In addition to all of the other
prohibited items we find weekly in carry-on bags, our officers also regularly
find firearm components, realistic replica firearms, bb and pellet guns,
airsoft guns, brass knuckles, ammunition, batons, stun guns, small pocketknives
and many other prohibited items too numerous to note.
When packed properly, ammunition can be
transported in your checked baggage, but it is never permissible to pack ammo
in your carry-on bag.
You can travel with your firearms in
checked baggage, but they must first be declared to the airline.
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 line is slowed down and a
passenger that likely had no ill intent ends up with a citation or in some
cases is even arrested. The passenger can face a penalty as high as $11,000.
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.
*In order to provide a timely weekly
update, this data is compiled from a preliminary report. The year-end numbers
will vary slightly from what is reported in the weekly updates. However, any
monthly, midyear or end-of-year numbers TSA provides on this blog or elsewhere
will be actual numbers and not estimates.
Read
our 2015 Year in Review post! If you haven’t read them yet, make sure
you check out our year in review posts for 2011,
2012,
2013,
and 2014.
Bob Burns
TSA Social Media Team
TSA Social Media Team