TSA Confiscated Over 5,000 Firearms at Airports Since the Start of 2024

Airport security has had quite a busy year in America confiscating various dangerous items from powdered drugs to deadly weapons. The Transport Security Administration (TSA) has since shared an update on its official website regarding the first three quarters of 2024. 

Guns A-Grabbing

The TSA has stated in a recent press release that over 5,000 firearms have been intercepted at airport security checkpoints throughout the United States since the start of the year. On average, TSA would claim nearly 19 guns per day.

Among the 5,028 guns confiscated, only 7% of these guns were emptied. This means nearly 19 of every 20 guns were loaded with ammunition and ready to fire. Security officials screened 678 million passengers from January through September 2024.

The third quarter of 2024 alone saw security personnel confiscate 1,759 firearms. With over 235 million passengers screened for this quarter, 7.5 of every million passengers screened had a firearm stored illegally.

This is considered a slight improvement from the third quarter of 2023, in which 1,820 firearms were confiscated from 225 million passengers. TSA confiscated over 6,700 firearms throughout 2023.

TSA acknowledges the "record-setting summer travel volumes" in 2024 as a contributor to the reduction in the rate-per-million statistic.

TSA Administrator David Pekoske had this to say in Wednesday's press release:

“TSA is committed to keeping travelers, our officers, and airport employees safe, and the number of firearms being discovered at airport security checkpoints remains a significant challenge."

“Each firearm brought to a checkpoint, whether by accident or on purpose, presents a threat to other passengers and our employees, and causes delays for the traveler with the firearm. Passengers who travel with a firearm must store it unloaded in a locked, hard-sided case, place it in their checked bag, and declare it to the airline at the airline ticket counter." 
 

"We cannot stress enough the importance of ensuring firearms are secured properly in the passenger’s checked bag and never brought to the security checkpoint.”
 

TSA constantly shares guidelines with travelers on how to travel with firearms. All firearms must be emptied and stored in a hard-sided safe within a checked bag. Travelers must also let security personnel know in advance that the gun and safe are inside the bag. Guns stored in carry-on bags are strictly prohibited.

TSA may fine travelers who unlawfully carry firearms through security checkpoints up to $15,000. First-time offenders may also have their TSA PreCheck eligibility revoked for five years. Those who violate this guideline a second time will face a lifetime ban from the program.

Notable Gun Confiscation Statistics

Among the most gun confiscations in 2024, Atlanta Hartsfield Airport tops the list with 451. Dallas Forth Worth comes in second at 373, followed by Houston and Phoenix with 311 and 235, respectively.

KDVR in Denver is reporting that Denver International Airport seized 127 guns since the start of 2024. This is ahead of Orlando International Airport which claimed 119, but behind Nashville International Airport which stopped 156.

Fox59 in Indianapolis notes that 62 firearms were detected at Indianapolis International Airport.

Fox28 in Columbus is reporting that 34 firearms were confiscated at John Glenn International Airport since January 2024. Cleveland Hopkins Airport went on to seize 25 more in the state of Ohio.

Despite serving tens of millions of passengers yearly, there have yet to be any figures reported at international airports in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, and Chicago as of this writing.