(NewsWorthy.news) – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) offloaded more than 3,200 firearms in the first six months in airports across the nation, besides 166 other guns in the first eight days of July.
As of July 8, the total number of weapons intercepted at airports across the country in 2024 stands at 3,435, of which almost 94% were found loaded.
In the first six months of 2023, almost 3,251 guns were captured at airports, but this number rose to 6,737 by the end of the year with nearly 858 million people being scanned.
While the number of guns detected in the first half of 2024 was slightly increased compared to the last year, more people were screened this time.
Some guns were found in the luggage of the passengers, while others were present in the personal possession of the travelers, the TSA added. Even if someone is constitutionally protected to possess a firearm in the United States, they can still face fines of up to $15,000 if they fail to follow the proper gun-carrying protocols specifically designed for airports. The TSA can also impose other penalties on offenders such as conducting special screening to eliminate the possibility of any other threat.
Carrying a firearm at airport checkpoints, secure areas or within the airplane cabin is generally not allowed, even with a concealed carry permit. The TSA also advised Americans going abroad to understand the local gun laws of their destination, as carrying a gun in some countries can push travelers into significant legal trouble.
TSA administrator David Pekoske stated that the standard way to carry a gun through a plane is to pack it in a hard-sided case unloaded, put it in the checked bag, and inform the airline about the possession. The breach of these protocols, Pekoske added, increases troubles for the offenders as well as other people traveling through the same checkpoint.
Pekoske claimed that the moment TSA detects a firearm at the airport, it becomes a safety concern for anyone around.
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