TSA Year in Review Reminds Us We Can't Bring Guns Through Security

The Transportation Security Administration has reported finding a record amount of firearms attempting to pass through airport security checkpoints in 2017. 

It is now 2018. We shouldn't have to be reminded that you can't bring your gun (loaded guns, too!) through airport security, but somehow the situation is only getting worse.

The TSA reported finding 3,957 guns discovered in carry-on bags in 2017. That's a 16.7 percent increase from 2016.

The more disappointing statistic is that 84 percent of those firearms were loaded at the time of discovery and 34.8 percent had a least one round chambered. 

The most firearms discovered in one month as 31 guns discovered in August at the Hatsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Firearms were received at a total of 239 airports.

The top ten airports for firearm discoveries in 2017 were:

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL): 245 (222 Loaded)
Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW): 211 (165 Loaded)
George Bush Intercontinental Airport - Houston (IAH): 142 (124 Loaded)
Denver International (DEN): 118 (102 Loaded)
Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX): 115 (109 Loaded)
Tampa International (TPA): 97 (90 Loaded)
Orlando International Airport (MCO): 94 (82 Loaded)
Dallas Love Field (DAL): 93 (81 Loaded)
Nashville International (BNA): 89 (71 Loaded)
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA): 75 (60 Loaded)

There are ways to travel with your firearm if you so wish. The TSA recommends checking unloaded firearms and ammunition and declaring each firearm every time you present it for transport as checked baggage. For more tips, visit tsa.gov.

Photo: TSA

Posted by Sydny Shepard on Feb 06, 2018