Record-High Gun Seizures at Newark Airport in 2024
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at New York City-area airports had a busy year in 2024, with a mix of good and bad news when it came to gun seizures. The agency reported a total of 42 handguns intercepted at airport checkpoints in the region, marking a decrease from the 51 guns caught in 2023.
Top 10 List for Unusual Finds
Despite the overall decline in gun seizures, Newark Airport stood out with a record-high number of 21 guns intercepted in 2024, up slightly from the previous year’s count of 20 firearms. In a surprising twist, the airport also made it to the TSA’s top 10 list for most unusual finds when officers discovered a disassembled firearm hidden among a LEGO set in a passenger’s carry-on bag.
Positive Trends at LaGuardia and JFK Airports
While both LaGuardia and JFK airports saw a decrease in the number of guns intercepted last year, with 10 gun seizures each in 2024 compared to nine and 15 in 2023, respectively, TSA officials noted positive signs. John Essig, the TSA’s federal security director for JFK Airport, highlighted the decrease at JFK as a positive indication that more travelers are following proper procedures when transporting firearms, thus avoiding bringing them to security checkpoints.
Decrease in National Gun Seizures
On a national scale, TSA agents found nearly 6,678 guns at 277 airport checkpoints across the country in 2024, a slight decrease from the previous year. Approximately 94% of the seized firearms were loaded. This decline in gun interceptions at airports nationwide in 2024 marked the first decrease since 2020, a year heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In light of these findings, it is crucial for travelers to adhere to TSA regulations when traveling with firearms. Failure to comply with these rules can result in federal civil penalties of up to $15,000. Remember, all firearms must be unloaded, securely packed in locked hard cases within checked baggage, and declared at the airline check-in counter to ensure safe and legal transportation.
In a world where safety and security are paramount, following proper protocols when it comes to traveling with firearms not only protects passengers and airport personnel but also upholds the integrity of air travel as a whole. Let’s work together to ensure that our skies remain safe for all who travel through them.
