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Tampa Woman Arrested for Concealed Weapon in Carry-On

Just days after the Transportation Security Administration decided to allow passengers on commercial airline flights to bring small amounts of fluids in their carry-on luggage and that it was now permissible to bring drinks bought after passengers passed through security onto planes, in Florida a woman was arrested when TSA screeners found a loaded handgun packed into her carry-on bag.

Police say 58-year-old Mavis Cobb Thornton was taken into custody at Tampa International Airport after a screener discovered a .38-caliber revolver, loaded with three bullets, in her bag as she passed through a security checkpoint this past Monday. Thornton and her husband, Charles, had tickets for a Delta flight, but airport officials didn`t immediately disclose their destination.

Her employers said that Thornton is on medical leave from her job as an accounting clerk for the Hillsborough County school district. Thornton does not have a concealed weapons permit and did not give a statement to police, but her husband told authorities he did not know his wife had the gun with her. She was arrested on the charge of carrying a concealed weapon, and was booked into the county jail. She was released following the posting of bail.