PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Transportation Security Administration is finding more guns than ever at airport checkpoints, and the reason doesn’t appear to be a greater threat of terrorism.
Most of the travelers caught with guns at airport checkpoints say they forgot they had it with them, according to the TSA. But that’s no defense, said Gerardo Spero, TSA federal security director in Philadelphia.
“What we hear is, ‘I forgot it was in my bag,’ or, ‘Somebody else packed my bag for me.’ But again, what I would say is as a responsible firearm owner, you should never really forget where your gun is,” he said. “There is a safe and legal way to travel with firearms.”
The TSA found 39 guns at checkpoints in Philadelphia last year — up 50% from 2020, during which fewer people were traveling because of COVID-19.
Across the commonwealth, they stopped a total of 89 guns at security checkpoints. TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein said five more guns were found at Philly checkpoints just last month.
“Already last year with 39 firearms, that set a record for this airport. We don’t want to set records for most guns caught. We want to see that go in the opposite direction,” she said. “We want people who own firearms to know where they are and to maybe do a little homework before you bring it to an airport.”
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Guns must be unloaded and stored in a hard-sided case with a lock, and inside checked baggage. Even if a traveler has a concealed carry permit, the TSA said they cannot carry a gun onto an airplane. Violators can face fines up to $14,000 and possible criminal charges.
Farbstein said the TSA intercepted nearly 6,000 guns at airport checkpoints nationwide last year — up by more than a third over 2019. Of the 6,000 guns, 86% were loaded.