Firearm detections increase at New England airports in 2021

BOSTON – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at New England airports detected a total of 40 firearms at seven New England airports in 2021. TSA detected 5 more firearms in 2021 at New England Airports than it did in 2019, despite screening 13.3 million fewer passengers.

The increase in firearms detected at New England airports mirrored what happened around the country. Throughout 2021, TSA officers nationwide discovered a record 5,972 firearms in carry-on bags or on passengers at checkpoints. Nationally, the figure equals a rate of one firearm detection for every 97,999 passengers. At New England airports, TSA saw a firearm detection rate of one firearm for every 442,781 passengers.

Nationally, 86% of firearms detected by TSA officers were loaded. In New England, the rate of loaded firearms detected was 90%. All 18 firearms detected at Boston Logan International in 2021 were loaded.

“Gun owners need to know where their firearms are at all times,” said Bob Allison, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Massachusetts and Maine. “We take it very seriously when our officers stop a traveler with a gun during the screening process. Carelessly traveling with a firearm is a public safety concern, considering it could accidentally be discharged during a search. There is a proper way to travel safely with a firearm. Most importantly, it should be unloaded. Then packed in a hard-sided locked case, and taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared, and checked.”

TSA Security Checkpoint Firearm Detections at New England Airports:

Boston Logan International’s 18 firearm detections ranked 71st and Bradley International’s 9 firearm detections ranked 105th out of 268 airports nationwide that had firearm detections. Burlington International and T.F. Green Airport were the only two New England airports that saw declines from 2019 detections. The 9mm was the most popular caliber detected at New England airports.

Top-3 Calibers Detected at New England Airports

The top five airports where TSA officers detected firearms at checkpoints in 2021 were: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International with 507; Dallas/Fort Worth International with 317; Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport with 245; Phoenix Sky Harbor International with 196 and Nashville International with 163.

Firearms at TSA checkpoints represent an unnecessary risk and an expensive mistake for passengers who do not follow requirements to declare firearms in advance and properly pack them in checked baggage.

Airline passengers can fly with firearms in checked baggage if the firearms are properly packed and declared at check-in. However, firearm possession laws vary by state and locality. TSA advises travelers to familiarize themselves with state and local firearm laws for each point of travel prior to departure to ensure they transport guns in accordance with applicable laws. Airlines may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition, so travelers should also contact the airline regarding firearm and ammunition carriage policies prior to arriving at the airport.

In some cities, local law enforcement may file criminal charges against travelers who bring firearms to the TSA checkpoint. TSA will assess civil penalties that vary by number of previous offenses and whether the firearm was loaded at the time. The complete list of penalties is posted online. Firearms are not permitted in the passenger cabin of an airplane; this includes travelers with a concealed weapon permit.

Where local firearm possession laws permit, passengers may travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are unloaded and packed in a locked hard-sided case. Ammunition must be in its original box and can be packed inside the hard-side case next to the firearm. Even if the box of ammunition is not full, the bullets must be in their original case. The passenger must present the case with the firearm at the airline check-in counter and inform the airline representative of their intention to travel with the gun. Firearms are transported with checked baggage and are placed in the cargo hold of the aircraft.

Data collected represents the number of firearms caught on passengers and in their carry-on bags at the nation’s TSA checkpoints. Excluded from the data are improperly packed firearms at checked baggage stations, toys, replicas and BB guns. Visit the TSA website for details on traveling properly with a firearm.