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.

  • By Haley Samsel
  • Oct 15, 2019

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

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • 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.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.