Tampa Bay's Da'Quan Bowers Arrested for Gun at N.Y. Airport

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Da'Quan Bowers was arrested for having a gun at an airport. He now faces a criminal charge.

Bowers is accused of possessing a 0.40-caliber semiautomatic handgun in his suitcase at New York's LaGuardia Airport, reports CNN. There were no bullets in the gun, but the ammunition was found in a separate location near the gun.

The 22-year-old Bowers was charged with second-degree criminal possession. Bowers could have used a primer on the rules for traveling with a firearm.

As you may know, travelers are not allowed to transport loaded firearms on an airplane. And even if they transport an unloaded firearm, travelers are required to follow strict rules.

Transporting Unloaded Firearms

According to the Transportation Security Administration, travelers wishing to transport unloaded firearms must place them in a locked, hard-sided container as checked baggage. Travelers are prohibited from carrying all firearms, ammunition, and firearm parts -- including firearm frames and receivers -- in carry-on luggage.

In addition, realistic replicas of firearms, pellet guns, air guns, and even gun lighters are prohibited in carry-on bags and must be packed in checked baggage, according to the TSA. Rifle scopes, however, are permitted in carry-on and checked bags.

Transporting Loaded Firearms Is Not Allowed

Under no circumstances can a traveler carry a loaded firearm onto an airplane. While there may be limited exceptions for law enforcement personnel to carry unloaded firearms onto an airplane as carry-on luggage, even law enforcement personnel cannot carry a loaded weapon onto a plane.

State, Local, and International Rules

Keep in mind that these rules are the federal TSA rules for flying with firearms. Depending upon where you fly, you may also be subject to different state, local, and international rules for firearms on planes. So if you are traveling from one state to another, or from one country to another, while bringing a firearm, you should become familiar with the local rules on transporting these weapons.

Related Resources:

• Da'Quan Bowers arrested at airport (ESPN)
• Darius Miles Arrested: Ex-NBA Star Had Loaded Gun at Airport (FindLaw's Tarnished Twenty)
• Boston Man Had Grenade, Knives, Gas Mask at LAX (FindLaw's Blotter)
• 5 Dumb Ways to Get Arrested at an Airport (FindLaw's Blotter)