Belt. Off.
Shoes. Off.
Phone out of pocket. Yes.
Laptop and iPad in separate trays. Done.
Guns. Ermmmm…
Methodology
Travellers who bring firearms to the checkpoint are subject to criminal charges from law enforcement and civil penalties from TSA.
Even if a traveller has a concealed weapon permit, firearms are not permitted to be carried onto an aeroplane.
However, travellers with proper firearm permits can travel legally with their firearms in their checked bags if they follow a few simple guidelines to transport firearms and ammunition safely.
Results
Guns identified at US airports
| Year | Nationwide |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 926 |
| 2009 | 976 |
| 2010 | 1,123 |
| 2011 | 1,320 |
| 2012 | 1,556 |
| 2013 | 1,813 |
| 2014 | 2,212 |
| 2015 | 2,653 |
| 2016 | 3,391 |
| 2017 | 3,957 |
| 2018 | 4,239 |
| 2019 | 4,432 |
Transportation Security Administration officers caught more firearms at checkpoints nationwide in 2019, more than ever recorded previously.
In total, 4,432 firearms were discovered in carry-on bags or on passengers at checkpoints across the country last year, averaging about 12.1 firearms per day, approximately a 5% increase nationally in firearm discoveries from the total of 4,239 detected in 2018.
What’s more, eighty-seven percent of firearms detected at checkpoints last year were loaded.
Worst airports
| Airport | Weapons Identified |
|---|---|
| Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL) | 323 |
| Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) | 217 |
| Denver International (DEN) | 140 |
| George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) | 138 |
| Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) | 132 |
Firearms were caught at 278 airport checkpoints in the US.
The top five airports where TSA officers detected guns at checkpoints in 2019 were: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International with 323; Dallas/Fort Worth International with 217; Denver International with 140; George Bush Intercontinental with 138; and Phoenix Sky Harbor International with 132.
Improvements
As noted, there is no distinction between guns authorised to be carried on-board and guns carried illegally. Being able to extrapolate how many guns were seized would add a different perspective to the analysis.
tl;dr
4432 guns were identified at US airports security checkpoints in 2019 (compared to just 926 in 2008).