Two DC-area airports have set new records for the number of guns found last year at TSA security checkpoints. TSA detected 41 guns at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. That’s up from 39 in 2023. At Washington Dulles International Airport, 29 guns were found, up from 24 in 2023.
TSA officers detected the firearms during routine carry-on security screenings. Nationwide, TSA officers detected 6,678 firearms at airport checkpoints in 2024.
“It was disappointing to continue to see so many travelers continue to bring their firearms to our security checkpoints,” said John Busch, TSA federal security director for Reagan National Airport. “If someone wants to transport their firearm to their destination, all that we ask is that they pack it properly, so that nobody has access to it during a flight.”
“I commend our officers across the state for their continued focus on the mission,” said Scott T. Johnson, TSA federal security director for Washington Dulles International Airport. “They come to work every day, weekends, holidays on multiple shifts to ensure that people get to their destinations safely, and this is a testament to the good work that they perform every day.”
Travelers who bring firearms to checkpoints are subject to criminal charges from law enforcement and civil penalties from TSA. Even with a concealed weapon permit, travelers are not permitted to bring a firearm onto an airplane in carry-on luggage. However, travelers with proper firearm permits can travel legally with their firearms in their checked bags if they follow TSA’s guidelines.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com/Mihail
