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TSA: ‘Substantial increase’ in airport gun seizures this year
The Transportation Security Administration is once again calling out a worrying increase of firearms detected at airport checkpoints.
The rate of seizures spiked last year despite the number of air travelers well down because of the pandemic.
TSA acting head Darby LaJoye said the high numbers of guns found at passenger screening has extended into 2021.
LaJoye told the Hill 120 firearms were found in April, which includes 32 firearms seized on 23 April alone.
About 80% are loaded, LaJoye said.
"This really is, it’s a concern we have. It’s a public safety concern. It’s an officer safety concern," LaJoye said.
"Most airports, when you travel, you’re going to see a state or local law enforcement officer right there. So a number of these firearm cases resulted in an arrest," he added.
"The excuse we generally get is they didn’t know, they forgot" (it was in their carry-on bag) LaJoye said, adding that repeat offenses are ‘very, very low.’
The rate of gun seizures based on the number of travelers in 2020 was the highest since the TSA was established.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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