A FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS TWO MEN TO PAY 1-THOUSAND DOLLARS EACH AFTER THEY WERE FOUND TRYING TO CARRY A LOADED FIREARM ON TO PLANES AT THE ALBUQUERQUE SUNPORT. MATTHEW O'CONNER OF LOS ANGELES WAS STOPPED IN NOVEMBER AND TODD BOURGEOIS OF ALBUQUERQUE WAS STOPPED IN DECEMBER.
BOURGEOIS HAD A GLOCK-19 WITH 15 ROUNDS IN IT, INCLUDING ONE IN THE CHAMBER. BOURGEOIS'S WEAPON WAS ACTUALLY PACKED ON THE TOP OF A POUCH OF HIS CARRY-ON. THE MEN ALSO HAD TO SURRENDER THEIR WEAPONS.
A TOTAL OF 12 GUNS WERE FOUND LAST YEAR AT THE T-S-A CHECKPOINT IN ALBUQUERQUE.
THE TWO INCIDENTS LATE LAST YEAR STRESS HOW CAREFUL TRAVELERS NEED TO BE WITH WHAT THEY TRY TO TAKE ON BOARD A JET. THE CASE OF THE TWO MEN BUSTED WITH LOADED GUNS AT THE SUNPORT IS A REMINDER TO TO WATCH OUT WHAT THEY PACK. GILBERT GUADARRAMA WITH THE T-S-A SAYS IT'S AMAZING WHAT SOME PEOPLE TRY TO CARRY WITH THEM. HE SAYS HE'S SEEN EVERYTHING FROM FIREARMS TO BOTTLES OF LYSOL TO ELECTRIC DRILLS AND OTHER TOOLS.
AS FOR GUNS, YOU CAN PUT A WEAPON IN YOUR CHECKED LUGGAGE BUT MUST DECLARE IT'S THERE TO THE AIRLINE. IT ALSO HAS TO BE UNLOADED AND IN A LOCKED BOX.
