Charged with Possession of a Firearm at the Airport? We Can Help

Everybody makes mistakes. Maybe you forgot to take your firearm out of your luggage, accidentally took your gun through airport security, or concealed carried your firearm on your person on airport property. If you are facing a criminal charge for possession of a firearm at the airport, our legal team can help. In addition to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, there are several smaller airports in the areas surrounding the Charlotte Metro area.

Whatever the reason for the charge, you need skilled legal representation. Contact our legal team today to schedule your case evaluation and learn how we can help you. We have experience defending clients who have mistakenly left a firearm in their carry-on bag while going through security at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.

We have had success representing clients charged with possession of a firearm at the airport. Our legal team knows how to evaluate our clients’ cases and identify the strongest defenses under the circumstances. It can be incredibly frustrating to know that you did not intentionally commit a crime while facing criminal charges. Our skilled and knowledgeable attorneys are ready to help.

Those who live and work in North Carolina and own a firearm are able to open carry firearms under certain situations. However, under North Carolina law, you are not able to carry or possess a firearm at the airport. Being in possession of a firearm at Charlotte Douglas International Airport can result in significant penalties and fines.

If you were found by law enforcement to be in possession of a gun or other weapon on airport property. You could also face fines from the Federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The best way to protect yourself if you have been charged with possession of a firearm is to hire a skilled and experienced lawyer to defend you against your weapons charges.

Defendants caught with a firearm on their person or in their bag at Charlotte Douglas International Airport will face Class 1 misdemeanor charges. A conviction of a Class 1 misdemeanor comes with up to 120 days in jail, a permanent criminal record, and a discretionary fine. Those defendants who already have a conviction or convictions on their record will face harsher penalties that will further affect their career, daily life, and family.

In addition to facing criminal charges, you can also face fines imposed by TSA for possession of a firearm at an airport. TSA uses strict regulations regarding how to transport firearms and ammunition through an airport. Under TSA regulations, guns must be unloaded. They must be locked in a hard-sided container. Passengers must declare their firearm and check it in at their airline’s check-in station.

Passengers can never carry a firearm on the plane per TSA regulations. Never bring a firearm to the security checkpoint, even if it is stored in a locked container. If you have questions about traveling with your firearm, the best thing to do is to ask a staff member at your airline check-in location.

All firearms and firearm parts must be transported in a locked container in checked luggage, not carry-on luggage. Magazines, clips, firing pins, and any other types of firearm parts must be in a locked container and properly transported in your checked luggage as well. Whether your gun is loaded or unloaded, TSA will charge you fines if you bring or attempt to bring a firearm through an airport security checkpoint.

Typically, if you bring a handgun through security at a Charlotte airport, you will face fines between $330 and $1,960. If you are caught with an unloaded firearm, TSA might fine you between $1,960 and $3,920 for each violation. The fines increase when the loaded or unloaded firearm has accessible ammunition, with fines ranging from $3,920 to $9,800.

Even if you did not intend to enter the airport with a firearm, you can still face TSA-imposed fines. TSA issues fines for improperly storing your firearm in your checked luggage. Typically, the fines are between $650 and $1,310 for improperly packed or undeclared firearms. When the firearm is loaded, people can face fines between $1,310 and $2,610. It is important to follow all airline and TSA rules regarding transporting firearms and ammunition on an airplane.

If you are facing thousands of dollars in fines from TSA or misdemeanor charges, our legal team can help. Contact our experienced lawyers at Arnold & Smith, PLLC as soon as possible to schedule your case evaluation today.