TSA confiscates record number of guns in 2018... especially at 4 Texas airports

DALLAS - The Transportation Safety Administration caught more people trying to bring guns onto flights in 2018 than ever before.

TSA agents confiscated a record-setting 4,239 firearms from passengers’ carry-on bags at security checkpoints across the country. That’s an average of about 81 guns per week or 11 per day.

The majority of the guns were loaded and about 1/3 of them hand a round chambered, the agency said.

DFW airport was the second worst offender in 2018 with 219 firearm discoveries. It followed only Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport with 298. That number is more than double compared to the number of guns confiscated in Atlanta in 2017.

Houston’s Bush Intercontinental airport, the Austin-Bergstrom International airport and Dallas Love Field also made the list at No. 6, 8 and 9 respectively.

But that’s not all that agents found in people’s luggage. TSA shared pictures of smoke grenades, lighter fluid, fireworks, replica mortar shells, concealed knives and foil-wrapped scissors found in checked and carry-on bags.

“If you plan to travel with your firearm, make sure you know the rules for packing it in your checked baggage,” the agency said on its website. “Anything resembling an explosive item is prohibited in carry-on and checked bags. If you are not sure if an item is allowed in your bag, check out our What Can I Bring tool, snap a photo and Tweet or Facebook Message us, call us at (866) 289-9673 or shoot us an email (pun intended).”

TSA can impose civil penalties of up to $13,333 on travelers who try to bring prohibited items on a flight.