Record Number Of Guns Confiscated At Texas Airports

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Airports in Austin, Dallas and Houston were among the nation's top ten where a record number of firearms were confiscated from carry-on bags last year, the Transportation Security Administration said on Thursday.

All told, the TSA intercepted 4,329 firearms at security checkpoints across the country — a record number discovered at an average rate of 11.6 firearms discovered each day, according to the TSA's blog. That's a 7 percent increase from 2017, representing 282 more guns found last year over 2017, according to the TSA.

At four Texas airports alone, 490 firearms were intercepted. All but 23 of those confiscated guns were loaded, TSA officials noted.

Other key findings:

• Firearms were intercepted at 249 of the nation's 440 federalized airports.
• 3,656 (86.15 percent) of the total firearms discovered were loaded, representing another record level.
• 1,432 (33.74 percent) of the total firearms discovered had a round chambered.
• The most firearms discovered in one month was discovered in August at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Following are the U.S. airports where the most firearms were found on carry-on luggage in 2018, as compiled by the TSA:

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, 298 firearms (253 loaded).
• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, 219 (193 loaded).
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, 129 (120 loaded).
• Denver International Airport, 126 (95 loaded).
• Orlando International Airport, 123 (112 loaded).
• Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, 117 (115 loaded).
• Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, 96 (80 loaded).
• Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, 93 (76 loaded).
• Dallas Love Field Airport, 89 (83 loaded).
• Nashville International Airport, 86 (80 loaded).

In short, firearms are never allowed on carry-on bags, and the TSA could impose civil penalties of up to $13,333 per violation, per person for prohibited items violations and violations of other TSA regulations. Repeat violations will result in higher penalties.

"We strongly suggest travelers contact their airline for specific firearm and ammunition policies and check local laws related to the carrying and transport of firearms. If you plan to travel with your firearm, make sure you know the rules for packing it in your checked baggage."

But it wasn't just firearms that were intercepted last year. The TSA released a photo showing a sample of some other prohibited items discovered, including (pictured clockwise below):

• Three smoke grenades were discovered in a checked bag at Nashville International Airport in November.
• An inert grenade was detected in a carry-on bag at McCarran International Airport in November.
• A bottle of lighter fluid was discovered in a carry-on bag of a passenger traveling from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in December.
• Fireworks were discovered in the carry-on bag of a passenger traveling from Orlando International Airport in December. .
• Five replica mortar shells were discovered in the checked bag of an Orlando International Airport passenger in December. "We had to stop baggage screening operations until an explosives specialist could respond and declare the items safe," the TSA noted.

Anything resembling an explosive item is prohibited in carry-on and checked bags, TSA officials reminded travelers. "If you are not sure if an item is allowed in your bag, check out our What Can I Bring tool, snap a photo and Tweet or Facebook Message us, call us at (866) 289-9673 or shoot us an email (pun intended)," the TSA blog reads.

Read the full story at the TSA blog.

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>>> Images via Transportation Security Administration