Scotty McCreery Cited After Carrying Loaded 9mm Handgun Into Airport
Country music artist and American Idol winner Scotty McCreery is in legal hot water after being caught carrying a loaded gun through airport security. The incident happened on Thursday, July 13th, but was made public on Friday (7-21). It occurred at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina as McCreery was looking to board a flight.
As McCreery was making his way through airport security, a TSA X-ray revealed a black 9mm Smith & Wesson handgun with five loaded bullets in McCreery’s backpack. He also had two boxes of ammo that contained a total of 63 bullets. McCreery told police that he had gone to the shooting range earlier in the day and had forgotten to remove the gun and ammo before arriving at the airport. He was cited for a misdemeanor CCW violation for carrying the gun into the airport. A court date is pending. Scotty McCreery does have a concealed weapons license.
One of the reasons McCreery may be inclined to carry a firearm is he was robbed at gunpoint in 2014 when Mikkail Jamal Shaw and two other men entered an apartment in Raleigh with a pistol and assault rifle. Three of McCreery’s friends were also in the home at the time of the incident. The men made off with wallets, about $800 in cash, cellphones and a laptop computer. Mikkail Jamal Shaw was convicted of kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon, burglary, and conspiracy to commit robbery in 2016, and sentenced to 17 years in prison.
McCreery told Billboard Friday evening, “I have been a concealed carry permit holder for a while now after being robbed at gunpoint in 2014, and I take gun safety very seriously. While in between tour dates last week, I went to go target shooting with a friend a few days before an early flight out of my hometown Raleigh-Durham airport. Unfortunately, I did not realize that I left my pistol in my backpack until the TSA found it during the security X-ray screening and rightfully confiscated it. I had my concealed carry permit on me so once they had checked everything out, they then released me to catch the next available flight. Great to know our airport security force is on the job. I have learned a lesson that I won’t forget.”
He is scheduled to perform in Biloxi, MS at the Beau Rivage Resort on Friday evening, and is currently promoting his latest single, “Five More Minutes.”
CountryKnight
July 21, 2017 @ 6:16 pm
Sounds like a honest accident.
Kevin C.
July 21, 2017 @ 10:38 pm
Yes. But at the same time, it feels like if you have a permit to carry around a gun, it comes with the responsibility to know where that gun is at all times. Doubly so when the gun is loaded.
CountryKnight
July 22, 2017 @ 3:23 pm
Well, yeah. And if you have a driver’s license, you should be careful not to be bump the car ahead of you. But accidents happen. You are making it sound like Scotty had the loaded gun strapped to his side like Wyatt Earp when, in reality, it was in his backpack.
Bertox
July 22, 2017 @ 3:53 pm
Sounds like you are trivializing having a loaded weapon in a friggin airport
CountryKnight
July 22, 2017 @ 4:52 pm
Trivializing the issue would be dismissing it like this by saying:
“Who cares?”
Nothing is my two comments even come close to implying that.
Bertox
July 22, 2017 @ 6:57 pm
That’s one way of saying it. Another would be:
Nothing IN my two comments even CAME close to implying that.
But you do you, bubba.
CountryKnight
July 22, 2017 @ 8:28 pm
Interesting. You focus on a small misspelling which could have easily been the fault of spell check (because spell check will often change from a correct word to another correct word if it is trying to guess what a person is typing) instead of defending your false accusation. Then you finish up with an ad hominem attack.
Congratulations on adding nothing of value to this discussion.
Bertox
July 22, 2017 @ 8:42 pm
Eye shur az fug hait mi sum spel chek
CountryKnight
July 24, 2017 @ 11:57 am
Why argue your point intelligently when you can be a smart aleck instead?
Story of today’s youth.
LoganD
July 21, 2017 @ 6:32 pm
As someone who semi-knows him (same freshman orientation group, same major, and quite a few classes together at NC State), this seems like an honest mistake. The firearms here culture in Raleigh is very pro-gun. Going to the shooting range is normal thing that guys around do. He should be more careful not to have it in his person when traveling though.
GrantH
July 21, 2017 @ 7:21 pm
For some reason I initially read the word “cited” as “died” and freaked out for a second lmao
merf
July 21, 2017 @ 8:56 pm
The most shocking thing about this story is that TSA screeners actually detected something.
Todd
July 21, 2017 @ 9:26 pm
Boom!
CountryKnight
July 22, 2017 @ 3:26 pm
They were inefficient in Spiderman: Homecoming as well!
CountryKnight
July 21, 2017 @ 8:59 pm
He has new material for a song: “Loaded on a Plane.”
Kid Dy-No-Mite
July 21, 2017 @ 10:01 pm
‘Loaded on a Mother Fuckin’ Plane’ w/guest vocals by Samual L Jackson..
Jtrpdx@gmail.com
July 22, 2017 @ 1:25 pm
Haha. Let’s just hope nobody craps on the drink cart!
Lindsey
July 21, 2017 @ 9:43 pm
One of the reasons I don’t fly. My pistol loves to go with me everywhere.
Chris
July 22, 2017 @ 7:57 am
Worse than that is getting to your destination and being disarmed for your trip.
I have always thought that rental car companies should be able to add a Glock or a Sig as an option.
Brandon F
July 24, 2017 @ 7:01 am
Why would you have to be disarmed for your trip? You can easily pack your handgun and ammo in checked luggage and have it arrive at your destination.
DJ
July 22, 2017 @ 5:32 am
Fuck the TSA
DimM
July 22, 2017 @ 6:37 am
Scotty ”The loaded gun” McCreery. Ready to shoot any idiot with bad intentions.
Chris
July 22, 2017 @ 7:54 am
I have had to throw away knives and clips/magazines in airports, but I’m pretty good at leaving my handguns stashed in the car when I have to fly.
My problem is grabbing a sport coat and forgetting to check the pockets.
Travis
July 22, 2017 @ 8:20 am
I used to always think it was impossible to forget you have a loaded gun on you until I did it myself. I was at the beach one day with my bag of spearfishing equipment and had forgot I stashed my 1911 in there. I didn’t notice it before I went in the water but saw it when I got back and put my stuff away. It had been sitting in the bag unguarded on the beach for at least an hour. I don’t have kids, but that was a wake up call to keep my stuff locked and stored like I have a house full of kids. I never felt so irresponsible in my life.
Adrian
July 22, 2017 @ 9:23 am
The human refuse who robbed him at gunpoint deserve to die, because they are trash. Any criminal who puts a gun to your head deserve to die. This is absolute, because it is about defending our rights.
Cosmic Cowdboy
July 22, 2017 @ 9:27 am
I carry everywhere except Courthouses,Airports,and Federal buildings. Cot a CCP but the 2nd Amendment is the only carry permit I feel you need. Hell I got to music shows all the time with one. Here in Alabama as long as you do not drink alcohol at a club or venue your legal. Love the music and also love being able to protect myself. We got lots of room and great music so yall come and stay awhile.
Willie Potter
July 22, 2017 @ 10:32 am
Good for him for wanting to protect himself.
And his new song is great too.
CountryKnight
July 22, 2017 @ 3:25 pm
So will he ever get his gun back? Or it is now permanent​ly government property?
At least, he didn’t have cash on him. Gotta love civil forfeiture.
Cool Lester Smooth
July 22, 2017 @ 10:38 pm
Fucking idiot.
Nigel Bradham, a LB for the Eagles, did the same thing last year.
Not a huge deal, at the end of the day…but that’s so fucking careless.
Adrian
July 23, 2017 @ 4:26 pm
I think Scotty is a good guy who made an honest mistake and owned up to it. It is unfortunate that he was careless and got himself into trouble, but how many of us have never made a careless error? He seems to be a patriot, a person with principles, which is quite unusual among today’s young entertainers and which is probably making it much harder to find mainstream commercial success. I would let him pay the consequences of his mistake and move on.
CountryKnight
July 24, 2017 @ 12:07 pm
Ye without sin cast the first stone.
Nice to see that we have some perfect posters on this site.
Great take on the situation, Adrian.
CountryKnight
July 24, 2017 @ 12:06 pm
You claim it is not a huge deal yet you call him a ******* idiot and posted an angry comment.
Trying to have your cake and eat it too.
Cool Lester Smooth
July 24, 2017 @ 12:11 pm
Something can both be “not be a huge deal at the end of the day” and something deeply fucking careless for a gun owner to do.
Nuance, kiddo. I know you’re not great at it, but try to keep up.
CountryKnight
July 24, 2017 @ 12:16 pm
Here is some nuance. He left his gun in his backpack. Yeah, it was careless but people are acting like he walked up with it strapped to his side or he was swinging it around.
If the TSA missed it, nothing would have happened and no article would be written. That is the middle ground between HELL YEAH GUNS! and what an ******* idiot.
Typical CLS ad hominem attack. I expect nothing less from you.
Cool Lester Smooth
July 24, 2017 @ 12:28 pm
Again…you’ve offered nothing to refute the fact that he’s a fucking idiot for leaving his gun in his backpack when he was about to board a plane.
Lots of people are idiots. It doesn’t make them bad people, and it’s not a huge deal.
Nuance, kiddo. Nuance.
CountryKnight
July 24, 2017 @ 12:53 pm
In your opinion.
In my opinion, being a ******* idiot is running into traffic or attempting a Jackass stunt. This is just being careless or accidentally forgetful. This wasn’t worth a ******* idiot but whatever.
You keep saying it is not a huge deal yet you continue to post. Obviously, on some subconscious level, it is a huge deal to you.
Civilized discussion, CLS, civilized discussion.
Cool Lester Smooth
July 24, 2017 @ 1:22 pm
Ooooookay, kid.
CountryKnight
July 24, 2017 @ 2:26 pm
*golf clap*
Dave
July 23, 2017 @ 1:12 pm
I never understand the gun culture of America. Here in the UK, guns are illegal and we have very, very little gun crime because of that. Our police aren’t even allowed them.
Ulysses McCaskill
July 23, 2017 @ 5:17 pm
You’re right. You don’t understand it. If it weren’t for guns we’d be a collection of British colonies still. American citizens are always going to be allowed to defend themselves. If you don’t like it, too bad. Stay over there in fantasy land and voluntarily unarm yourself. There would be a war here before we turned into the U.K.
Clint Eastwood
July 23, 2017 @ 6:19 pm
If fantasy land is a country without high gun violence and a reality tv show joke of a president I’m all for it.
Ulysses McCaskill
July 23, 2017 @ 8:32 pm
I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery.
Dave
July 23, 2017 @ 10:59 pm
I will stay here. Far away from that mad, dangerous President of yours (who has, by being elected, made a mockery of your political system).
Ulysses McCaskill
July 24, 2017 @ 1:03 am
I’m not a Trump supporter. This past election was a horrible time for us. The country chose between two bad candidates. Things will even out and we’ll come back to a more sensible and responsible leader. One questionable president does not discount the millions upon millions of compassionate and freedom-loving citizens we have in this country. In America, we take care of our neighbors and lend a helping hand when needed, but when the wolf is at the door and no other option is available, we defend ourselves.
CountryKnight
July 24, 2017 @ 12:03 pm
Hey Dave,
This is a Ben Franklin quote:
“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”
scott
July 24, 2017 @ 7:56 am
How did those unarmed police work out on the bridge a few weeks ago? SMH…
Cool Lester Smooth
July 24, 2017 @ 12:24 pm
Wait…is your argument here that the Bridge attack should be used as anything other than a rousing endorsement of U.K. gun laws?
8 people died in London. In the past decade, 11 separate random shootings have killed at least 9 people.
When some asshole walked into a theater with a gun a few years ago, he took out 12 people and injured 58 others.
I don’t have a problem with guns, and this is neither the time or the place, but let’s try not to be silly, here.
scott
July 25, 2017 @ 2:27 pm
No, the police should have been armed. All I wrote.
Cool Lester Smooth
July 25, 2017 @ 2:34 pm
Who do you think shot the terrorists?
Street cops don’t need guns, because people don’t have guns.
Because people don’t have guns, they have to use trucks and knives when they want to do something awful…in the case of the Bridge, that meant:
A) Only 8 people died.
B) When specially trained cops came, bearing guns, they took them down easily.
RD
July 24, 2017 @ 8:38 am
Poor Dave. He’s watched his country disappear before his eyes and now he’s bitter and has decided to lash out at people who are marginally better off. I feel for you, buddy. You guys really are fucked. In a couple decades, your female relations will all be slaves and, if you are unlucky enough to still be alive, Mohammad will be leading you around on a spiked dog collar. Good luck with that.
CountryKnight
July 24, 2017 @ 12:01 pm
Gotta love being helpless during terrorist attacks! But that is all part and parcel of living in big cities.
CountryKnight
July 24, 2017 @ 12:11 pm
You do realize that the UK is a much smaller nation, much more homogeneous for the longest time (compared to America which is an immense melting pot of different cultures), never had the same fireman rights (which let tyranny reign in your country), less people (which means less gun deaths) and you are surrounded by water which means it so much easier to block illegal firearms which is where most gun deaths occur from.
Look at Vermont. Lax gun laws and it has low gun violence. Look at Chicago and D.C. Tyrannical gun laws and high rates of gun violence.
Trainwreck92
July 24, 2017 @ 2:55 pm
I’m not endorsing Chicago’s gun laws, but comparing a densely packed city of 2.7 million people to sparsely populated Vermont (pop. 624,594) isn’t a great argument. Of course Chicago has a greater gun crime rate, they have about 4 times the population in an area maybe 5 percent the size of Vermont.
Batterycap
July 24, 2017 @ 1:14 pm
Tell us how the people in Greta Britain (why the “Great?) that had acid thrown in their face recently are doing. If you are wussified, then Britain has a place for you.
Cool Lester Smooth
July 25, 2017 @ 2:42 pm
Great point!
I bet those people wish that the guys who dumped acid on them had shot them in the face instead!
Clearly, all those survivors of acid attacks are a great example of why gun laws don’t work.
(Also, Great Britain is the name of the island that contains England, Scotland and Wales, distinguishing it from smaller members of the British Isles, such as Ireland and the Isle of Man.
Not tricky to understand.)
Ulysses McCaskill
July 24, 2017 @ 7:27 pm
Just remember…God made all men, but Sam Colt made them equal. An armed people is a free people.