TSA Intercepted Record Number of Firearms Last Year
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) revealed today it found a record number of firearms at airport security checkpoints in 2023. The TSA intercepted 6,737 firearms last year, and that surpasses the previous year’s record of 6,542 which was the highest one-year total in TSA’s history. Approximately 93% of these firearms were loaded.
“We are still seeing far too many firearms at TSA checkpoints, and what’s particularly concerning is the amount of them loaded, presenting an unnecessary risk to everyone at the TSA checkpoint,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “Firearms and ammunition are strictly prohibited in carry-on baggage. Passengers are only allowed to travel with an unloaded firearm, and only if they pack it properly in a locked, hard-sided case in their checked baggage and first declare it to the airline at the check-in counter.”
In 2023, TSA screened more than 858 million individuals. That means that TSA intercepted 7.8 firearms per million passengers, which is actually a drop from 8.6 per million passengers in 2022.
In the fourth quarter of 2023, which ended Dec. 31, Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) stopped 1,665 firearms at checkpoints. The total represents an average of 18 firearms per day at TSA checkpoints, of which nearly 93% were loaded.
When a firearm is detected at a security checkpoint, TSOs contact local law enforcement, who remove the passenger and the firearm from the checkpoint area. Depending on local laws, the law enforcement officer may arrest or cite the passenger. TSA does not confiscate firearms.
TSA can fine passengers who bring a firearm to a TSA checkpoint with a civil penalty up to approximately $15,000. It can also revoke TSA PreCheck® eligibility for at least five years. View the complete list of penalties.
For more information on how to properly travel with a firearm, you can visit this TSA page.
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They only catch a fraction of the firearms (or other banned items) that are brought through security yet we didn’t have any shootings are airplanes this past year. Overserved (at airport bars and by FA’s) passengers are much more of a problem.