The TSA is on track to discover fewer firearms at airport checkpoints in 2024 compared to last year, despite record-high passenger volumes. According to figures reported by American Rifleman, TSA intercepted 5,028 firearms during the first nine months of 2024, a slight decline from the 5,073 caught during the same period in 2023.
The downward trend in firearm detections surprised some experts who believed as more states recognized Constitutional Carry laws, more gun owners would forget to remove firearms from carry-on bags or even forget they were carrying them when going through checkpoints. While the number of concealed carry permits declined slightly from their peak of over 23 million, likely due to more states recognizing permitless carry, they have stabilized at around 22 million.
Interestingly, the Boise Airport in Idaho is defying the national trend, on pace to set a new record for firearm detections. This highlights the uneven distribution of firearm discoveries across the nation’s airports.
From July to September 2024, TSA detected 7.5 firearms for every million passengers screened—a decrease from 8.1 firearms per million during the same period in 2023, American Rifleman reports. TSA Administrator David Pekoske attributed the decline to increased public awareness and adherence to firearm travel regulations.
“Passengers who travel with a firearm must store it unloaded in a locked, hard-sided case, place it in their checked bag, and declare it to the airline at the airline ticket counter,” Pekoske said. He emphasized that firearms should never be brought to security checkpoints.
While TSA is responsible for detecting firearms, it does not confiscate them. Instead, the agency contacts local law enforcement to take possession of the gun. Depending on local laws, passengers may face arrest, a citation or a civil penalty of up to $15,000. Additionally, TSA may revoke TSA PreCheck privileges for violations.
TSA encourages travelers to consult its “Prepare, Pack, and Declare” guidelines before flying. Starting with an empty bag and packing firearms according to regulations can minimize the risk of unintended violations. It’s a wise idea to designate a carry-on bag for just traveling and to NEVER use it for trips to the range or local travel that might include carrying firearms and ammunition. Even stray loads in a tucked-away pocket can create headaches at TSA checkpoints when traveling domestically and can land you in jail when traveling abroad.
