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State senator faces gun charge after airport incident

Courtesy of Senate Republican caucus

A Delaware state senator is facing a felony charge after airport security allegedly found a gun in his carry-on luggage.

 

 

 

Sen. Brian Pettyjohn (R-Georgetown) was stopped at the Salisbury airport Thursday when authorities say a TSA agent found the gun in a carry-on bag. Pettyjohn was detained and later released.

 

The Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office says when he returns, he will be charged with attempting to board an aircraft with a firearm, a felony, which carries a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

 

Pettyjohn couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

 

In an interview with the News Journal Thursday, the Republican state senator said he was in a rush to catch an early morning flight and forgot to properly pack his gun.

 

Pettyjohn told the News Journal he’s been concerned about personal safety since the shooting of Republican Congressman Steve Scalise and others while they practiced for a charity baseball game June 14.

 

Pettyjohn was first elected in 2012, having previously served as mayor and councilman in Georgetown.