The number of guns intercepted by TSA agents has steadily increased since 2010 with the exception of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Courtesy of Transportation Security Administration)
This story has been updated.
The Transportation Security Administration says it intercepted a record-breaking number of firearms brought to airport security checkpoints last year and 91 of them were brought to airports across Indiana.
In total, the TSA said its agents intercepted 6,542 guns between Jan. 1 and Dec. 16 of 2022. Of those, 68 were at the Indianapolis International Airport, 11 at South Bend International Airport, 10 at Evansville Regional Airport and eight at Fort Wayne International Airport, according to Jessica Mayle, a regional TSA spokesperson.
At the Indianapolis International Airport, 64 of the at least 68 guns — or about 95% found last year— were loaded, according to Mayle. That’s higher than the 2022 national average of about 88%, according to the TSA’s website.
The number of firearms found at the Indianapolis Airport last year was down from the year before, when TSA agents found a total of 74. The number of guns at the Fort Wayne International Airport was down — eight in 2022 compared to 12 in 2021.
TSA agents found more guns last year at both Evansville Regional Airport and South Bend International Airport than they did in 2021.
According to the TSA, the number of firearm interceptions has steadily increased since 2010 except for in 2020, when there was a sharp decline. Mayle said that’s because of reduced airline travel spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the lower number of passengers in 2020, the rate at which TSA agents intercepted was still up that year, according to Mayle.
The previous record for guns intercepted by TSA agents was 5,972 in 2021.
Mayle said the steady increase over the past decade might be a result of growing gun ownership, but there’s no definitive conclusion.
“I think Americans should be concerned about it. It's way too many (guns). Our officers are very good. We train for this every day,” Mayle said. “We really think the onus is on the passenger to just do better and not and not bring them to the checkpoint.”
What are the consequences of improper firearm transportation?
Anyone who brings a loaded firearm to a security checkpoint may be subject to a federal civil penalty. That also applies to those who bring an unloaded firearm with “accessible ammunition” to a checkpoint, according to the TSA’s website.
TSA may impose a civil penalty of up to $14,950 per violation per person.
Someone who receives a civil penalty will get a notice of violation in their mail and will have the opportunity to contest it, according to Mayle.
The civil penalty may come along with local charges, depending on the location of there airport where the violation happened.
“You might be you might get a ticket that day. You might be arrested. You know, local law enforcement has a lot of discretion and how they want to handle that. So, it's not necessarily the same at the airports across the country,” Mayle said.
Although each state has its own laws surrounding firearm possession, firearms of any kind are never allowed in carry-on luggage at TSA security checkpoints — even if one has a permit to carry. And for a state like Indiana, which recently enacted a permit-free carry law, the rule applies regardless.
“These are guns at the checkpoint, and that’s never okay, whether it’s loaded or unloaded. No matter what kind of case it is, you can't bring a gun through the checkpoint,” Mayle said.
The TSA considers frames, receivers and 3D-printed guns to be firearms as part of its civil enforcement program, according to its website.
What happens when TSA discovers a firearm at a checkpoint?
On top of the potential for fines and criminal consequences for bringing a gun to a security checkpoint, there’s an inevitable delay caused each time.
When a TSA agent scans a bag and sees a firearm, the checkpoint will promptly come to a stop, Mayle said. From there, the TSA will contact local law enforcement. Police will then arrive at the scene and must locate and handle the weapon and confirm it is connected to the correct passenger.
“I really want to make this point of thinking about everyone in line behind you. That really, really slows down the process in addition to being incredibly dangerous to have a gun in this crowded, small area,” she said. “It’s definitely a lengthy process. It’s a big delay.”
How to legally transport a firearm
There are accepted methods of transporting a gun — just not at a security checkpoint.
For starters, anyone who wants to do so must notify their airline ahead of time. The process to do so varies depending on which airline you’re traveling with.
“There are examples of people putting checked guns in their check baggage that have not been declared, and that's also improper. They can face a civil penalty for that as well. We want to make sure that we don't accidentally discover your gun that needs to be declared and we can make sure it's packed properly,” she added.
The TSA’s website states that passengers may transport unloaded firearms in checked baggage only if they are transported in a locked, hard-sided container and the airline is notified before travel.
The agency considers a firearm to be loaded when it has a live round of ammunition, or any component of ammunition, in the chamber or cylinder or in a magazine in the gun. The agency also considers a firearm to be loaded when it and ammunition are both accessible to a passenger, according to the website.
Firearm parts — which include magazines, clips, bolts and firing pins — are prohibited in carry-on luggage but can be transported in checked luggage. This also applies to ammunition and replica firearms.
Those who want to transport magazines or ammunition clips, must put them in a secure box or include them inside a hard-sided case along with an unloaded firearm.
Mayle recommends that people educate themselves on TSA’s rules and regulations before bringing any items they think might be prohibited to an airport.
“It saves you so much trouble. I can't imagine anyone going through this experience and not regretting it so much. So, we just want people to take that a little bit of extra time, and not make the mistake,” Mayle said.
More information on the packaging requirements is available on the TSA’s website.
