TSA Week in Review: 42 Firearms Discovered This Week at TSA Checkpoints (38 Loaded)

Loaded 9mm Discovered at LEX

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

42 Firearms – 42 firearms were discovered this week in carry-on bags at TSA checkpoints. 38 of the 42 were loaded and 12 firearms actually had a round in the chamber. See below for a complete list and photos of some of the firearms.

 

Throwing Star – A throwing star was discovered via a pat down when an Atlantic City (ACY)  passenger going through a body scanner alarmed.

 

Throwing Star Discovered With Body Scanner at ACY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Concealed Firearm – An unloaded .38 caliber was detected at Indianapolis (IND) concealed in the lining of the bag.

 

Syringe That Stuck Officer in TUS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TSA Officer Stuck With Syringe – An Officer at Tucson (TUS) was stuck by a syringe while searching a bag. This is one of the reasons our officers ask if you have anything sharp or dangerous in your bags before they search them. For the safety of our Officers, please be sure to be mindful of any sharp or dangerous items in your bags. 

 

Inert Grenades Etc. – We continue to find inert hand grenades and other weaponry on weekly basis. Please keep in mind that if an item looks like a realistic bomb, grenade, mine, etc., it is prohibited - real or not. When these items are found at a checkpoint or in checked baggage, they can cause significant delays. I know they are cool novelty items, but it is best not to take them on a plane.  Read here and here on why inert items cause problems.

• Replica grenades were discovered in two separate golf bags at Charleston (CHS) after they both alarmed in checked baggage.
• Two replica grenades were discovered at Richmond (RIC).
• A grenade lighter was discovered in a carry-on bag at Seattle (SEA).
• High Explosives? Pun intended. You see, not only was a novelty grenade discovered at Denver (DEN), it was a novelty grenade with a green leafy substance contained within. We’re not looking for drugs, but you can guarantee the odds are in our favor of finding them if they’re stuffed in a grenade.

What Not to Say at an Airport – Statements like these not only delay the people who said them but can also inconvenience many other passengers if the checkpoint or terminal has to be evacuated:

• After his request to have his checked bags removed from the aircraft was denied, a passenger became upset and stated that “the airline did not know if he had a bomb in his bag.”
• A passenger at Las Vegas (LAS) became upset while his son’s bag was being searched and stated: “There is a bomb in there.”
• A Federal Air Marshal overheard a passenger at Washington Reagan (DCA) telling another passenger to watch his bag because it had a bomb in it.
• A passenger overheard another passenger at Denver (DEN) state: “I hope you are not on the plane leaving at Gate A-37, it’s going to go off with a blast.”

Stun Guns –  Nine stun guns were discovered in carry-on bags at checkpoints around the nation: Two at Denver (DEN), Burbank (BUR), Dothan (DHN), Las Vegas (LAS), San Antonio (SAT), Jacksonville (JAX), Seattle (SEA), and Los Angeles (LAX)

Miscellaneous Prohibited Items - In addition to all of the other prohibited items we find weekly, our Officers also regularly find firearm components, realistic replica firearms, bb and pellet guns, Airsoft guns, brass knuckles, ammunition, batons, and a lot of sharp pointy things -- to mention a few…

Firearms - Here are pictures of some of the firearms our Officers found in carry-on baggage since I posted last Friday. See a complete list below. 

You can travel with your firearms in checked baggage, but they must first be declared to the airline. You can go here for more details on how to properly travel with your firearms. Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality. Travelers should familiarize themselves with state and local firearm laws for each point of travel prior to departure. 

Unfortunately these sorts of occurrences are all too frequent which is why we talk about these finds. Sure, it’s great to share the things that our officers are finding, but at the same time, each time we find a dangerous item, the throughput is slowed down and a passenger that likely had no ill intent ends up with a citation or in some cases is even arrested. This is a friendly reminder to please leave these items at home. Just because we find a prohibited item on an individual does not mean they had bad intentions, that's for the law enforcement officer to decide. In many cases, people simply forgot they had these items.

Bob Burns

TSA Blog Team

 

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