A renewed statewide initiative aimed at getting airline passengers to stop bringing guns to airport checkpoints by asking county sheriffs to revoke concealed carry permits will add to the stiff fine gun owners already face when caught.

Depending on circumstances, the federal penalty for bringing weapons to a security checkpoint can run as much as $15,000. People caught with a gun who are registered for the Transportation Security Administration’s “PreCheck” program also lose those privileges.

The fine applies even if the passenger has a valid concealed carry permit because guns are prohibited on an airplane, according to authorities.

Because firearm possession laws vary by state, it is a passenger’s responsibility to ensure they are not violating local gun laws.

Travelers also should contact their airline to learn whether they have additional requirements for traveling with guns and ammunition.

“Travelers are responsible for the items that they have in their possession,” said Karen Keys-Turner, TSA’s federal security director for Pittsburgh International Airport. “I strongly encourage gun owners to take a few moments before they come to the airport to take a good look inside any carry-on bags that they plan to bring to the airport — backpacks, roller bags, messenger bags, handbags, briefcases, duffle bags, and so on — to ensure that they do not have a firearm or ammunition inside.”

The TSA provides detailed instructions for how to properly pack a gun for a flight on its website, tsa.gov.

Passengers are allowed to travel with a gun if it is unloaded in checked baggage and if it’s packed in a hard-sided, locked case. It should be taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared.

Last year, 6,542 firearms were caught at 262 of 430 airport security checkpoints nationwide, according to TSA. So far this year, TSA has stopped more than 4,000 guns at checkpoints across the country.

Of the more than 6,500 guns detected last year, 88% were loaded.

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