Washington state Senator Jeff Wilson, a Republican, has been arrested by Chinese authorities for unknowingly carrying a gun in his carry-on bag at Hong Kong International Airport.
Wilson claims it was an honest mistake, and he immediately reported the issue to customs officials upon landing.
He has been charged with possession of an unregistered firearm and released on bail but had to surrender his passport. (Poll: Is It Time to Ban Guns? VOTE)
“It was an honest mistake, and I expect the situation to be resolved shortly,” he said.
“When the plane landed, he immediately went to customs officials and called their attention to the issue,” his office said in a statement.
If convicted, he could face a fine and up to 14 years in prison.
Wilson has a concealed carry permit in his home state, but the gun is not registered in Hong Kong.
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration is investigating the incident, and the TSA spokesperson emphasized that firearms are not permitted in secure airport areas.
In 2022, a record high number of firearms were intercepted at security checkpoints in the U.S. Travelers can transport guns in checked baggage if properly declared and stored.
“Firearms are not permitted in the secure area of airports and represents an expensive mistake for those who are stopped at checkpoints with firearms in their possession,” the spokesperson said.
“The penalty for bringing a firearm to a TSA checkpoint may be as high as $15,000, and those stopped are ineligible for TSA PreCheck for up to five years.”
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