Officers catch 3 guns in 3 days at airport security
Three men were caught with guns at the security checkpoint at Pittsburgh International Airport this week, police said.
The three guns caught this week increased the tally of guns caught by TSA officers at the airport’s checkpoints to 43 so far this year, eight more than the previous record of 35 firearms caught in 2019.
“At this point, it’s an epidemic in terms of the frequency in which we are seeing travelers bringing guns to our checkpoint,” said Karen Keys-Turner, TSA’s federal security director for the airport. “When someone purchases an online ticket, they are required to acknowledge that they have read a screen, which states guns are prohibited. We have large signs in the terminal that indicate no guns are permitted.
“And there is a tablet at the checkpoint that offers a final warning that guns are not permitted. It is absolutely irresponsible of these gun-toting individuals to ignore the warnings over and over again.”
On Friday, a man from Ohio was caught at the security checkpoint with a .38 pistol loaded with six bullets, said TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein. Police did not identify the man, but said he had a proper concealed carry permit so was not arrested and will face civil penalties.
Security agents on Thursday caught Luis Arce, 35, of Massachusetts, with a loaded .380 caliber handgun in his carry-on bag. He told officers at the airport he had a valid carry permit in Virginia but didn’t have it with him, according to the criminal complaint.
Later, Mr. Arce said he made a last-minute decision to fly home after his rental car broke down and had forgotten his firearm was in his backpack.
Police verified with law enforcement in Virginia that he did not have a record of a valid concealed carry permit in the state.
He was arrested and is being held at Allegheny County Jail.
On Wednesday, Nicholas Bello, 32, was caught with a loaded .380 caliber handgun in his carry-on bag. Mr. Bello, of Mt. Lebanon, doesn’t have a valid concealed carry permit, police said.
Mr. Bello was arrested and later released from custody. Both he and Mr. Arce are charged with carrying a firearm without a license.
Police said the FBI was notified of both incidents.
This week’s incidents are reflective of a nationwide trend. So far in 2023, TSA officers prevented more than 6,000 guns from getting through security checkpoint — a number on track to surpass the record of 6,542 set last year. More than 94% of them were loaded.
“Pittsburgh is part of that disturbing trend,” Ms. Farbstein said.
Firearms are only permitted on planes if they are unloaded, in a checked bag, and packed in a hardsided locked case. More details on how to properly travel with a firearm can be found on TSA’s website.