In strict violation of U.S. law, the TSA has announced a rising trend in attempts to bring firearms into the skies, with 3,391 uncovered at security checkpoints in 2016–a 28 percent increase over 2015.
Thus far, 2017 does not seem to be doing any better. At San Antonio International Airport (SAT) alone this past week, TSA officers announced the discovery of five firearms–four of which were loaded–passengers were attempting to bring aboard planes inside their carry-on baggage. All were detected by X-ray screening at security screening checkpoints, but that doesn’t undercut the disturbing fact that the SAT has discovered 38 firearms at such checkpoints so far this year. By the end of last year, they had intercepted 57.
“This is a good opportunity to continue to remind passengers that you cannot bring a firearm to an airport security checkpoint,” TSA SAT Federal Security Director Jess Presas said. “Firearms can only be transported in a checked bag that is declared to the airline at the ticket counter and properly packed in a locked, hard-sided container.”
Under current law, firearms that attempt to breach a checkpoint can earn a passenger a civil penalty of up to $11,000. On average, though, loaded firearms are met with a $3,000 penalty and unloaded firearms $1,500. Firearm parts, ammunition, and realistic replicas are also not allowed through security checkpoints but are welcome via checked bags.
At SAT, each of the recent cases saw TSA officers notify the San Antonio Airport Police, who arrived and took charge of both the weapons and the passengers. In all cases, the passengers were then allowed to continue their flight or rebook, though the weapons were seized.