The Transportation Security Administration says it is set to break the an all-time record for the amount of guns seized at checkpoints in airports.
In a way, this isn’t a big deal in the sense that it’s not newsworthy. According to TSA that the number of guns found inside carry-on baggage is increasing steadily from the beginning of 2009 until in 2020, where the coronavirus outbreak halted flights. TSA data show that 976 firearms were found in 2009, and 5,972 in 2010.
TSA states that its agents have seized up to 4,600 in the first quarter of this year. This is a figure that could be an all-time record before year’s close.
Although the pace of growth is steady in recent decades, a more thorough examination yields a conclusion somewhat more alarming. In the event that you leave out 2020 (the one-off pandemic) in the numbers of gun-related incidents per personroughly tripled between the year the years of 2019 to 2021. In the year 2019, TSA detected one firearm per 197,358 passengers. this year, the number decreased to 97,999.
More Gun Ownership
It is possible that, in part the reason for this rise is due to the fact that more people are purchasing guns in the last two years. The uncertainty surrounding the pandemic as well as tensions following the death by George Floyd prompted many Americans to purchase firearms for the very first time.
The study showed that 18 percent of U.S. households purchased a firearm between March 2020 and March of this year. This is raising the proportion of people living in households that has firearms to 46 percent. At the same time 1 in 20 Americans acquired a gun only the second time.
The new owners might have no idea of the limitations on guns. Additionally, increasingly states have enacted permit-less carry law in recent times – In the month of January Alabama becomes the first state to do so. 25th state that has adopted this. Permit-less carry could mislead those who think they are able to carry a firearm in the carry-on bag of their choice.
Although guns aren’t allowed to be brought on planes, they can be carried in checked luggage in the event that they’re not loaded and stored in a secure container. TSA states that passengers must identify the gun they have packed when they arrive at the counter for tickets.
Two layers of penalties
Anyone who tries to carry guns on flights could be hit with a heavy price to their mistake, specifically when the gun is loaded.
The TSA is a regulated agency with own sanctions that could include an amount of $14,000, and the denial of PreCheck membership. PreCheck membership offers expedited security screening for 5 years.
However, that’s only the first stage. Second, it’s the law enforcement agencies.
If the TSA agent comes across a passenger who has a firearm within their luggage the agent must notify police. In this instance, the situation for the traveler will vary dependent on the location they’re in. In Texas police are likely to request the tourist to get out of the way and lock the gun inside their vehicle, and return. For New York, an offender could be arrested and sent to jail.
The punishments also differ based upon whether the owner of the firearm is a licensed gun owner. For Florida the state of Florida, for example those with the permit to carry concealed and is detained at an airport checkpoint might be facing a second-degree misdemeanor. If a person is not carrying a authorization to carry a firearm could be arrested for an criminal offense.
If you are planning to carry a firearm be sure to know the law , both at TSA and the country that you’ll fly to and from prior to embarking. If you do not make a mistake, it could prove expensive.