18 Guns Have Been Seized At Wisconsin Airports In 2023 So Far: TSA

WISCONSIN — Airports across Wisconsin saw 18 guns seized by the Transportation Security Administration in the first half of 2023, six more than what was seized in the same time frame last year, the federal agency announced Tuesday.

TSA officers across the nation seized over 3,200 guns in the first half of 2023, or around 18 per day, according to a news release from the agency. Of those guns nationwide, around 92 percent were loaded. Last year, the TSA stopped just over 3,050 guns, of which 86 percent were loaded.

If the TSA finds a loaded gun on a passenger in a secure area or on an aircraft, the penalties could range from $3,000 to over $10,000 in fines alongside a criminal referral, according to the TSA's website. The penalties are similar for an unloaded gun with accessible ammunition.

“As summer travel ramps up, we continue to see far too many passengers bringing firearms to the checkpoint,” Wisconsin TSA Federal Security Director Mark Lendvay said in a news release. “This is a careless, expensive mistake that introduces unnecessary risk into the crowded checkpoint environment. We hope to see these figures decline in the second half of the year.”

The number of intercepted guns at Wisconsin airports has continued to climb in the first week of July, the TSA said. Guns were discovered on July 4 in Milwaukee and July 6 in Appleton.

If a passenger is found with a gun at a TSA checkpoint, the officers contact local law enforcement to check the bag, take the gun and process the passenger. The TSA then can impose a civil penalty up to nearly $15,000 and eliminate eligibility for PreCheck for five years.

Nationwide in the first half of 2023, there has been a 6 percent increase in the number of firearm catches compared to the first half of 2022, the TSA said. Meanwhile, passenger volume increased 15 percent, showing an actual decline in the rate of firearms at airport checkpoints.

"As of June 30, 2023, TSA stopped about eight firearms per million passengers. During the first half of calendar year 2022, TSA prevented 8.5 firearms per million passengers. Firearm possession laws vary by state and local government, but firearms are prohibited at TSA security checkpoints, in the secure area of an airport, and on board aircraft, even if a passenger has a concealed carry permit," the news release from the federal agency said.

Here are the numbers for how many guns were caught at Wisconsin TSA checkpoints in the first half of 2023:

• Milwaukee Mitchell International (MKE): 10.
• Appleton International (ATW): 5.
• Green Bay Austin Straubel Field (GRB): 1.
• Dane County Regional (MSN): 2.