Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) was arrested earlier this month after allegedly attempting to get on an airplane with a gun in his bag.
The Hattiesburg Patriot described the gun as a .38 Special revolver.
The Patriot filed a Freedom of Information Request upon learning of Barbour’s arrest. They received an email from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which said:
On the morning of January 2, 2018, a TSA officer who was staffing a checkpoint x-ray machine at Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport spotted a firearm in a carry-on bag. As per protocol, TSA officials contacted the airport police, who responded to the checkpoint, confiscated the weapon and detained the passenger for questioning. The firearm was loaded with five rounds.
Lisa Farbstein, the Action Director of Media Relations and Press Secretary of TSA, added, “The former governor was arrested by airport police, posted bond, and was able to catch his flight.”
In emailing about Barbour, TSA took time to remind travelers that “individuals who bring weapons to the checkpoint are subject to federal civil penalties of up to $13,000. This applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits because even though an individual may have a concealed carry permit, it does not allow for a firearm to be carried onto an airplane.”
TSA indicates “a typical first offense for carrying a handgun into a checkpoint is $3,900.”
AWR Hawkins is an award-winning Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News, the host of the Breitbart podcast Bullets, and the writer/curator of Down Range with AWR Hawkins, a weekly newsletter focused on all things Second Amendment, also for Breitbart News. He is the political analyst for Armed American Radio. Follow him on Twitter: @AWRHawkins. Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com. Sign up to get Down Range at breitbart.com/downrange.
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