Passengers bringing guns to airport screening last year collectively paid about $1.45 million in civil penalties.
The Transportation Security Administration filed actions against more than 4,000 fliers carrying guns inadvertently or otherwise, according to The Washington Post.
The TSA has the power to impose up to $13,000 in civil penalties for bringing a gun to a security checkpoint, although a first offense normally carries a fine of $3,900 depending on the circumstances.
The Post said nearly 1,000 were caught at just six airports – Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International, Phoenix Sky Harbor, Denver, the two Dallas area airports and Houston.
The vast majority were discovered in carry-on bags and the Post’s analysis of the numbers suggests two guns were confiscated from flight crew members.
The newspaper got access to the TSA data after filing a public records request.
