Record Number of Firearms Caught at TSA Checkpoints in 2022

AmmoLand ^ | December 22, 2022 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

As more and more people have been exercising their right to bear arms in the United States, the number of people who forget they have a firearm in their carry-on luggage has been steadily increasing.  The number of firearms caught at TSA checkpoints is shown in the chart below.

The number of people with carry permits has multiplied in the last decade, as has the number of states which do not require a permit to carry a concealed firearm. The legal system is known as Constitutional Carry or permitless carry.

• In 2011, there were  6.06 thousand permit holders for every firearm discovered at a TSA checkpoint. Three states had Constitutional Carry.
• In 2014 there were  5.26 thousand permit holders for every firearm discovered at a TSA checkpoint.  Five states had Constitutional Carry.
• In 2018, there were  4.08 thousand permit holders for every firearm discovered at a TSA checkpoint.  Thirteen states had Constitutional Carry.
• In 2022 there were  3.49 thousand permit holders for every firearm discovered at a TSA checkpoint.  Twenty-four states had Constitutional Carry. Alabama will become a Constitutional Carry state in January, 2023.

This graphic shows the growth in Constitutional Carry (permitless carry) (green) states.

As more people exercise their right to bear arms, some are making the error of forgetting they had their firearms in the luggage they intended to carry on an airplane. The vast majority of people who make this error do so inadvertently.  TSA discovers about ten undeclared firearms for every million passengers screened, as shown in the numbers from 2021.

[marktwain]

As more Americans exercise the right to bear arms, more will make a mistake and get caught at a TSA checkpoint.

[chopperk]

Its just plain stupid to try to get by TSA with a firearm. I think if TSA takes it you can get a tax write off for the loss.

[Bubba_Leroy]

People make mistakes. Back in the early 1990s, I had a secretary that forgot she had a handgun in her bag when she went through airport security to check in a flight. This was back before Texas had concealed carry (but you could legally carry if you were traveling between counties). I had to get her out of jail, but was able to get her off with deferred adjudication and a minimal fine. This was long before 9/11, so I imagine the penalties would be higher now.

[Clutch Martin]

“Its just plain stupid to try to get by TSA with a firearm. I think if TSA takes it you can get a tax write off for the loss.”

Only if you’re over the standard deduction which was raised a couple years ago.

In fact 45 raised it so much that I don’t even have to bother with donations, claims, mileage, or anything.

[AZJeep]

There were all kind of people caught with guns in luggage.
I remember an Indiana congressman, famous coaches etc.
Do not try to do it, it will get you in trouble!

[SpaceBar]

Firearms can sneak through small holes in the fence but luckily they can’t run very fast on their tiny little firearm legs. That’s why they’re so easy to catch. I hate the media.

[SpaceBar]

You catch people.

You intercept/seize contraband.

[21twelve]

Just great. First we had dangerous guns that would shoot people, and now they are running away!

[ConservativeInPA]

This wouldn’t be a problem if the right to bear arms wasn’t infringed. Have you ever wondered about how 9/11 and the forever wars could have been avoided? A real immigration policy/law and unfettered freedom for Americans. Sounds like a bargain to me. Now we have the TSA and DHS, spend hundreds of billions, and a wide open border. It’s as if they set things up so the can fail, followed by taking more freedoms and tax dollars. Government is the real enemy.

[Fireone]

“more will make a mistake”
When you pack your bag, do you just “make a mistake” and put your gun in there?
When I fly, I make a pretty conscious decision not top put guns, hash oil vapes (that Grindr dude), hunting knives, etc. in my bag. It would be more than a mistake, if they fell in.

[marktwain]

No one is perfect.

Everyone makes mistakes.

1 person out of 100,000 flyers making a mistake is a very small fraction.

The psychological reasons can be very simple. Someone in the household places the gun in a carry-on, because they believe that is where it is supposed to be.

It is down in bottom, perhaps covered by other material. The person who uses the carry-on, checks quickly, but does not see it, or they are in the process of checking when they are distracted by an emergency, such as a child coming to them with a cut finger. Their mind says they checked, but they did not.

It is amazing how Murphy can trip people up.

No one is perfect, except for people on the Internet.

[Big Red Badger]

As always,
Have I got a story.
Going thru a bag check at the Wailing Wall
in Jerusalem they pulled out a triple edged nylon Spike about 10 “ long 😳!!!
Yuppers...forgot I had it. Inspector asked me what it was and I Shrugged ‘Letter Openener’ and ignored him. He put it Back.
I figured I got it That far might as well
Take it back to Indianapolis.
That was 1995 IIRC when it was Quiet there

[marktwain]

Quite a while back, I was on a flight to Salt Lake City, as I recall.

I opened my briefcase, brought on as a carry-on. There was a 50 round box of .22 ammunition! I had stopped by the range after work, as I recall, and forgot I had placed the ammo in there...

The ammo was disposed of before another flight...

Not worth attempting to mail back...

Stuff happens. I am far from perfect.

[Big Red Badger]

Midway sells my misery...
Cold Steel Delta Dart——5 bucks.
Mine didn’t have the ring so it didn’t
X-ray at all,but it may not have been
On a restricted list..who knows.