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As the busy holiday travel season approaches, federal security officials are asking those planning flights to pay attention to what they can and cannot carry on air travel.

The Transportation Security Administration recommends that it is very important for passengers travelling on commercial airlines to prepare for flight before arriving at the airport. It helps to ensure that the conditions on the aircraft are safe and the boarding process will not be slowed down by the numerous safety issues that arise in the airport.

Across the country, the number of guns brought into airports in an improper way (usually illegally) has been on the rise this year. The TSA report stated that about 4,900 guns have been found so far this year.

Back in 2018 and 2019, the totals are much lower: 4,239 and 4.432 respectively. TSA spokesperson Lorie Dankers said that the total number in 2020 is only 3,257, but the sharp decrease can be attributed to the sharp reduction in air travel last year due to the pandemic.

As more and more people resume air travel, the number of such incidents at Medford Airport is also increasing. This medium-sized airport only reported 5 improperly carried guns last year, but this number has jumped to 12 so far this year. This number is down from the 14 guns found in 2019, but it is related to local TSA staff.

Dankers emphasized that the number of passengers departing from Medford Airport has reached 97% of the 2019 level. As of Monday, the United States will lift restrictions on foreign travelers who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, so U.S. airports will become busier.

Bringing guns to TSA security checkpoints may face civil fines of at least US$1,500, up to a maximum of US$13,910. It may also lead to potential local criminal penalties.

If you have a concealed carry permit, you still cannot carry a gun as a carry-on item.

Dankers recommends that travelers with guns and other weapons check the local laws related to weapons in the communities where they will travel. Please also keep in mind that some airlines have stricter regulations on what passengers can carry, and not all airlines allow guns in checked baggage. Checking these rules before the flight is an important part of the travel plan.

Guns, ammunition, magazines and magazines must be specially packed in bags that go through the airport check-in procedures. Firearms and most gun accessories cannot be carried on the plane by passengers.

Parts such as firearms and ammunition cannot be loosened in the bag. All these items need to be packed in a safe, hard-sided box, and the part of the box is designed to put everything in the bag. This includes magazines and clips.

Remove all bullets from the gun to make sure it is not loaded. Put small ammunition into a fiber container made of wood, plastic, metal or the box where the ammunition was purchased. Put that package in the box.

The box should be completely safe. Many containers have two spaces at the top or edge, which can be secured with locks. Dankers said that both sides of the gun container should be secured so that no one can force it to partially open on one side and steal the contents.

Go to the ticket counter to declare your guns, ammunition and any parts.

Items that cannot be taken on board at all include: butane, chlorine, explosives and replicas of explosives, flares, fuel, gunpowder, black powder, strike caps, rocket launchers, fireworks, and spray paint.

In many cases, there are things that people might think cannot bring but can actually bring. However, such items must be packaged in accordance with TSA rules.

A range of items that people carry with them for work and hobbies are considered too dangerous and are not allowed in the seating area of ​​commercial aircraft, but can be placed in checked baggage: baseball bats, box openers, bull thorns, and corkscrews with blades Just a few examples. Knives and any sharp objects allowed on the plane should be packed in checked baggage and properly wrapped.

Any gels, liquids, aerosols, and cream items in containers larger than 3.4 ounces, such as food, toiletries, and medicines, cannot be carried on the plane by passengers. Those larger items need to be placed in checked baggage.

The one exception is hand sanitizer. People can carry containers up to 12 ounces. However, these large containers may slow down the speed of security checks.

Even toys and replica guns need to be placed in checked luggage.

If no one around can take your gun and keep it for you until you return, the items that are not allowed to be carried will eventually be taken away by airport security personnel.

For more detailed information to help simplify air travel preparation, please visit tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all.

The TSA website also provides information on how to pack and other useful tips.

People can also "ask the TSA" travel questions through Twitter or messages, and determine whether a particular item can be taken with them by asking questions or taking photos of items.

To illustrate how many contraband items arrived at the checkpoint at Medford Airport, a large table was filled with various items collected by TSA staff, including tools, martial arts supplies—including key chains designed for self-defense—and a large table. Series of knives, blades and sharp edges.

This is only part of the last three weeks that people had to surrender because they didn't know that these items could not be brought on the plane. Dankers pointed out that many items were lost because their owners said they forgot to bring them.

Those who have not been to Medford Airport for a while will notice that the facility has recently installed a state-of-the-art X-ray scanner, which TSA hopes will help reduce waiting times at security checkpoints. Even with such safety tools, Dankers reminds passengers to be prepared to face a large number of other people at the airport, who are also traveling this year.