Federal security agents are catching more people with guns in their carry-on bags at airports nationwide, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said this month.
During the first eight months of 2016, TSA agents discovered more than 2,150 firearms in passengers’ carry-ons. Agents found the guns during routine screening of personal property at security checkpoints.
That is a 13.3 percent increase from the 1,898 firearms agents discovered during the first eight months of 2015. Agents found 2,653 firearms in passengers’ carry-on bags in 2015, up from the 2,212 discovered in 2014.
“Passengers will be held accountable for the contents of their carry-on and checked baggage,” Federal Security Director Van Leuven said in a news release. “The rules for air travel are different than for other types of travel. The best piece of advice I can give is to unpack your bags before you pack them to ensure you are aware of the contents of your luggage prior to coming to the airport.”
