The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reportedly intercepts almost 20 unauthorized guns daily at checkpoints, potentially breaking yearly records.
According to ABC, TSA found over 5,000 guns at airport security, a significant increase from last year’s record of 6,542 firearms intercepted, emphasizing the ban on guns aboard planes.
During Q3 this year, TSA removed over 1,800 firearms in carry-ons, with 94% of them loaded, as reported by the agency.
Breaking last year’s record would mark three years of increased firearms found at airports, with 6,500+ firearms detected in 2022 after 5,972 were found in 2021.
“Passengers may travel with a firearm, but it must be in their checked baggage,” said TSA Administrator David Peksoke. “Firearms are prohibited at security checkpoints, in the secure area of an airport or in the passenger cabin of an aircraft even if a passenger has a concealed carry permit or is in a constitutional carry jurisdiction.”
Passengers caught with firearms in carry-ons may face arrest, fines up to $15,000, and risk losing TSA PreCheck for five years.
