Fox News is reporting that former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour was arrested at the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport for accidentally bringing a loaded handgun through security.
While the news broke earlier today, the incident in question occurred back on January 2nd, when Barbour was flying from Jackson to Washington D.C.
The report says that the gun was in his briefcase as he went through the security checkpoint. Barbour reportedly said that he forgot he was carrying the gun after an assistant removed it from his car days earlier. After it was taken out of the car, he put it in his briefcase. A TSA spokeswoman stated that a TSA agent spotted the gun and contacted police, who arrested Barbour. The gun inside of the former governor’s briefcase was a .38 caliber revolver, loaded with five bullets.
Barbour took responsibility for the incident and commended TSA for doing their job.
“This was absent-mindedness and nobody’s fault but mine…They did exactly what they should have done, which was treat me like anybody else,” Barbour said.
As far as going back through airport security, Barbour says he will double check his carry on luggage next time.
“Next time, I’ll be more observant about getting stuff out of my briefcase,” he said.
Governor Barbour will reportedly pay a fine, and fines for such an offense start at $3,920.
