TSA officers find loaded gun in carry-on at Rapid City Regional
During the routine screening of carry-on luggage on Oct. 30, a TSA officer spotted the image of a handgun on the X-ray screen, according to a TSA press release Monday.
TSA officials immediately alerted Rapid City Police, who responded to the checkpoint.
The firearm was loaded. Two magazines loaded with accessible rounds were also discovered in the carry-on bag.
This is the eleventh firearm detected at RAP so far this year, and the third detected in October.
A total of 12 firearms were detected at RAP security checkpoints in all of 2023.
"The fact that TSA officers at RAP have discovered 11 firearms so far this year is startling, but it is also a testament to the commitment and dedication of the TSA workforce as they have diligently carried out their important security screening duties," said Jimmy Briseno, TSA's federal security director for South Dakota. "I ask all travelers to commit to doing better by being aware of the contents of your carry-on luggage and packing firearms properly for travel on a commercial aircraft."
Nationally, more than 5,000 firearms have been stopped at airport checkpoints so far in 2024.
In addition to any action taken by law enforcement, TSA fines passengers who bring a firearm to a TSA checkpoint with a civil penalty up to approximately $15,000, revokes TSA PreCheck eligibility for at least five years, and may conduct enhanced screening to ensure there are no other threats present.
Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are unloaded, packed separately from ammunition in a locked hard-sided case, and declared at the airline check-in counter. Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality. Travelers should check for firearm laws in the jurisdictions they are flying to and from.
TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website. Travelers should also contact their airline as they may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.
Our best Rapid City staff photos and video of October 2024A collection of some of our best photos from October of 2024.
Scenes from the Wednesday, Oct. 2 Freshman Impact simulated drunk driving car crash. Scenes from Wednesday Oct. 2 Freshman Impact simulated drunk driving car crash. Rapid City Central junior running back Brayden Jackson (24) fights past defenders for a chunk of yardage during the first half of the Friday, ... BHSU redshirt senior Doodle Quinones (26) celebrates after recovering a muffed punt during the fourth quarter of the 139th Black Hills Brawl b... Philip senior quarterback Talan Haynes (12) prepares to chuck the football deep during the first half of a Friday, Oct. 4 contest between the ... Left to right: Barb Schuch, Michele Freed, Kimmy Hayes, Dianne Ellwein, Caran Smith, Apryl Ghents, Lisa Ficek, Ruth Patterson, Stephanie Schon... Rapid City Christian junior Joaquin Petrik (5) attempts to block a kick from Belle Fourche freshman defender Brahnson Brink (2) during the fir... Philip junior running back Tyce Gropper (2) collects a pass during the first half of the Friday, Oct. 4 matchup between the Scotties and Hill ... Spearfish junior Adelyn Bouman (3) throws down the hammer past St. Thomas More senior Alexa Scherr during Tuesday's contest between the Sparta... Spearfish junior goalkeeper Ryder Allbright stops a Rapid City Stevens shot on goal during a matchup between the Spartans and Raiders, held th... Joe Guttierez of Pennington County Juvenile Services poses with his white BHSU helmet, a memento of his time as a Yellow Jacket. Bennett County eighth grader Peyson O'Neill goes up for a kill during the Lakota Nation Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 5 at Summit Arena at Th... St. Thomas More freshman outside hitter Lauren Poeppel (12) and Philip sophomore Kale Peterson (10) battle at the net during the first set of ... South Dakota Mines fifth-year quarterback Jake Martinelli (12) fires a pass down the field during the first half of the 139th Black Hills Braw... A local climber tackles a route at Wrinkled Rock near Keystone. Bennett County freshman Reagan O'Neill goes airborne before hammering down a kill during the Lakota Nation Invitational, held on Saturday, Oct... A local climber tackles a route at Wrinkled Rock near Keystone. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.
