TSA Intercepts Over 3,200 Firearms in First Half of 2023 at US Airports

Can we please stay on topic? First, I don’t own a gun but if I did I’d be damn sure aware of the rules before I boarded an aircraft. I flew after 9/11 through BWI and some idiot tried to get though security with a gun. Everyone was instructed to freeze where they were. The guns the police were carrying were serious and they’re a lot more formidable when they’re 10 feet in front of you. I have no problem with gun ownership, but if you are the responsible gun owner that you claim to be.. follow the rules. We all want to get there on time.

Back in about 1980, I flew from my Tucson home to my parent's Detroit area home. They did not want to get my 22 cal. Marlin rifle to move it to their next home. I had to take it or it would be trashed. I contacted the airline and gave me too many rules. I took that rifle apart and put it into a cardboard box. It never saw the passenger section. I put it together after I got back to Tucson.

I was surprised, but then, is I recall people still trying to lit a cig or vape on the planes... So I'm nolonger surprised

If 3200 guns were caught, how many knives and other possible weapon types were found…some of you can downplay TSA if you want…some of the dismissive attitudes are interesting to read until something really threatening happens. Plenty of news reports recently on pax deciding to act up during flights. E-landings and law enforcement intervening. Then there is the lingering quiet question…with so many being caught/found, what percentage are getting through…still? Not so much guns but the other potential threatening objects.

It happened at San Diego last Wednesday. A 40-50 yr old woman, 1 person ahead of me, had a round in the chamber in her luggage. It was clear as day on TSA's review screen. She tried to disown her luggage, but she was probably arrested & will eventually pay a >$4000 fine for her antics.

Well done! But how many got through?

Years ago I took a carry-on through security that was flagged. I thought it was bec ause I had a loaded magazine (the gun itself was in my checked bag), but no...it was because I had 2 sculptured eggs that "looked suspicious". The screener never even noticed the magazine apparently.

If only people knew the simple rules for traveling (flying) with a firearm...

I wished the article had detailed how many were actually charged with an offense. In 05 my son was killed in Iraq and I had to catch a civilian airliner. I always carry my trauma bag wherever I go and on that trip, I had forgotten my seatbelt cutter/knife. It was caught and taken away. I ended up mailing it to myself but the mistake was my fault however it was still classified as a weapon in my luggage. Haven't travelled the airlines in years but still CCW my weapon when I fly my plane and I can see how some would forget.

It’s pretty rare that I’m not armed. I travel occasionally via airline and usually with at least one firearm. The rules are not hard to follow and I am vigilant to not forget what is where. I have got dinged for forgetting about a pocketknife or two but never a firearm.

I don’t understand the casual forgetfulness of most of those 3,251 (and probably more) examples.

If not a threat, why 92% loaded?

Good job

American Idiot by Green Day comes to mind

A small plastic replica souvenir of the Burg Khalifa inside my carry on at SIN caused all of my bag contents to be dumped out for an enhanced inspection.

Very likely zero of those people intended to hijack the plane. They just forgot that their weapon was in their bag.

But if they don't know that the gun is there, it is obviously useless for self-defense.

These are the guns that are stolen because the owner wasn't taking care with their bag. They end up in the criminal underworld, a threat to us all.

Worse, these are the guns that inquisitive little hands find when the bag is casually tossed on the floor. (Anyone who's had children knows about those little hands).

I'd say that such carelessness with a lethal weapon is clear evidence that the owner is seriously irresponsible with guns. First offense: lose the right to carry a weapon for a year. Second offense: permanent ban.

Never fails on this (and other sites where comments about public safety are encouraged) to bring out the politically naive with their little drama scenarios, name calling, category lumping and general venting. I used to believe this derived mostly from their failure to continue reading after high school…now however I think there are far more variables involved.

The gross stupidity of those attempting to carry on firearms convinces me these people shouldn’t be allowed to possess any.

It seems like the intent of the article was just to remind people about the rules for flying with firearms. Whether you like the rules or not, if you want to fly with firearms
you still have to follow them until they are changed. Somehow, the discussion degenerated into a political discussion which I think is kind of off base for an aviation related forum.

I can remember flying from Huntsville, AL to Tucson, AZ in 1986 to visit an Army buddy from Korea @ Fort Huachuca, AZ. Took my .38 in the checked luggage & we had a Grand Old Time shooting up targets.

Good job!

"A well-regulated militia..." How soon we forget.

any chance at least one of the 3.200 had actual feelings of hijacking an airliner, or shooting up the inside of an airliner?

I suspect the TSA is about as good at stopping weapons from being smuggled aboard a plane as is the US government is being able to stop the flow of fentanyl and "others" into the country.

Stupid paywall

The need for Federal Air Marshalls on every flight is high due to the TSA's ability to not catch all of the weapons being brought on board. To put the FAMs at the border babysitting, etc., is criminal.

Call me cynical, but I cannot imagine that many fliers forgetting they had a firearm in their carry on or that you couldn’t carry a CCW onto a commercial airline. That leads me to wonder how many of those firearms were TSA test firearms?

What do you expect when the U.S. worships at the altar of firearms and makes it as easy as possible for anyone to carry. Did you really think the guns would stay at home?

Well regulated militia?

If I were thinking about hijacking an Airliner right now, I would be very worried about some trigger happy jerk with a gun that through. That could ruin everything. Hijacking just ain't safe anymore.

Hmm, I guess if Boot-Edge-Edge thinks over 2,000 train derailments are normal, then 3200 firearms is not a problem at all?

...shall not be infringed.

... begs the question how many "hundreds of thousands " are coming across the open border?

yea, and if you believe this tripe, you probably voted for Creepy Joe.