Passenger's weapon accidentally discharged at the Atlanta airport, causing panic and halting flight

[iluvtennis]

5. Why was the gun loaded and going through TSA security. Requirement is that unloaded gun be in

checked baggage.

Transporting Firearms and Ammunition
You may transport unloaded firearms in a locked hard-sided container as checked baggage only. Declare the firearm and/or ammunition to the airline when checking your bag at the ticket counter.

Bringing an unloaded firearm with accessible ammunition to the security checkpoint carries the same civil penalty/fine as bringing a loaded firearm to the checkpoint. You may find information on civil penalties at the Civil Enforcement page.

Firearm parts, including magazines, clips, bolts and firing pins, are prohibited in carry-on baggage, but may be transported in checked baggage.

Fine is:
$3,000 - $10,000 + criminal referral / $10,000 - $13,910 + criminal referral (repeat violation)

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition

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This person should recieve maximum penalty - criminal referral and $13,910 fine.