The Transportation Security Administration stated it has stopped extra than 3,400 guns at airport security checkpoints thus far this yr, and a lot of the firearms had been loaded.
The company additionally stated it screened extra passengers this summer time, together with a record-breaking three million passengers this previous Sunday.
A complete of three,269 firearms had been intercepted at security checkpoints in the course of the first half of 2024, which ended on June 30, the TSA stated, including that 94% of these weapons had been loaded.
The variety of firearms stopped throughout this era was just like the full at this time final yr – which was 3,251 – however the variety of passengers this yr has elevated.
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The Transportation Security Administration introduced that it has stopped extra than 3,400 guns at airport security checkpoints thus far this yr, and a lot of the firearms had been loaded. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Officers screened practically 7% extra passengers in the course of the first half of 2024 than throughout the identical time span final yr, the TSA stated. During the second quarter of 2024, extra than 236 million passengers had been screened, outpacing the extra than 221 million passengers screened in the second quarter of final yr.
So far in 2024, TSA officers have detected a median of 19 firearms per day.
In the primary eight days of July, that are included in the third quarter of 2024, officers throughout the U.S. intercepted one other 166 firearms, totaling 3,435 firearms stopped by officers as of Monday.
The company stated 7.5 firearms per a million passengers had been discovered at security checkpoints in the course of the second quarter of 2024, which is a slight dip from the identical interval final yr when the speed of discovery was 7.9 firearms per a million passengers.
“During a period of record-breaking travel volumes, our officers are working hard to keep our transportation systems secure and the traveling public safe, and any time they detect a firearm, there is a real safety concern for frontline employees and travelers,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske stated in an announcement.
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A complete of three,435 firearms had been stopped by the TSA thus far this yr as of Monday. (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg through Getty Images)
“If you carry a firearm, you are required to place it unloaded and locked in a hard-sided case in your checked bag and declare it to the airline when checking in at the airline ticket counter,” he continued. “Do not bring it to the checkpoint. It is costly and delays you and everyone else traveling in the same lane with you.”
The TSA stated passengers are allowed to journey with a firearm, however it have to be secured in checked baggage, unloaded and locked in a hard-sided case. The passenger should additionally notify the airline when checking the bag at the airline ticket counter.
Firearms are prohibited at security checkpoints, in the safe space of an airport and in the cabin of an airplane, no matter whether or not a passenger has a hid carry allow or is in an space that permits constitutional carry.
TSA officers have detected a median of 19 firearms per day thus far in 2024. (Reuters)
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The company urged passengers touring internationally to concentrate on their vacation spot’s gun legal guidelines, because the area could prohibit touring with firearms and will impose prison penalties.
The TSA famous that it doesn’t confiscate firearms. If a passenger brings a firearm to the security checkpoint, both on their particular person or in their carry-on baggage, an officer will contact police to unload the weapon and take possession of it.Â
Police may arrest or cite the passenger, and the TSA could tremendous passengers as much as practically $15,000 for bringing a gun to a security checkpoint.
