Rock star fined for taking gun on flight
Rock guitarist Rick Derringer has been fined $1,000 after pleading guilty to knowingly taking a gun and ammunition on a commercial flight.
He was arrested earlier this month after a Kel-Tec pistol and six rounds of ammunition were found in his bag during a transit stop in Atlanta.
Derringer made headlines after telling investigators he routinely took the handgun on flights numerous times a year despite regular screening checks.
The veteran rocker said he probably travelled 30-50 times a year with the gun in his bag.
As he had a concealed carry permit for the firearm, he wrongly believed he was able to take it on a commercial flight in a carry-on bag.
US Investigators could only confirm one prior incident – when he departed from Sarasota Airport in Florida and the gun was missed by security screening.
The agent responsible for this was dismissed, the airport said.
It was also missed when he flew back to the US from Cancun Airport. Mexican authorities also promised their own investigation into that incident.
"It was just a mistake, a simple human mistake," Derringer’s manager, Kenn Moutenot said.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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