Minneapolis (WCCO)-Fewer people fly, but more guns appear at the airport.
As of October 3, the Transportation Security Administration has confiscated 4,495 guns found in carry-on luggage. This is a new calendar year record, and there are more than two months left. The previous record was 4,432 in 2019.
Overall, the number of guns confiscated at TSA checkpoints has increased every year since 2009, except for the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
When passengers pass through the TSA checkpoints at MSP airports, this year, on average, at least one passenger will carry prohibited items every week, which puts passengers and staff at risk.
"We don't want them to get on the plane," said Jessica Mayle, a public affairs expert in the TSA Great Lakes region.
So far, TSA has confiscated 44 guns at the MSP in 2021, which is higher than the number in each of the previous three years. There were 34 confiscated in 2020, 40 in 2019, and 37 in 2018.
This is consistent with a disturbing trend across the country, where a record number of travelers carry guns in their carry-on luggage, sometimes with guns.
"I just thought it was stupid and negligent," said a traveler from MSP, who had traveled with a gun before.
Gerald Armijo was also traveling at MSP and was surprised when he heard this disturbing news.
"They have signs at all ticket counters that you should check the guns, but I guess people will ignore the signs," Armijo said.
When a gun is found, the MSP airport police will arrest the owner of the gun. The charge may be a misdemeanor, but the consequences are much more than that.
"You will face federal civil penalties from the TSA. There is an investigation and we will write a report," Mayle said, adding that this could result in a fine of up to $14,000. "It is very dangerous to put a gun in the cabin of an airplane."
The first excuse for those caught by guns is that they just forgot that it was in the bag. Mayle also mentioned that because many people suspend travel during the pandemic, they may not remember the rules. Others may be new gun owners who have not traveled with guns before.
This is why the TSA is promoting awareness-raising campaigns that require gun owners to open their luggage before packing for travel until they are empty.
"Gun owners have a responsibility to always know where their guns are, and responsible gun owners do the same," Mailer said.
If you travel with a gun, you must unload it, put it in a hard case, and put it in your checked baggage. You must also declare that there are guns in the bag at the time of the inspection. Ammunition must be individually packed in checked baggage, not in carry-on baggage. Gun parts such as magazines, clips and bolts must be placed in checked baggage.
Click here to learn more about how to travel with guns safely and legally.