'Downright terrifying': Rep Victoria Spartz thrashed after she's charged for bringing handgun to Virginia airport

DULLES, VIRGINIA: Republican Representative Victoria Spartz (Ind) has been officially charged in Virginia for bringing a firearm to the Dulles International Airport in June.

On Thursday, July 11, the Loudoun General District Court updated that Spartz had been charged with carrying a weapon in an airport terminal.

This Class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia can result in a sentence of up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.

Rep Victoria Spartz's office claims she 'accidentally' brought the gun to Dulles airport

Following the incident, Victoria Spartz's office claimed that the representative “accidentally” brought the firearm to the airport.

In a statement issued on July 1, Spartz's office stated, “Last Friday, Rep Spartz 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."

"Rep Spartz was issued a citation and proceeded on her international flight to the OSCE PA meeting in Europe,” read the statement.

During a passenger security screening on June 28, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) detected a .380 caliber firearm.

As per the statement released by the agency at the time, the handgun was unloaded but they did not identify the passenger.

In January, the TSA revealed that in 2023, the agency's officers seized a record 6,737 firearms.

Rep Victoria Spartz's arraignment following gun seizure

According to the court docket, Victoria Spartz's arraignment is set to take place in Loudoun General District Court on September 20 at 8.30 am, according to The Hill.

In May, the congresswoman won the GOP nomination for reelection after reversing her earlier decision to retire at the end of her term.

Spartz was first sworn into Congress in 2021 and has been serving since then.

Internet blasts Rep Victoria Spartz after being officially charged in firearm incident

Reacting to Victoria Spartz being charged for bringing a firearm to Dulles International Airport, one user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, "Good. She has to follow the law just like the rest of us. She's not special."

"Still don’t understand how people forget they have a gun in their bag," a netizen commented while another user wrote, "She seems very unhinged at the best of times. Her packing a pistol is downright terrifying."

"Good! I hope Representative Spartz gets the maximum prison sentence!" a user tweeted and someone else added, "Lock her up," while another netizen penned, "How are people still bringing guns to airports in 2024?"

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.