TSA Officers Have Found Six Loaded Firearms In Puget Sound Area Airports This Month
The latest discoveries bring the total number of firearms uncovered so far at the area's primary airports to 42.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Officers at two airports in the Pacific Northwest region of Puget Sound have uncovered six loaded firearms in travelers’ carry-on bags so far this month. The discoveries took place during routine X-ray screening at the security checkpoints of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Paine Field (PAE).
Since the start of 2023, 39 firearms have been found in carry-on baggage at Seatlle-Tacoma and three at Paine Field. Last year, the numbers totaled a record high of 113 and four, respectively, while nationwide, the figure was over 6,500.
The TSA’s Federal Security Director for Washington, Gregory Hawko, outlined his hopes for greater awareness of the rules among passengers, saying,
“I am hopeful that the discovery of six firearms so far this month at the two Puget Sound airports will serve as a wake-up call for anyone who wants to travel with a firearm. As a community, we continue to ask firearm owners to pause and commit to doing better when traveling with a gun. I remain grateful for the TSA officers who work daily to ensure the safety and security of the traveling public and keep potential threats out of the cabins of aircraft.”
Recent discoveries at SEA and PAE
On May 10th, TSA Officers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport detected a loaded 9 mm Glock pistol and 24 rounds of ammunition in the carry-on bags of a passenger heading to Los Angeles (LAX). The following day, when screening the carry-on bags of a passenger bound for San Francisco (SFO), TSA Officers at Paine Field uncovered a loaded 9 mm Sig Sauer handgun.
The TSA shared its top 10 catches of 2022 in this video:
What are the rules regarding firearms?
The TSA states that “firearms can be transported on a commercial aircraft only if they are unloaded, packed in a locked, hard-sided case, and placed in checked baggage.” Firearm parts, ammunition, and replica firearms are also prohibited from being taken onboard the aircraft in carry-on baggage, and any firearms in checked baggage must be declared to the airline as part of the check-in process.
Passengers are also advised by the TSA to contact their carrier in advance to ensure that they are able to comply with any airline-specific requirements, and also to familiarize themselves with the laws at their destination.
Delta Air Lines, for example, allows small arms ammunition, in quantities not exceeding 11 lbs per passenger, to be carried in check baggage only. The airline goes on to state on its website that “the weapon must be securely boxed and intended for that person’s own use. More than one passenger may not combine quantities into one package.”
When it comes to the consequences for the passengers that fail to follow the rules, each incident is reviewed by the TSA on a case-by-case basis. Fines for such an offense range start at $2,050 and can reach as high as $14,950, depending on the circumstances. Those who violate the regulations may also have any TSA PreCheck benefits removed for a given period of time, the length of which depends on the severity of the offense.
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What do you think of the TSA’s discoveries at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Paine Field? Share your thoughts by commenting below.
