Benzino -- Sentenced to Hit the Books ... Guns in Airports for Dummies

Benzino dodged a year in prison for bringing his loaded gun to the airport -- and instead the judge is forcing him to go to school ... the easiest school ever, we're guessing.

The former “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” star pled no contest to putting his loaded 9mm through a TSA checkpoint in Atlanta. He says he took the wrong laptop bag.

Benzino was sentenced to one year of probation, a $500 fine, 700 hours community service, and a crash course in gun safety ... which he has 60 days to complete.

Sure, it'll take a while to tick off the 700 hours, but the gun safety class? Just remember this, Benzino ... DON'T TAKE LOADED GUNS TO THE AIRPORT -- and you should pass.