Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents have found a record number of guns at airport checkpoints this year, according to NBC News.
TSA agents have found over 1,500 guns at airport checkpoints, a new record that beats the previous one of over 1,500 set in 2012. This puts the agency on track to discover over 1,800 guns in airports in 2013.
The number of guns found as of November 1 was 1,531, beating the final tally for 2012 of 1,527. Of those guns, 1,286 were loaded and 424 had bullets in the chambers. They were all discovered in the carry-on bag or coat of a passenger.
"Our procedures have not changed," Ross Feinstein, the press secretary at TSA, told NBC News. "It's pretty well known that bringing a loaded weapon on a plane isn't allowed.
"Most people who travel understand," he added.
The TSA publishes an online blog that documents their gun discoveries. It can be very unsettling to read, especially if you have upcoming air travel planned. In addition to guns, the site documents the various other weaponry found in the airport, which includes stun guns, cartons of bullets, knives and even the occasional grenade.
Most of the guns were discovered in states that allow residents to carry concealed weapons; meaning everyday citizens are more likely to have a gun with them on a daily basis. Of the top 21 cities with the most gun discoveries, six of them are in Texas and five of them are in Florida, both states with concealed weapon allowances.
Atlanta is the first city on the list, but also the United States most traveled airport. However, Chicago O'Hare, which is the second most traveled airport, only had 12 weapons discovered, while New York City's three airports between them were only responsible for 14 weapon discoveries. New York and Chicago both have strict laws about weapons.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
