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2022 set the record for gun seizures at airports

With 6,542 firearms seized, the top 10 cities include Dallas, Houston, Austin (TX) and Nashville (TN).

Prohibición armas en la TSA

(Cory Doctorow / Flickr)

Published by
Rosana Rábago Sainz

2022 was the year when the most guns were seized at U.S. airports. A total of 6,542 firearms were seized from January to December last year, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

With an average of 18 guns confiscated per day, this makes for an all-time high for the number of guns seized at domestic airports. According to AP reports, this figure "is sparking concern at a time when more Americans are armed." In fact, David Pekoske, a TSA administrator said in a statement that it is just one more sign of the difficult moment the nation is going through:

What we see in our checkpoints really reflects what we’re seeing in society, and in society there are more people carrying firearms nowadays.

Virtually no airport was spared from seizing guns throughout 2022. Pekoske, however, assured AP that they tend to seize more firearms at larger airports in states where carrying guns is more permissive. The top 10 are Dallas, Austin and Houston in Texas; three airports in Florida; Nashville in Tennessee; Atlanta; Phoenix; and Denver.

Progressive increase in weapon seizures

The AP agency also revealed that, with the exception of 2020 being disrupted by the pandemic, the number of guns collected at U.S. airport checkpoints has grown exponentially since 2010. The reason, experts say, is not due to an increase in crime, but rather that almost all of those detained with a gun in their possession claimed to have forgotten that they had it with them.

Not all of them had a permit to carry guns on them. That's why, TSA Federal Security Director Arden Hudson told FOX News it is always important to have documentation on you:

If you are going to travel with your gun it must be in your checked bag but be sure you know exactly what the gun laws are on each side of your trip. Guns may not be legal to transport even in checked baggage in some jurisdictions.
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