NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
A man charged with bringing a loaded firearm to Nashville's airport earlier this month says it's was an accident.
Transportation Security Administration screeners discovered the gun, a loaded .357 Magnum, inside a pants pocket in a carry-on bag last Thursday evening.
"Yes it was in a pocket in my pants," the bag's owner who wishes to remain anonymous, told Nashville's News 2 Investigates. "I was rushed and it was totally overlooked and I had no idea it was there nor would I ever intentionally do that."
The man said he went through the X-ray machine and when his bag didn't come through he knew something was up.
He recalled, "One of the officers walked up to me and said, ‘Do you have anything to tell me?' I was oblivious there could be anything wrong but as soon as he said that, I remembered throwing my pants in that bag."
"It was an honest mistake," the man continued. "Never in a million years would I intentionally carry a firearm through a checkpoint. It was a lack of judgment at the moment, but it was an honest mistake."
In 2011 alone, TSA officials say they confiscated 40 loaded guns at BNA. Last week's was the fourth so far in 2012.
"My heart sunk," the man continued. "At the same time I was frustrated with myself, knowing that is bad firearm safety, not realizing that was in my bag at the time. I should have been aware. I guess it was a feeling of, ‘wow, I am not a threat to anyone nor would I ever be and this is happening to me.'"
Airport police confiscated the weapon and the man missed his flight.
Metro police issued him a state citation and according to TSA guidelines, he could also be facing fines as high as $7,000.
Read more about the TSA's regulations online at TSA.gov.
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