Gun seizures soar at airports, but still in single digits here
AUGUSTA, Ga. - The number of guns seized from Georgia fliers’ carry-on luggage more than doubled in 2021 from the year before, but even then, the number is low in Augusta.
Transportation Security istration officers in 2021 found 542 firearms in travelers’ carry-ons at Georgia airports, compared to 231 in 2020.
Even ing for the lower number of fliers in 2020 due to the pandemic, the number is on the rise. Officials said 335 were sized in 2018 and 359 were seized in 2019.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport last year shattered a national single-airport record with 507 guns found at security checkpoints.
In Augusta, five guns were seized last year by TSA officers, compared to two the year before. Previously, 10 were seized in 2018 and 11 were confiscated in 2019.
| Airport | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Int’l (ATL) | 298 | 323 | 220 | 507 |
| Savannah-Hilton Head Int’l (SAV) | 19 | 18 | 6 | 26 |
| Augusta Regional (AGS) | 10 | 11 | 2 | 5 |
| Columbus Metropolitan (CSG) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Valdosta Regional (VLD) | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| Southwest Georgia Regional (ABY) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Middle Georgia Regional (MCN) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Brunswick Golden Isles (BQK) | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
| Georgia total | 335 | 359 | 231 | 542 |
| National total | 4,239 | 4,432 | 3,257 | 5,972 |
Transportation Security istration officers at South Carolina airports discovered a record-number of firearms in carry-on luggage in 2021, the agency announced.
In total, 72 guns were seized at airport security checkpoints in the Palmetto State last year, up from 41 the year before.
The Charleston International Airport led the state with the most gun seizures with 30 last year.
Last year’s national numbers set a record — more than 5,900 guns seized at security checkpoints , 1,500 more than the previous record set in 2019. Most of those firearms, 86%, were loaded, the TSA said.
Firearms can be transported on a commercial aircraft only if they are unloaded, packed in a locked, hard-sided case and placed in checked baggage. Any type of replica firearm is prohibited in carry-on baggage and must be transported in checked luggage.
NATIONAL GUN CONFISCATIONS, 2021
| Rank | Airport (Code) | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) | 507 |
| 2 | Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) | 317 |
| 3 | Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) | 245 |
| 4 | Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) | 196 |
| 5 | Nashville International Airport (BNA) | 163 |
| 6 | Denver International Airport (DEN) | 141 |
| 7 | Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) | 128 |
| 8 | Orlando International Airport (MCO) | 124 |
| 9 | Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY) | 119 |
| 10 | Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) | 115 |
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