An American tried to get through an airport security check by carrying a gun and hatchet in his carry-on. Portland International Jetport in Portland, Maine happened last week, and the news came from the Transportation Security Administration. “TSA officers detected this homemade weapon in a man’s carry-on bag yesterday,” the agency wrote on Twitter. “They also found a hatchet in the bag.”
Traveling with firearms is legal in the United States as long as persons wishing to fly with firearms and ammunition meet TSA guidelines for safe and proper transportation. Anyone wanting to board a plane with weapons must first remove the bullets, then pack the items in rigid containers and place them in checked bags. Weapons must be declared at the ticket office once travelers arrive at the airport.
Transportation Security Administration officials said they seized 6,301 firearms for airport passengers in 2022, the highest number ever recorded by the agency. 88% of these weapons were loaded and potentially ready to use. The TSA added that it expects to reach 6,600 confiscated weapons by the end of the year, which would represent a 10.5% increase from 5,972 in 2021, a year that had already seen record levels.
The top 5 airports for gun stops so far this year, according to the TSA, were:
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport – 438
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport – 371
- George Bush Houston Intercontinental Airport – 286
- Nashville International Airport – 203
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport – 184
Source: Fan Page IT
John Cameron is a journalist at The Nation View specializing in world news and current events, particularly in international politics and diplomacy. With expertise in international relations, he covers a range of topics including conflicts, politics and economic trends.
