TSA Facing Rise in Firearms Confiscations In States With More Permissive Gun Laws

TSA Facing Rise in Firearms Confiscations In States With More Permissive Gun Laws

The increase in gun confiscations has caused delays in security check lines and increases in local police calls to airports.

While the TSA has increased its efforts to warn passengers against bringing their firearms to the airport, the number of firearms seized at airports over the past five years has grown in scale, especially in states where residents are not required to have a permit to carry a concealed weapon. 

Between 2014 and 2018, TSA records show that the number of guns confiscated by agents has increased by 92 percent, according to a Bloomberg News analysis. The 10 major airports with the highest gun seizure rates per passenger screened are in states with concealed carry laws or where officials are required to issue permits to all law-abiding residents. 

Those airports include Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta and the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. In contrast, the majority of airports with the lowest seizure rates give government officials “more discretion to deny permits,” Bloomberg reported. 

The increasing amount of guns placed in carry-on luggage has caused delays in security check lines and growing frustration from TSA agents. While it is legal for passengers to put a gun in their checked baggage as long as it’s empty of bullets, an unloaded gun cannot be taken in a carry-on. TSA agents have to take the passenger to the side and call local police if they find one. 

In 2018, the agency detected guns in carry-on bags more than 4,200 times, breaking a record. About 86 percent of confiscated firearms were also loaded, according to the TSA data. Most passengers forgot the weapons were in their bags. 

“Assuming that all those people who are caught with a firearm aren’t terrorists, that’s a huge distraction from the mission of TSA to keep terrorists off planes,” John Pistole, a former TSA administrator and current president of Anderson University in Indiana, told Bloomberg. 

For some lawmakers, the growing rate of confiscations is a positive sign that the TSA is catching people who are (accidentally or not) breaking the law by bringing firearms on board. 

Rep. Bennie Thompson, who heads the House Homeland Security Committee, said he is currently satisfied with how the agency is handling the increase in firearms seizures. In previous years, the TSA has struggled with uncovering weapons, failing as many as 95 percent of its internal tests in 2015. The TSA said its fail rate has improved since then, though it has not said by how much. 

“I see it as a positive in a sense that we are catching the people, even if we catch it more,” Thompson said. 

 

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Mall of America Deploys AI-Powered Analytics to Enhance Parking Intelligence

    Mall of America®, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America, announced an expansion of its ongoing partnership with Axis Communications to deploy cutting-edge car-counting video analytics across more than a dozen locations. With this expansion, Mall of America (MOA) has boosted operational efficiency, improved safety and security, and enabled more informed decision-making around employee scheduling and streamlining transportation for large events. Read Now

  • Security Industry Association Launches New “askSIA” AI Tool

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has unveiled a brand-new SIA member benefit – askSIA, a conversational AI agent designed to help users get the most out of their SIA membership, easily access SIA resources and find the latest information on SIA’s training and courses, reports and publications, events, certification offerings and more. SIA members can easily find askSIA by visiting the SIA homepage or looking for the askSIA icon in the top left of webpages. Read Now

    • Industry Events
  • Industry Embraces Mobile Access, Biometrics and AI

    A combination of evolving workplace dynamics, technology innovation and new user expectations is changing how people enter and interact with physical spaces. Access control is at the heart of these changes. Combined with biometrics and AI, mobile access control has become increasingly crucial for deploying entry solutions that are seamless, secure and adaptive to user needs. Read Now

  • Sustainable Video Solution Delivered for Landmark City of London Office Development

    An advanced, end-to-end video solution from IDIS, with a focus on reducing waste and costs, has helped a major office development in the City of London align its security with sustainability objectives. Read Now

  • DHS to End ‘Shoes-Off’ Travel Policy

    Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced a new policy today which will allow passengers traveling through domestic airports to keep their shoes on while passing through security screening at TSA checkpoints. Read Now

New Products

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.