Firearms found in carry-on luggage at DFW airport are twice the national average

The TSA says they found a record number of firearms in carry-on luggage during security checks at U.S. airports in 2022. North Texas airports were no exception, where firearms were found twice as often as nationwide.

On Monday, TSA agents in San Antonio reported finding a large, powerful, undeclared weapon in their checked baggage. The agency said the weapons were actually reported to the airline the next day and that the agency was not notified, but the discovery highlights what federal officers might find when searching weapons at U.S. airports.

The agency said on Monday that a record 6,500 firearms were found during routine x-ray checks of hand luggage at US airports last year, of which more than 5,700 were loaded.

Of the approximately 761 million passengers and crew screened at more than 400 U.S. airports nationwide, TSA officials found 8.6 firearms in carry-on baggage per million passengers screened, or one in every 116,394 travelers. Conducting an average of two million searches per day, TSA officers intercepted 17.2 firearms at US airports.

Firearms have been found at Dallas airports more than twice as often as nationwide, according to TSA data released this week.

In 2022, 21,867,151 passengers were screened at DFW Airport and officers found 385 firearms, according to the TSA. This means they found one firearm for every 56,797 passengers checked, or 17.6 firearms for every million passengers checked, more than double the national rate of 8.6 firearms per million.

At Dallas Love Field, the speed was even higher. The TSA stated that 5,647,964 passengers were screened at Love Field and that 127 weapons were intercepted. This means that one firearm has been found for every 44,472 passengers screened at Love Field, or 22.5 for every million.

A TSA spokesman told NBC 5 Wednesday there was no particular reason why the interception rate in the Dallas area could be higher, but said the state’s liberal gun laws and improved screening technology could result in more guns being found.

The spokesman added that they are constantly training staff and implementing new security tools at U.S. airports, which could also lead to the discovery of more weapons.

Last year, 1,089 firearms were found at 16 Texas airports, according to the TSA. A list showing the number of firearms found at each airport from 2018 to 2022 is below. In 2020, these numbers have declined due to reduced travel during the pandemic.

The airport where the most firearms were found was Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, where 448 firearms were seized last year.

Hartsfield-Jackson has long been recognized as the busiest passenger airport in the United States.

Other airports in the top five include Houston George W. Bush Intercontinental Airport (3rd), Nashville International Airport (4th), and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (5th).

Orlando, Denver, Austin, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa round out the top ten.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE WEAPON IS FOUND?

The TSA said that when an officer finds a firearm on an x-ray, they notify local police immediately. The local authorities then take charge of the weapon and contact the traveler. What happens to the firearm and the traveler is up to the discretion of airport law enforcement, the TSA said.

In addition to any felony charges from local authorities, the TSA may impose a fine of up to $15,000 and revoke expedited screening benefits such as PreCheck. Penalties can vary depending on several factors, including previous violations, whether the firearm was loaded, and whether ammunition was available.

The TSA reminds travelers that firearms cannot be carried in carry-on baggage, even if the traveler has a gun permit. Traveling with firearms or ammunition may be legal provided these items are declared at the box office and carried in checked baggage.

Travelers with questions about what they can take on a plane can go to the TSA website and visit the What Can I Bring? web page for more information. The TSA also has a webpage with more information about ammunition and firearms travel.

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