Record number of guns found at TSA checkpoints last year, 86% of them loaded, agency says

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."The disturbing trend came in a year when millions of Americans returned to air travel after COVID-19 nearly brought it to a halt. In 2021, TSA workers screened more than 585 million passengers at airport checkpoints.

But even as travel remains below pre-pandemic levels, Pekoske is worried about the alarming record.

"What's causing it? I don't know exactly, but generally I think our weapons carriage detections reflect just more people carrying weapons in the country," he said.

Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson was at the top of the TSA list, with 507 guns detected in 2021, up from 323 in 2019. When a gun was found by a TSA officer there last November, the suspect reached in and accidentally discharged the weapon, causing chaos at the world's busiest airport.

"That illustrates why loaded weapons are so dangerous, because it's very easy to discharge those weapons," Pekoske said. "When that passenger lunged for the bag, he discharged that firearm into the checkpoint."

Dallas, Houston, Phoenix and Nashville round out the top five.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation, a firearm industry trade association that tracks background checks, says gun sales are up nationwide. In 2020, over 8.4 million people bought a gun for the first time, according to the group. And that year, a record 21 million background checks were conducted, compared to 13.2 million in 2019, the association said.

Mark Oliva, the association's director of public affairs, said travelers can take a gun onto a plane, but only safely and securely as checked luggage.

"For those who do choose to travel with their firearms, understand that it is possible and there's a way to do that," he said. "Make sure that you secure that firearm, either in the proper travel bags that you can have or that you can go through TSA with, or you make sure it's locked up before you even leave the home."

Pekoske warned that taking a gun to a checkpoint could cost you.

"Know that if you do have a weapon and it's detected in the checkpoint, it's first going to take you a lot more time," he said. "Secondly, there might be local law enforcement action. And third, we will follow up with a civil penalty action, so it's a very costly mistake to make."

That fine — $13,910 — and losing your TSA pre-check is pretty costly for something that can be prevented."

Interesting Share PO1 William "Chip" Nagel...didn't know there were that many weapons recovered at Airports. Usually I pack my own bag when flying & believe it or not I have never packed a weapon, loaded or unloaded...! ;) Idiots, all of them for trying to carry on a plane!!

I remember many years back, that the OU/Dallas Cowboy's football Coach Barry Switzer was stopped for trying to carry a weapon in his carry on... but I think he was let go with a stern warning ..(this was long before 9/11).

Many people do not know this- But, with advance notice & filling out the proper forms, you can bring a weapon in your checked luggage on planes with the right storage requirements (i.e. that the weapon is UNLOADED, Ammo stored separate from the gun) also depending on which States you're flying from/to... it is permissible & legal.

The best *seasonal* TSA check I’ve witnessed was @ MSY when the traveler in front of me was transporting a King Cake as part of her carry on luggage. The TSA Officer allowed her to view the screen to ID where the baby was. Long story short the technology worked and she was able to ID where to slice accordingly.