More than 5,000 guns caught by TSA at airport security checkpoints in nine months

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says it has intercepted thousands of guns at airport security checkpoints as of September.

According to a spokesperson for TSA, officers have intercepted 5,028 firearms at airport security checkpoints during the first nine months of 2024.

The spokesperson said the total represents an average of 18 guns detected per day at TSA checkpoints, more than 93% of which were reported to be loaded.

TSA shared photos of some of the firearms intercepted by TSA officers at security checkpoints so far this year, one of which was a teal gun caught at Richmond International Airport.

According to Robin “Chuck” Burke, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Central Virginia, when TSA officers detect a firearm among a traveler’s carry-on items using the X-ray unit, the conveyor belt comes to a stop and law enforcement officers are contacted.

“Police then remove the firearm from the X-ray machine because we do not want our officers handling firearms as that is an accident waiting to happen,” Burke said.

Law enforcement officials then decide whether to issue a criminal citation or arrest the traveler. According to the spokesperson, TSA officials also have the right to issue a civil financial penalty that typically costs thousands of dollars for that individual.

Civil penalties for bringing a gun into a checkpoint also apply to individuals with or without concealed gun carry permits, because a concealed carry permit does not allow a firearm to be carried through a checkpoint, according to officials.

Additionally, if a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges, according to the spokesperson.

For information on how to travel with a firearm and ammunition, visit TSA’s website .

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