NFL Player Arrested For Having Loaded Gun At Airport

NFL football player Da’Quan Bowers was arrested at New York’s La Guardia airport on Monday after TSA officials found a loaded gun in his luggage. Bowers, who plays defensive end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is just the latest in what is a growing list of people who seem unaware that having a loaded gun at the airport is a crime.

DNAInfo.com reports that Bowers was at La Guardia’s Terminal C ticket counter when officials pulled out a Smith and Wesson.40 caliber handgun from his carry-on bag. The charge for carry a loaded handgun in your luggage at the airport is criminal possesion of a weapon and Bowers was expected to be arraigned on that charge Monday night.

NBC New York reports that Bowers was boarding a plane headed for Durham, North Carolina. Bowers’ people are remaining silent so far as to what he was thinking taking the loaded gun into the airport. Buccaneers’ general manager Mark Dominik issued a short and sweet statement on Monday saying:

“We are aware of the situation and are gathering information. We will withhold comment until we know all the facts.”

As an NFL Player Bowers has spent two years with the Bucs and racked up 38 total tackles and 4.5 sacks. The 22-year-old was an All-American in college, playing for the Clemson Tigers. Bowers was a second round pick (19th overall) by the Bucs in the 2011 NFL draft.

The NFL has also said that this arrest will be “reviewed under our league policy.” No announcement as to whether Bowers could face a suspension has come yet as the arrest is too new and there aren’t enough details on why he had the gun in his bag.

The league has cracked down on players in the past, especially when it comes to gun related offenses. Do you think this NFL player is headed for a suspension and/or jail time?