NORFOLK, Va. — Author's note: The video above is a related story that aired on March 10, 2022.
A Chesapeake man was cited for attempting to take a handgun through a security checkpoint at Norfolk International Airport on Wednesday, setting a new record.
The man was stopped with a .380 caliber handgun, which was loaded with six bullets, according to the Transportation Security Administration.
He was cited with a weapons violation by Norfolk Airport Authority Police, and the case will be sent to the Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney for possible legal action.
“This was the 24th gun that our officers have stopped at the security checkpoints at Norfolk this year, which set a new record for the number of firearms caught in a single year,” Robin “Chuck” Burke, the TSA federal security director for the airport, said.
“Our officers are good at their jobs, but frankly, this is not the type of record we are looking to set. We would rather that travelers pack their guns properly for a flight. Firearms are not permitted through a security checkpoint because passengers should not have access to a firearm during a flight."
Burke says that this also applies to travelers with concealed carry permits or passengers who have TSA PreCheck.
If you're trying to travel with a gun, remember that you can only do so by unloading it, packing it in a hard case separate from ammunition within your checked bag and telling your airline at the ticket counter.
In 2021, 23 guns were seized at ORF.