(NewsSpace.com) – When people fly, they are not allowed to bring firearms on board. They are, however, allowed to check the weapon, provided it’s unloaded and secured in a locked, hard-sided container that is not easily accessed. The gun and any ammunition must be declared with the airline. However, despite clearly posting these rules, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says it has confiscated more guns this year when compared to the same period last year.
On Tuesday, July 9, the TSA announced it had seized more than 3,400 firearms at security checkpoints so far in 2024, an average of 19.4 per day. As of the halfway mark, which ended June 30, the agency had confiscated 3,269. At the same point in 2023, it had seized 3,251, marking just a slight increase. Even more concerning is that the majority of these weapons (94%) were loaded at the time agents took them. In the same period in 2023, 92% of weapons discovered were loaded.
The TSA cautions people to follow the rules; otherwise, it can end up in delays for both the party with the gun and anyone behind them. The agency notes that despite open carry laws, those do not apply to air travel, and no guns are allowed at security checkpoints, the secure part of an airport, or in a plane’s cabin.
Additionally, travelers should always pay attention to the laws at their destination, as they may prohibit guns and/or ammunition, no matter what the US allows. That has been demonstrated recently, with several Americans being detained after authorities discovered ammunition in their luggage. Five were arrested in Turks and Caicos and sentenced to a range of three weeks to 33 months, all of which were suspended, provided they didn’t get in trouble again in the country. Each had to pay a fine as well, after pleading guilty, and all have returned to the United States.
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