The Transportation Safety Administration says it is on track to beat last year’s record of 6,542 firearms stopped at security and kept off aircraft. In the three months just ended, it seized 1,820, 94% of which were loaded.
The total for the first nine months was 5,072, or almost 20 per day. When a gun is found, TSA calls local law enforcement to safely unload the weapon and take possession of it; depending on jurisdiction, they may also arrest or cite the passenger. TSA can also impose a civil penalty of up to $15,000 and can revoke PreCheck membership for five years.
Under TSA and other federal rules, guns can be transported only unloaded, and in a locked hard-sided case inside checked bags. It must be declared to the agents at check-in.
