EL PASO, TX - Passengers at El Paso International Airport (ELP) continue to bring a record number of guns to the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) security checkpoints. As of April 2nd of this year, TSA officers at ELP have prevented 12 guns from making it onboard airplanes in traveler’s carry-on luggage. From January 12th through April 2nd, 12 guns were stopped from making it onboard airplanes by TSA officers. The exact dates are listed below:
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Loaded firearm with 9 rounds |
1/12/2023 |
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Loaded firearm with 9 rounds |
1/12/2023 |
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Loaded firearm with 2 rounds and 1 chambered |
1/20/2023 |
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Loaded firearm with 7 rounds |
2/2/2023 |
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Loaded firearm with 9 rounds & 20 extra rounds |
2/17/2023 |
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Loaded firearm with 12 rounds |
3/9/2023 |
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Loaded firearm with 13 rounds |
3/19/2023 |
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2 Loaded firearms with 6 rounds and 4 rounds (same passenger) |
3/30/2023 |
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Loaded firearms with 6 rounds and 1 chambered |
3/30/2023 |
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Loaded firearm with 3 rounds |
3/31/2023 |
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Loaded firearms with 5 rounds |
4/2/2023 |
In every case, El Paso Police Department was called to respond and adjudicate the incident. “The TSA officers in El Paso perform their jobs exceptionally well,” said Jared Babin, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “When dangerous items such as loaded guns are brought to a security checkpoint, it represents a serious security and safety concern. Individuals are not permitted to carry a firearm through a security checkpoint— not someone with a concealed weapons permit, not someone who is enrolled in TSA PreCheck®, not an airport worker and not a traveler who forgot that he had it with him. Passengers should know exactly where their gun is before they enter the airport and make sure that it is not in a backpack, purse, suitcase or any carry-on that you plan to bring into the security checkpoint.”
Passengers face a civil penalty from the TSA that can be as much as $13,910 and that is imposed regardless of whether the individual is arrested by our law enforcement partners. If the traveler is in the TSA PreCheck program, those privileges will be lost for a period of time and often travelers with firearms in carry-on luggage miss their flights.
TSA is also reminding passengers of other steps they can take to get through the checkpoint quickly and efficiently.
Tip 1: No guns in carry-ons. Firearms must be in checked baggage. All firearms must be properly packed and declared to the airline at check-in, which means unloaded and in a locked, hard-sided case. Contact your airline for additional guidance. And it is your responsibility to know what the gun laws are on both sides of your trip because guns may not be legal to transport even in checked baggage in some jurisdictions.
Tip 2: Pack smart; start with empty bags. Airline passengers who pack for travel with empty bags are less likely to bring prohibited items through a TSA checkpoint. Technology and modifications help reduce the need for physical contact with TSA officers, but those who take time to come prepared for the TSA checkpoint are far more likely to avoid delay and physical contact. Check for prohibited items by using the “What Can I Bring?” page on TSA.gov.
Tip 3: Know before you go. Airports, like highways, have high traffic surges and construction delays. Plan to arrive at the airport in plenty of time to check in, check bags and complete security screening in time to avoid stressful sprints to the departure gate. At the TSA checkpoint, have a valid ID card readily available and follow the liquids rule of 3.4 ounces or less, with the exception of hand sanitizer, which has a temporary 12-ounce limit in carry-on baggage.
Tip 4: Contact TSA for help if there are questions or concerns. Those who are preparing to travel and may have special circumstances, considerations or general questions about airport screening can get live assistance by tweeting questions and comments to @AskTSA or via Facebook Messenger, daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT. You can also call the TSA Contact Center at 866-289-9673.
TSA also offers TSA Cares, a helpline for travelers with disabilities, medical conditions and other special circumstances. You may submit a request for assistance by calling TSA Cares at 855-787-2227, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. and weekends/holidays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Passengers may also use the TSA Cares form available on the TSA website which can be found at https://www.tsa.gov/travel/passenger-support.
Tip 5: Enroll now in TSA PreCheck® to “Travel with Ease.” By enrolling in TSA PreCheck, airline passengers can avoid removing shoes, belts, liquids, food, laptops and light jackets at the TSA checkpoint. Most new enrollees receive their known traveler number within five days, and membership lasts for five years. In April, 94% of TSA PreCheck passengers waited less than 5 minutes at the checkpoint.
For additional information about security screening or more travel tips before a trip, visit TSA.gov.
Last year, 6,542 firearms were caught at 262 out of 430 airport security checkpoints nationwide. Eighty-eight percent of those guns were loaded.