TSA detects fewer firearms at Chicago airports in 2022

CHICAGO – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers stopped 85 handguns at Chicago O’Hare International Airport security checkpoints in 2022, and 38 at Chicago Midway International Airport, a decrease for both airports from 2021.

 Nationwide, TSA officers stopped 6,542 firearms at checkpoints at 262 different airports, surpassing the previous record of 5,972 firearms caught at checkpoints last year. The majority of those firearms (88%) were loaded. Firearms at TSA checkpoints represent an unnecessary risk and an expensive mistake for passengers who do not follow proper packing guidance for firearms in checked baggage.

“Bringing a firearm to the checkpoint is an expensive, dangerous mistake that far too many people are making,” Illinois TSA Federal Security Director Dereck Starks said. “Our TSA officers are doing a fantastic job preventing weapons from making their way onboard to aircraft, but the responsibility falls to passengers to pack smart and keep prohibited items out of their baggage.”

In 2022, TSA screened approximately 761 million passengers and crew at airports nationwide. TSA officers across the country discovered firearms in carry-on luggage at a rate of 8.6 firearms per million passengers screened. Stated another way, TSA detected one firearm for every 116,394 travelers screened.

Passengers at both Chicago airports brought firearms less frequently than the national average.

At ORD, TSA screened nearly 26 million departing passengers and crew in 2022, making it the third-busiest airport for TSA security checkpoint screening operations. TSA officers at ORD discovered firearms in carry-on luggage at a rate of 3.3 firearms per million passengers screened. This calculates to a rate of one firearm discovery for every 304,575 travelers screened.

At MDW, TSA screened 6.5 million departing passengers and crew in 2022. TSA officers there discovered firearms in carry-on luggage at a rate of 5.9 firearms per million passengers screened. This calculates to a rate of one firearm discovery for every 170,915 travelers screened.

Firearms caught by TSA at Illinois airport checkpoints, 2018 to 2022

Last month TSA announced that the penalty for bringing weapons to the airport increased and can reach as high as $14,950, depending on the circumstances. TSA determines the penalty amount for a violation based on the circumstances in each case. TSA will continue to revoke TSA PreCheck® eligibility for at least five years for passengers caught with a firearm in their possession.

Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are unloaded, packed separately from ammunition in a locked hardback case and declared at the airline check-in counter. Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality. Travelers should check for firearm laws in the jurisdictions they are flying to and from.

TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website. Travelers should also contact their airline as they may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.