Rep. Madison Cawthorn tried to board plane with gun; could face fine, status loss
ASHEVILLE - U.S. House member Madison Cawthorn had his gun taken by airport police and will likely face a federal fine and loss of a special security status, local and federal officials said.
The Republican congressman representing Western North Carolina's 11th District was attempting to board a plane Feb. 13 when Transportation Security Administration workers found an unloaded gun in his carry-on bag, along with a loaded magazine, according to Asheville Regional Airport officials.
The weapon was described in a redacted incident report and police radio traffic recordings as a "Glock 9mm handgun."
Cawthorn, whose spokesman responded to questions July 30 saying he brought the gun by mistake, was not charged with any crime, according to reports and other information on the incident obtained this month through a public records request. That is a normal outcome, said airport spokeswoman Tina Kinsey......
Bringing criminal charges is left to local law enforcement. At Charlotte Douglas International Airport city police normally charge people with guns under a city ordinance that makes having a firearm at a checkpoint a Class 2 misdemeanor punishable by up to 60 days in jail, said Charlotte attorney Brad Smith who defends people accused of bringing guns to the airport....
David Wheeler, president of the advocacy group FireMadisonCawthorn.com said the violation was an example of why Cawthorn was "not worthy of the office he holds."
"This is a serious violation of the law that has nothing to do with the Second Amendment. A Member of the U.S. House of Representatives wanted to bring a Glock firearm on a commercial airplane. Just who does Cawthorn think he is?" Wheeler said.....
Asheville airport TSA take Cawthorn's gun; will likely be fined, lose status