TSA expects to break firearm seizure record at airports this year

In the first three quarters of 2023, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported 5,072 firearms intercepted at airport security checkpoints, putting it on track to break its own record of seizures by the end of the year.

With more than 1,800 firearms stopped this quarter alone, the agency noted that it could surpass last year’s record 6,542 firearms blocked from aircraft. This would not be an issue if passengers traveling with firearms properly packed them in checked baggage and declared them to their airlines, but according to the TSA, most of those detected and seized were brought in carry-on bags.

“Passengers may travel with a firearm, but it must be in their checked baggage,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said. “Firearms are only permitted in checked baggage, unloaded in a locked hard-sided case and must be declared to the airline when checking the bag at the ticket counter. Firearms are prohibited at security checkpoints, in the secure area of an airport or in the passenger cabin of an aircraft even if a passenger has a concealed carry permit or is in a constitutional carry jurisdiction.”

At the current rates, TSA has been essentially seizing 19.8 firearms per day at checkpoints. Worse: more than 94 percent of them were loaded at the time. The problem has become so prevalent, the agency officially recommended passengers pack a separate, empty carry-on bag to guarantee they do not accidentally leave a gun in their travel bag.

Those who fail to remember this and bring a firearm to a TSA checkpoint will have it seized by TSA and turned over to local law enforcement to unload and confiscate it. At that point, offenders could be arrested or cited, depending on local laws, and the TSA itself could impose a civil penalty of nearly $15,000. Said passengers would also lose TSA PreCheck eligibility for five years.