Careless Iowa Woman Caught With Loaded Gun at Newark Airport

It sounds like something out of a mobster movie, but it's unfortunately all too real, and you can't really call her a dumb criminal because this has become way too common.

According to KWWL, a Cedar Rapids woman walked through Newark airport in New Jersey with a loaded gun in her handbag.

TSA found her at the security checkpoint

The incident happened on February 11 at Newark Liberty Airport. A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer spotted the gun in the pocket of the woman's handbag through an x-ray machine, confiscated it and reported it to Port Authority Police. The woman was then arrested on weapon charges.

What was worse: possession of, or recklessness with, the gun?

You are allowed to travel with a gun, but only if it's unloaded and in a checked bag. Ammunition must be separated from the weapon. Clearly, neither was the case here but not only that, the woman claims she was running late and "forgot" about the loaded gun in her bag.

She could face thousands in fines

The most basic rules of traveling with firearms from the TSA website state

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. The container must completely secure the firearm from being accessed. Locked cases that can be easily opened are not permitted. Be aware that the container the firearm was in when purchased may not adequately secure the firearm when it is transported in checked baggage.

We all get a little scatterbrained from time to time, but this takes the cake. I also mentioned how common this is. With just shy of 6,000 of these cases reported by the TSA in 2021, this year isn't starting off on the brightest note either.