to Buffalo Airport

A Wyoming County man charged by TSA Officers with allegedly attempting to board an airplane with a loaded firearm.

According to reporting by WKBW, the alleged was caught with a .32 caliber handgun while going through the security checkpoint at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport on Friday, December 11th.

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The weapon was alleged to be inside of the man's carry-on and was found by TSA Officers during the x-ray inspection of his bag.

If you own a firearm and want to travel with it, we ask that you do so in the safest way possible. That means making sure the gun is unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided case and declared with the airline. The airline representative will make sure that the firearm is transported securely in the belly of the aircraft.
-Bart R. Johnson, Federal Security Director for TSA in Upstate New York while speaking with WKBW

The weapon was confiscated by officers and the, still unidentified, man from Wyoming County was issued a citation and then allowed to continue his travel.

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Did you know that bringing a loaded firearm into an airport isn't necessarily a crime? According to the TSA Website, it is initially considered a civil violation that comes with a fine that can range from approx. $4,000 to more than $10,000. However, depending on the circumstances, the violation can be referred for criminal charges. Those charges can be local level, state level, or federal criminal charges.

As a long term legal firearm owner, I know for a fact that one of the primary things that are drilled into your head is the make sure you are aware of where your weapon is at all times. I know mistakes happen all of the time, but I don't know how this could be an accident.