With two more months left in the year, TSA officers at Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) have already found 28 firearms at the airport’s security checkpoints, breaking the previous record of 27 firearms discovered in 2019. Of the 28 firearms seized, 23 were loaded, including 7 that were seized between October 14 and October 23, over a 10-day period.

F-22 Raptor jet sets new record, 28 air-to-air missiles loaded & fired(Opens in a new browser tab)

The most frequent justification offered by travellers is that they “forgot” to bring their loaded firearms with them.
Individuals who bring weapons to a checkpoint may be subject to a civil penalty from the TSA of up to $13,900. Depending on mitigating or aggravating factors, civil penalties for bringing a handgun into a checkpoint can reach thousands of dollars.

Even though a person may have a concealed carry permit, it does not allow for a firearm to be carried onto an aeroplane, so this applies to travellers with concealed gun carry permits or without them. Travelers who have a gun and are TSA PreCheck® members will not be allowed to use TSA PreCheck.

American man allegedly carried live albino alligator in suitcase at German airport: report(Opens in a new browser tab)

If properly packed and declared at the airline ticket counter to be transported in the plane’s belly, travellers are permitted to check their firearms as checked baggage. Firearms that have been checked must be unloaded, secured with a lock in a hard-sided case, and packed apart from ammunition. On its website, TSA has instructions on how to safely travel with a firearm. Before deciding to travel with their firearms, travellers should research local and state firearm possession laws. Additionally, travellers should get in touch with their airline as they might have additional guidelines for bringing weapons and ammunition on flights.

Last year, TSA agents found 5,972 firearms on travellers or in their carryon luggage at checkpoints across the country. In 2021, the TSA confiscated about 86 percent loaded guns.