On December 22, a Rhode Island man was caught trying to smuggle firearm parts through JFK Airport using two jars of peanut butter. This begs the question, why on earth would anyone attempt such a seemingly outlandish act? The answer is simple: the man thought it was a good idea. It wasn’t.
The gun parts were artfully concealed in two jars of peanut butter, but there was nothing smooth about the way the man went about trying to smuggle his gun. He had failed to realize that TSA officers are well-trained in identifying potential threats and suspicious items. As soon as his checked baggage was set off a metal detector, officers took a closer look and found what they were looking for. Even if he had successfully smuggled the gun parts onto the plane, he would have been liable for hefty fines upon landing wherever he was headed. Not only that, but he could have faced criminal charges depending on local laws and regulations concerning firearms.
Attempting to conceal firearms or firearm parts in food items is never wise or advisable – especially when traveling through an airport! There are far better ways to transport your gun safely and legally if you need to do so while traveling by air. Many airlines allow passengers to check their firearms with certain restrictions depending on where they’re flying and which airline they use. Knowing which methods are legal for transporting your weapons can save you from penalties like hefty fines or even criminal charges down the line, so it pays to do your research ahead of time before attempting anything out of the ordinary when traveling with firearms or firearm parts in tow.
