TSA Says Record Amount of Arms Seized at US Airports This Year

Record number of weapons confiscated by TSA in 2021, reports CBSNews.

Photo: Shutterstock

In 2021, approximately 5700 firearms were seized at airport checkpoints, the highest recorded by the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) since its inception.

In 2021 alone, 5674 weapons were discovered, the agency said on December 13.

The vast majority of weapons - 85% - came with ammunition.

Airports in Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston ranked first in terms of the number of firearms confiscated.

“This is a record level,” TSA chief David Pekoske told reporters at a Dec. 13 briefing.

He said that the previous maximum figure was in 2019 - 4400 weapons were confiscated.

Pekoske said he believes the rise in seizures of firearms reflects "what is happening in the country."

"Cause? I think there's just a lot of gun sales in the country,” Pekoske said.

“That’s the best answer I can give you,” the executive added.

Under TSA policy, individuals transporting loaded or unloaded firearms with available ammunition may face a $ 3000-10 fine and criminal prosecution.

For those who have already come across, this fee is even higher.

Those who previously carried a loaded gun at checkpoints may have to shell out $ 13.

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“This is a pretty costly mistake,” Pekoske said, noting that the TSA will issue a civil lawsuit only after the investigation is completed.

If passengers violate state laws, the TSA will refer the matter to local authorities.

Last week, a 48-year-old Georgia man appeared in federal court in Newark, New Jersey on charges of possession of weapons after allegedly attempting to smuggle firearms through security at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Acting US Attorney Rachel Honig announced that Desmond Herring had been charged with one count of carrying a gun on an airplane and one count of possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon.

Herring was released on $ 100 bail, with home confinement and GPS tracking.

In November chaos erupted at the main checkpoint Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, when firearms were fired during a TSA inspection.

According to the agency, the passenger, who was told not to touch his bag, which was being searched, "rushed into the bag and grabbed a firearm, after which it was lined."

TSA also announced on Monday that it expects holiday trips to be in full swing this year, with peak traffic on December 23 and January 3.

The agency's chief, joined by industry leaders, urged passengers to avoid traveling during "rush hours" - between 5 and 7 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. ahead of the holidays.

During the 10-day Thanksgiving celebration, officers checked just under 21 million travelers, which is on par with travel levels before the pandemic.

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Top 10 airports for attempts to smuggle firearms, according to TSA:

1. Atlanta
2. dallas fort worth
3. Housto.n (IAH)
4. Phoenix
5. Nashville
6. Denver
7. Fort Lauderdale
8. Orlando
9. New Orleans
10. Salt Lake City

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