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TSA travel tips at MSP Airport press conference [RAW]
TSA Federal Security Director for Minnesota Marty Robinson offers holiday travel tips ahead of a busy travel season at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (FOX 9) - Officers with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) stopped 52 firearms at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) security checkpoints in 2024, according to year-end data released on Wednesday.
Guns stopped in Minnesota
What we know:
According to the data, the firearms confiscated represent a decrease from the previous year, during which the TSA confiscated 53 firearms. In 2022, officers stopped 58 firearms.
The stats show that 2020 was a recent low, during which only 34 forearms were stopped, but travel levels were truncated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2024, TSA officers also stopped two firearms at the Duluth International Airport (DLH), and one at the Rochester International Airport (RST).
TSA nationwide stats
Big picture view:
Nationwide, TSA officers stopped a total of 6,678 firearms, or 18 firearms per day on average, at security checkpoints. Of those, roughly 94% were loaded, the TSA says.
The data represents a slight downturn from 2023, when 6,737 firearms were stopped.
When a firearm is detected at a security checkpoint, TSA officers contact local law enforcement, who remove the passenger and the firearm from the checkpoint area.
Depending on local laws, the law enforcement officer may arrest or cite the passenger – with fines ranging up to $15,000. TSA PreCheck eligibility can also be revoked for up to five years.
The TSA says it has promoted its "Prepare, Pack, Declare" campaign to expand public awareness for safely traveling with a firearm.
What they're saying:
"Bringing a firearm to the checkpoint is a careless, dangerous mistake that can be easily avoided," Minnesota TSA Federal Security Director Marty Robinson said in a statement. "When individuals bring firearms to our checkpoints, they are introducing a risk to everyone in the area. These incidents also slow down the checkpoint screening process for other travelers because when a firearm is detected, all activity in the lane comes to a complete halt until police arrive. Unloaded firearms can be packed with checked baggage and declared to the airline."
The Source: Data provided by the Transportation Security Administration