NEW YORK -- A bodyguard for Republican presidential candidate Alan Keyes was arrested for a gun violation at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Wednesday because authorities said he didn't have a valid permit.

Peter Malvey, 34, of Barrington, N.H., was checking in at a ticket counter for a flight to Los Angeles when he handed over a Glock handgun for inspection, said Port Authority spokesman Steve Coleman.

A police officer determined Malvey had a New Hampshire permit for the pistol but not one allowing him to carry it in New York or California, Coleman said.

He said Malvey denied he was carrying any other weapons, but a luggage search found an automatic pistol, 29 rounds of .40-caliber ammunition, and 109 rounds of .223-caliber ammunition.

Malvey was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon. Information on other charges or bail were not immediately available. Malvey had been heading to Los Angeles for a Republican debate Thursday.