While the number of people traveling by plane remains at historic lows nationwide, the number of guns being seized at airport security checkpoints has taken off, prompting concern for the federal government.
The Transportation Security Administration said Monday that its officers found 3 times more firearms inside passengers’ carry-on bags in July than it did the same month last year. For every 1 million people screened by TSA, 15.3 guns were detected compared to 5.1 in July 2019.
“The rate is particularly alarming, given that TSA screened about 75% fewer passengers in July 2020, over the previous year’s volume,” the federal agency wrote in a statement.
“TSA is diligently working to ensure our employees and passengers are safe and secure while traveling during a pandemic, and yet we are noticing a significant increase in loaded firearms coming into checkpoints,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “Travelers must understand that firearms are prohibited items at airports and in the passenger cabins of aircraft. As hard as we are working to mitigate other risks at this time, no one should be introducing new ones.”
Eighty percent of guns seized at security checkpoints were loaded, which Pekoske described as “just an accident waiting to happen.”
The number of loaded and unloaded firearms apprehended by officers has increased every year over the past decade. In 2007, the Department of Homeland Security agency documented 803 guns discovered at airport checkpoints. That number ticked up a few dozen in the first year and then began climbing a few hundred each year after. By 2014, TSA reported 2,212 gun seizures and then 2,653 in 2015. More than 4,400 airline passengers attempted to pass through security checkpoints at U.S. airports with guns in 2019, marking a new all-time high.
Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality. But when flying, firearms must be unloaded and locked in a hard-sided container and transported as checked baggage. All parts, including ammunition, must be declared at the airline ticket counter during the check-in process. Those who do not follow the law can be arrested and fined up to $13,333.
