MILWAUKEE — Two loaded firearms were discovered at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport’s security screening checkpoints during a three-day period, according to the Transportation Security Administration.
On Sunday, TSA found a .22 caliber Ruger, loaded with nine rounds, during X-ray screening at one of its checkpoints.
On Tuesday morning, a passenger brought a .380 caliber Sig Sauer, loaded with eight rounds, in a carry-on bag. That firearm also was found during X-ray screening.
In each instance, an officer from the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department responded, took possession of the firearms and interviewed the passengers. Any determination about criminal charges is up to law enforcement.
“Under no circumstances should a passenger bring a firearm to an airport security checkpoint,” said TSA Wisconsin Federal Security Director Mark Lendvay in a news release. “We have recently posted additional signage prohibiting firearms at our checkpoints here to further educate passengers. Passengers who wish to travel with a firearm, permissible in a checked bag only, should check with their airline and review TSA’s rules before coming to the airport.”
Firearms can only be transported in a checked bag, if they are declared to the airline at the ticket counter and properly packed in a locked, hard-sided case.
With these two catches, Milwaukee Mitchell now has found 10 firearms at checkpoints so far this year. In 2018, TSA intercepted 11 firearms at MKE checkpoints.
