Unloaded in checked baggage has been legal since 2010. So he must have made a mistake, kept a handgun in personal baggage? Not worth 6 squad cars in my opinion. Maybe a kind reminder, and move it to his checked bag?
Ah, but your opinion isn't what sends squad cars out. I didn't think that exploring an abandoned mall warranted five squad cars, two fire engines and a helicopter, but the Allen police department disagreed with me.