TSA finds 20 percent more guns in carry-on bags in 2015, and most are loaded
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sally Abrahamsen holds a Glock 42 pistol while shopping for a gun at the National Armory gun store and gun range on Jan. 5 in Pompano Beach, Fla.
Airport security screeners in the U.S. found a record high number of firearms in carry-on bags last year, and most of them were loaded, officials said.
The Transportation Security Administration said it found 2,653 firearms, 20 percent more than in 2014, and that 83 percent of them contained ammunition.
The agency suggested that the increase may be the result of better search techniques by airport screeners, although a moderate uptick in the number of travelers also may have contributed.
“The transport of firearms by commercial air in carry-on bags represents a threat to the safety and security of air travelers,” TSA Administrator Peter V. Neffenger said. “Through increased training in detection methods, our officers are becoming more adept at intercepting these prohibited items.”
Firearms were discovered in carry-ons at 236 airports last year, the TSA said. Those with the most were:
—Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, with 153 firearms found
—Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, with 144
—Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport, with 100
—Denver International Airport, with 90
—Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, with 73
All weapons, including guns, knives and ammunition, as well as inert bombs and realistic props made to look like firearms, are prohibited in carry-on bags on commercial planes.
Travelers who bring firearms to an airport checkpoint can face criminal charges and fines.
The TSA said it screened 708 million passengers in 2015, up about 6 percent from the previous year.
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©2016 Los Angeles Times
6 responses to “TSA finds 20 percent more guns in carry-on bags in 2015, and most are loaded”
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That’s 2,653 people who are either dumb enough to knowingly attempt to sneak firearms aboard commercial aircraft or 2,653 people who are dumb enough to not know what they’ve got in their own luggage. I suppose there’s a third scenario: too dumb to know that carrying firearms onto commercial airlines is not a good thing.
In any case, that’s 2,653 people who are too dumb to travel and probably too dumb to be armed in the first place.
Are these people facing criminal charges and/or have they been fined? They need to make examples of everyone they catch so that people will wise up and obey the laws.
TSA is qucik to pat themselves on the back. TSA is nothing more than a Theatre Security Agency.
Ah another great article. Sadly nothing was mentioned about what happened to the guns nor to the people carrying them. Pretty big lack of information. Well maybe I can find out on RT. lol
OBAMA
Are we just posting random names?