Kentucky and Missouri hold highest number of firearms found at airport security check points
MISSOURI (KBSI) – More and more citizens are bringing firearms along with them when they travel.
In 2023 the transportation security administration intercepted a total of 6,737 firearms at airport security check points and 93% of those firearms were loaded.
Mark Howell is the spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration, and he says you can bring a firearm with you when traveling but it has to be in a hard sided case with padding with the firearm being completely unloaded and any ammunition stored separately.
Then lock the box and take it directly to the airline ticket counter where you will receive a small form to fill out that lets security know you are taking a firearm with you.
Howell says many people are not doing this specifically in Kentucky and Missouri with Kentucky being the highest state for the fifth year in a row for most firearms found at security check points.
“In both Kentucky and Missouri, the rate of firearm detections is almost twice what the national rate is. So, passengers are bringing firearms at a higher rate to the airport in Missouri and Kentucky then they are anywhere else in the United States,” says Howell.
Howell explains why that is, “States where you have open carry or constitutional carry we naturally see more firearms then states that don’t because it becomes a day-to-day routine for folks to take their firearm with them.”
If your caught with a firearm at a security checkpoint local law enforcement will be notified, you will face charges with them and a citation for up to $15,000 from the Transportation Security Administration.
Howell says “We ask those folks that are watching to please pay attention to what they have with them in their bags. Start packing with an empty bag the night before you travel and if you are planning to travel with your gun know where it is all the way up to the point you make it into the airport so there’s no mistakes.”
For more information on how to conceal a firearm when going to the airport Transporting Firearms and Ammunition | Transportation Security Administration (tsa.gov)
