Airport security found 2,653 guns in carry-ons last year — and most of them were loaded

An alarming amount of guns are detected in luggage.

(Image credit: iStock)

last updated 21 January 2016

U.S. airport security found 2,653 firearms in carry-on bags last year, an entire 20 percent more than were discovered in 2014. Of those guns, 83 percent were loaded, The Los Angeles Times reports.

"The transport of firearms [...] in carry-on bags represents a threat to the safety and security of air travelers. Through increased training in detection methods, our officers are becoming more adept at intercepting these prohibited items," TSA Administrator Peter V. Neffenger said. The agency suspects that the uptick in the number of guns found in 2015 is actually due to better search techniques, though increased numbers of travelers could also factor in.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Explore More

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.