WASHINGTON (AP/WFXR) — There were fewer air travelers in the United States last year, but a higher percentage of them were carrying guns.
The Transportation Security Administration said Tuesday that screeners found 3,257 firearms on passengers or in their carry-on bags in 2020, or about 10 for every million travelers. About 83% of the guns were loaded.
That was double the rate of guns found in 2019. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport had the most guns seized, 220, followed by 176 guns at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport checkpoints.
Federal law prohibits passengers other than certain law enforcement officers from bringing guns or ammunition into the cabin, although unloaded guns are permitted in checked bags that go into the cargo hold.
In Virginia, firearms caught by TSA officers at airport checkpoints varied between 2016 and 2020.
| Airport | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Richmond Int’l Airport | 10 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 22 |
| Norfolk Int’l Airport | 14 | 10 | 21 | 15 | 12 |
| Reagan Washington Nat’l Airport | 19 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 10 |
| Washington Dulles Int’l Airport | 24 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 7 |
| C’ville-Albemarle Regional Airport | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport | 6 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| Lynchburg Regional Airport | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Newport News-Wmsbg Regional Airport | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| TOTALS | 79 | 71 | 82 | 74 | 55 |
The top airports with guns caught by TSA at checkpoints in 2020 include:
- Hartsfield-Jackson Int’l Airport (ATL) – 220 guns caught
- Dallas/Fort Worth Int’l Airport (DFW) – 176
- George Bush Int’l Airport (IAH) – 126
- Sky Harbor Int’l Airport (PHX) – 124
- Denver Int’l Airport (DEN) – 104
- Nashville Int’l Airport (BNA) – 94
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Int’l Airport (FLL) – 87
- Orlando Int’l Airport (MCO) – 79
- McCarran Int’l Airport (LAS) – 72
- Salt Lake City Int’l Airport (SLC) – 71
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