Last year, security agents across New York City area airports managed to seize a lower number of guns than in the previous year, as reported by the TSA. In total, 42 handguns were detected in 2024, a decline from the 51 guns caught in 2023. Newark Airport's TSA team, however, found themselves having to quickly adapt to set an unprecedented record with 21 guns intercepted, just narrowly edging out the 20 from 2023. As Gothamist notes, Thomas Carter, the TSA's Federal Security Director for New Jersey, stated, "It is not a record that we seek to set."
Concurrently, at JFK and LaGuardia airports, the number of intercepted guns remained relatively flat or slightly decreased, with each tallying 10 gun interceptions last year, according to figures released by the TSA. John Essig, TSA's federal security director for JFK, told New York Post, "We see that as a positive sign that more travelers who want to transport their firearms are doing so properly."
The reports from the TSA reveal a broader trend of slightly decreased gun interceptions at airports nationwide. A reported total of 6,678 firearms were discovered at 277 airport checkpoints across the country in 2024, which is a downtick from the 2023 tally. What’s more, around 94% of those firearms were loaded, presenting a formidable challenge for TSA agents ensuring the safety of travelers.
Even with concealed weapon permits, firearms are not permitted to be brought aboard aircraft cabins. The TSA reiterates that travelers can legally transport their firearms in checked baggage, provided they are unloaded, packed in locked hard cases, and declared at the airline check-in counter. As mentioned in New York Post, regardless of possession of a concealed weapon permit, firearms have to always be placed securely in the cargo hold to not be easily accessible during flight.
Flight safety is a top concern for the TSA, and the agency continues to enforce strict penalties for violations of firearm transport regulations. Travelers attempting to bring weapons through TSA checkpoints could face federal civil penalties of up to $15,000. The intent is to ensure that everyone can safely fly without fear of incident, keeping the skies open and secure for all who traverse them.
