Sometimes travelers forget that they have a firearm packed in their luggage.
Other times they are unaware of federal laws that prevent carrying a weapon in an airport.
Whatever the reason, the number of people having their guns seized at airport checkpoints in the U.S. doubled in 2020.
According to a recent article in the Los Angeles Times:
“The Transportation Security Administration said Tuesday that screeners found 3,257 firearms on passengers or in their carry-on bags in 2020, or about 10 for every 1 million travelers. About 83% of the guns were loaded.
The rate was double that in 2019, when screeners found five guns for every 1 million passengers. However, with 500 million more travelers screened in 2019, TSA officers found a record 4,432 guns that year.
Screeners found 220 guns at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, followed by 176 at Dallas/Fort Worth International, 126 at George Bush Intercontinental in Houston, 126 at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International and 104 at Denver International.”
A total of 43 guns were seized in 2020 at Los Angeles International Airport. Expanded to include surrounding airports in Long Beach and Orange County, that number rises to 81. Those numbers are below the national average.
Federal laws only allow weapons to be transported if they are unloaded, placed in checked bags and stored in the cargo hold. Only certain law enforcement personnel are exempt from this rule.
As private enterprises, airlines are not required to allow customers to bring guns onto their planes, even if they are checked. Airlines periodically restrict the right to do this if there is a security issue, or concern about a security issue.
What Happens if Your Gun is Seized?
If you have a gun seized at an airport by Transportation Security Administration employees or another law enforcement officer, it is possible that legal issues may ensue, depending on the circumstances of the seizure.
Should this happen, speaking to an attorney at Goldstein Law Group can help ensure that your legal rights are protected. Our lawyers have represented individuals arrested at various airports following the recovery of firearms during security screenings. In a recent January 2021 case, our office was successful in preventing the filing of charges following a City Attorney office hearing. As a result, our client retained his gun rights and did not suffer a criminal conviction.
Contact us today for a free consultation if you need help with this or a similar case.
Related Case Results
No Criminal Charges or Conviction Following Firearms Arrest At LAX Airport