Summary
- The TSA team at Reagan National Airport confiscates a gun with floral designs on it.
- Getting caught with firearms at TSA checkpoints can result in a fine of up to $15,000.
- TSA nationwide intercepted over 1,500 guns in Q1 2024.
The TSA officers at Reagan National Airport intercepted a woman from Georgia carrying a firearm with her in her carry-on luggage. Despite claiming to have mistakenly placed it in her handbag, the Airport Police team was involved, and the passenger was issued with a criminal citation.
The TSA further revealed that the number of firearms confiscated at the TSA checkpoints at Reagan Airport has seen a steady increase in recent years.
A flowery threat
While it is common knowledge that passengers should not carry firearms onboard an aircraft, it is important to realize that this rule is still valid even if the firearms have pretty floral designs. On September 9th,
Transportation Security Administration
(TSA) members at Washington Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) intercepted a passenger at the security checkpoint because a 9mm firearm was located in her handbag.
Due to the severity of the incident, the Washington Airports Authority Police were involved, and members of the team responded to the situation at the checkpoint.
The TSA’s Federal Security Director for DCA, John Busch, stated the following:
“This gun was intercepted at our checkpoint just three days before the 23rd anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on our nation.
It doesn’t matter what color your gun is-black, green, teal-they are all prohibited on planes. People who own firearms need to know where their guns are at all times. And 23 years after 9/11, everyone should know that you are not allowed to carry any weapons past our checkpoints. Our officers are good at what they do and everyone who works for TSA is very mindful of how the terrorist attacks of 9/11 impacted our nation.”
An increasing trend
The TSA, being critical of such safety hazards, keeps detailed records of such incidents. The data indicates that the number of firearms caught at TSA checkpoints in DCA has been increasing over the years. In fact, since 2018, the security members at DCA alone have intercepted 166 guns to date.
Photo: Abid Habib | Simple Flying
Additionally, the TSA states that carrying a firearm to airport security checkpoints can result in a federal civil penalty, including fines of up to $15,000. The TSA has further stated that even travelers with concealed gun carry permits are not allowed to bring firearms to the checkpoints either.
Firearms caught on passengers with TSA PreCheck will have their PreCheck privileges revoked.
Other airports
When looking beyond data from DCA and gun confiscations at airports across the country, data reveals that the TSA had intercepted over 1,500 guns during the first quarter of this year. To make matters more serious, a staggering 93% of the interceptions reveal that the firearm was loaded at the time.
Having intercepted nearly 7,000 firearms at checkpoints across airports in 2023, the data shows that the daily average of the number of guns found at TSA checkpoints is 16.5.
Photo: David Tran Photo | Shutterstock
Not only is the number of firearms high, but passengers are also getting creative with the way they are trying to sneak illegal items past security. In fact, just a few weeks ago, a passenger at DCA attempted to carry a stun gun onboard an aircraft that was disguised as an iPhone.