TSA Found Record Number of Firearms at Airport Checkpoints in 2023

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers intercepted a total of 6,737 firearms at airport security checkpoints nationwide last year.

What's more, approximately 93 percent of those weapons were loaded, the agency announced Wednesday. 2023's total surpasses the previous record of 6,542 firearms stopped at checkpoints in 2022.

Last year's disturbing figure is now the highest one-year total in TSA's history.

"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," TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a statement.

"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."

While the total number of firearms went up, TSA screened more than 858 million individuals in 2023, which means it found 7.8 firearms per million passengers. That's down from 8.6 guns per million passengers in 2022.

In addition to potential arrest and citations from local law enforcement, travelers caught trying to get through security with a firearm are subject to a civil penalty of up to $15,000. TSA will also revoke TSA PreCheck eligibility for at least five years.

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