3 Florida Airports Make TSA's Top 10 List For Guns

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Three Florida airports share the dubious honor of being among the nation's 10 top airports where Transportation Security Administration officials discovered the most guns at security checkpoints last year.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport ranked seventh in the nation with 100 guns discovered, while Orlando International Airport ranked ninth with 96 and Tampa International Airport ranked 10th with 87.

"It's a top 10 that no airport wants to be in," agency spokesperson Sari Koshetz told Patch. "Most of these guns that our officers are intercepting are loaded — many with ammunition chambered. This trend could have tragic results."

TSA said more guns were discovered at checkpoints in the nation's airports last year than at any other time in the agency's 18-year history with a total of 4,432 firearms found in carry-on bags or on passengers. Officials said the total averages to 12.1 firearms per day and represents a 5 percent increase over 2018 numbers.

Even more concerning to the agency is that 87 percent of the guns were loaded, according to TSA officials.

“The continued increase in the number of firearms that travelers bring to airport checkpoints is deeply troubling,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said. “There is a proper way to travel safely with a firearm. First and foremost, it should be unloaded. Then it should be packed in a hard-sided locked case, taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared and checked.”

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport topped the rankings with a whopping 323 guns discovered followed by Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport with 217, Denver International Airport with 140 guns, George Bush Intercontinental Airport with 138, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport with 132 guns, Dallas Love Field with 103, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Nashville International Airport with 97 guns discovered at checkpoints last year.

Officials said firearms were caught at a total of 278 airport checkpoints in 2019. Since firearm possession laws vary by state and location, TSA advises travelers become familiar with state and local firearm laws for each point of travel prior to their departure. Some airlines may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.

Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if the guns are unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided case. Ammunition must be in its original box and can be packed inside the hard-side case, next to the firearm.

"Even if the box of ammunition is not full, the bullets must be in their original case. Then the case with the firearm should be brought to the airline check-in counter and the airline representative informed that the passenger wants to travel with the gun," TSA officials explained. "Firearms are transported with checked baggage and are placed in the cargo hold of the aircraft."

Check TSA instructions on how to properly travel with a firearm on the agency website. People who bring weapons to a checkpoint may face federal civil penalties up to $13,000, depending on the weapon. A typical first offense for carrying a handgun into a checkpoint is $4,100, according to agency officials.

Overall, Florida had a total of 527 guns found at TSA checkpoints. Here's how the other airports in Florida fared, according to TSA data:

• Daytona Beach International Airport 5 guns
• Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport 18 guns
• Key West International Airport 1 gun
• Gainesville Regional Airport 4 guns
• Jacksonville International Airport 49 guns
• Miami International Airport 45 guns
• Orlando Melbourne International Airport 3 guns
• Palm Beach International Airport 21 guns
• Punta Gorda Airport 5 guns
• St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport 8 guns
• Pensacola International Airport 30 guns
• Southwest Florida International Airport 24 guns
• Orlando Sanford International Airport 9 guns
• Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport 6 guns
• Tallahassee International Airport 10 guns
• Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport 6 guns
• Vero Beach Regional Airport 0 guns
• Northeast Florida Regional Airport 0 guns