Indiana's 5th Dist. rep carried firearm through airport security June 28

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National media outlets are reporting that U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz, representing Indiana's 5th District, which includes Howard County, was charged with a misdemeanor on June 28 for taking a firearm through airport security.

Spartz was charged under Virginia law for carrying an unloaded .380 caliber handgun in her suitcase, which was detected during security screening at Washington Dulles International Airport.

Spartz's office confirmed in a statement that she "accidentally carried an empty handgun in her suitcase with no magazine or bullets, which she did not realize was in the pocket of her suitcase, while going through security at Dulles airport."

She was preparing to leave the country to attend a meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly, which convened in Romania.

In a statement from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, it was disclosed that Spartz was issued a citation and a summons to appear in a Virginia court and was allowed to board the airplane.

Firearms are allowed on airplanes by the Transportation Security Authority (TSA), but they must be declared to the airline and packed in a hard-sided case with the owner's checked baggage. No firearms are allowed at TSA checkpoints.

If convicted, Spartz could face up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine.