Dozens of guns seized at Hopkins so far this year

[Watch in the player above: What happens to items surrendered to the TSA?]

CLEVELAND (WJW) — The Transportation Security Administration on Tuesday announced more than 5,000 firearms have been seized at airport security checkpoints so far this year.

That includes 25 firearms seized at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport as of Sept. 30, according to an airport spokesperson. Last year, TSA agents seized a total of 38 guns, according to the spokesperson.

Agents screened a record about 638 million passengers in the first nine months of the year, about 40 million (6.3%) more than by the same time last year.

Of the 5,028 firearms seized this year, 93% were loaded, according to the TSA.

“Each firearm brought to a checkpoint, whether by accident or on purpose, presents a threat to other passengers and our employees, and causes delays for the traveler with the firearm,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske is quoted in the release. “We cannot stress enough the importance of ensuring firearms are secured properly in the passenger’s checked bag and never brought to the security checkpoint.”

Passengers traveling with firearms must store them unloaded in a locked, hard-sided case in their checked baggage and must be declared to the airline when checking their bag at the ticket counter.

Firearms are prohibited in aircraft cabins, at security checkpoints and in the secure area of an airport, even if passengers have concealed carry permits or live where constitutional carry is legal.

The TSA does not seize firearms and instead turns them over to local police. Passengers caught with firearms at the airport may be cited or fined up to $15,000 by the TSA.

On a first offense, passengers lose their TSA PreCheck eligibility for five years. On a second offense, they’re permanently disqualified. See the full list of penalties here .

You can learn more about legally transporting firearms on the TSA website .

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