Airport security

Another Near Record-Breaking Week Of Handguns Found By TSA In Carry-On Bags

Seventy-five firearms were discovered last week in carry-on bags by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers around the nation. Of the 75 firearms discovered, 67 were loaded … and 31 had a round chambered.

A record-breaking 78 firearms were found one week in August in carry-on bags at airports around the nation, 68 of which were loaded and 21 had a round chambered, according to TSA.

The previous record of 74 firearms was set in May of 2016, 65 of which were loaded. This broke the previous record of 73 firearms set in April.

As Homeland Security Today has repeatedly reported, year after year the number of firearms confiscated by TSA continues to escalate. 2015 was a record setting year for firearms confiscations, with TSA intercepting 2,653 firearms—seven a day— in carry-on bags at airport security checkpoints across the United States.

That represents a nearly 20 percent increase over the 2,212 firearms discovered in 2014 in carry-on bags at checkpoints across the country, averaging more than six firearms per day. Of those, 1,835 (83 percent) were loaded. Firearms were intercepted at a total of 224 airports; 19 more airports than during 2013.