TSA agents have stopped thousands of guns at airport checkpoints this year, prompting the agency to raise fines and suspend some passengers' TSA PreCheck access
TSA agents found a total of 6,301 firearms at checkpoints in 2022 as of Friday, the agency says. The previous record was 5,972 firearms in 2021.
Brady MacDonald/Insider
- The TSA found 6,301 firearms at checkpoints in 2022 as of Friday, a new record, the agency said.
- The previous record was 5,972 in 2021, according to the agency.
- The increase in firearms discovered at checkpoints prompted the agency to raise fines.
The Transportation Security Administration found a record number of passengers with firearms at airport checkpoints this year — up from last year, the agency said on Friday.
According to the TSA, agents stopped 6,301 firearms in 2022 as of Friday, a new record after 2021 broke the previous record with a total of 5,972 firearms found last year. In order to combat the rising number of guns being confiscated at checkpoints, the agency said it is increasing the maximum fine for a firearms violation to $14,950.
The TSA did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment on Saturday.
"I applaud the work of our Transportation Security Officers who do an excellent job of preventing firearms from getting into the secure area of airports, and onboard aircraft," said TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a statement.
While the maximum fine a person can receive for trying to take a firearm through a TSA checkpoint has changed, the TSA still assesses fines based on an individual case basis, the agency said. The agency will also continue to revoke TSA PreCheck eligibility for at least five years for people who are caught trying to bring a firearm through a checkpoint.
TSA PreCheck is a frequent flyer program that allows flyers to go through expedited security screenings for flights leaving from the United States.
People transporting a firearm on a plane must have the gun in checked baggage and declare to the airline that the gun is inside their bag. Firearms are never allowed at TSA checkpoints in a carry-on bag, even if the owner has a concealed carry permit, the agency said.