Sammy Kershaw Hit With Fine After Unintentionally Bringing A Firearm Through TSA At Louisiana Airport
Country music icon Sammy Kershaw is owning up to a mistake he made while traveling through the airport in Lafayette, Louisiana.
As Kershaw stated in a press release from Absolute Publicity, the TSA flagged his bag at the Lafayette airport on May 28. Agents discovered Kershaw had “accidentally [brought] a loaded handgun through [the] TSA screening.”
The singer admitted:
“It was early, I was half-awake and clearly not thinking straight. I’ve sang songs about heartbreak and hard times but not about forgetting to check my carry-on for a loaded firearm. That’s a new one!”
Kershaw is a Louisiana native. He was born in the small city of Kaplan in 1958, and he spent his pre-teen and teenage years performing in local honky-tonks.
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Airline passengers can travel with a firearm, but there are some regulations to follow. As the TSA website explains:
“You may transport unloaded firearms in a locked hard-sided container as checked baggage only. Declare the firearm and/or ammunition to the airline when checking your bag at the ticket counter. The container must completely secure the firearm from being accessed. Locked cases that can be easily opened are not permitted.”
Because Kershaw accidentally packed his firearm, he didn’t follow these regulations.
Fines for such an infraction can surpass $10,000, and offenders may also face possible jail time. In Kershaw’s case, he received a $5,000 fine.
After the experience, Kershaw warned his fans to check their bags before they leave for their next flight so they don’t make the same mistake. He said:
“I guess it’s safe to say I won’t be packing heat to my next show. Let this be your friendly PSA: check your bags, check ’em twice. Let’s all stay safe out there.”
Kershaw Is Currently Touring Across The U.S.
Sammy Kershaw emerged on the scene with the release of his debut single, “The Flame Has Gone Out,” in 1986. His big break came in 1991, when his single “Cadillac Style” reached #3 on the Hot Country Songs chart.
A score of other hits followed, including “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful,” “Queen of My Double Wide Trailer,” “Third Rate Romance,” and “Love of My Life.”
The success of these singles and many others led to Kershaw’s nomination for the CMA’s Horizon Award in 1993. The category has since been renamed as the CMA Award for New Artist of the Year.
Kershaw remains active as a performing and touring artist. His latest single, “Evangeline,” debuted in 2021. This year (2025), he’s trekking across the U.S. on an extensive tour.
The 67-year-old’s next show is scheduled for June 27 in Roland, Oklahoma. He’ll continue to perform throughout the summer and fall. His last show of the year will be on December 6 at The Showroom at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas.
Check out Kershaw’s official website to see if his tour brings him to a city near you this year.