Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport saw a decrease in the number of guns stopped by TSA officers at security checkpoints in 2023 despite the number hitting an all-time high nationally in with 6,737 firearms, up from the previous record of 6,542 recorded the year before.
53 guns were stopped at MSP, down from 58 in 2022. 13.4 million passengers were screened at MSP last year, meaning TSA officers found firearms in carry-on luggage at a rate of 3.9 firearms per million passengers screened, lower than the national average.
“Responsible gun owners know where their guns are and they know not to bring them to a checkpoint,” Minnesota TSA Federal Security Director Marty Robinson said in a news release. “We urge passengers to start with an empty bag so you know with certainty that there is nothing prohibited inside. Bringing a firearm to the checkpoint is a careless, dangerous mistake that passengers can easily avoid.”
Nationally, the numbers jumped by nearly 200 guns, with 93 percent of the guns loaded according to TSA officials.
The TSA added Thursday that passengers face criminal charges and civil penalties if caught with a firearm at a security checkpoint. That fine can add up to about $15,000. In addition, the TSA revokes TSA PreCheck eligibility for at least five years and may conduct enhanced screening to ensure there are no other threats present.
"You need to place a gun in a checked bag, in a hard cover case, with ammunition separately," Robinson said when asked in November about the procedures for flying with a firearm. "Also, notify the airport you're traveling with it. Do not bring a handgun to a checkpoint."
The number of firearms stopped by TSA at MSP has surpassed 50 each year since 2021.
34 guns were stopped in 2020, 40 were stopped in 2019.
