TSA officers detected this loaded handgun in a passenger’s carry-on bag at Memphis International Airport (MEM) on Jan. 31. (TSA photo)
Memphis, Tenn. – Transportation Security Administration officers at Memphis International Airport (MEM) discovered a loaded firearm at a security checkpoint yesterday, bringing the total detected at the airport to a four this year.
At approximately 2 p.m. on Wednesday, TSA officers detected a loaded 9mm handgun with seven rounds of ammunition in a passenger’s personal belongings.
When a TSA officer sees the image of a firearm on an X-ray screen, TSA immediately notifies the local airport law enforcement agency, which responds to the security checkpoint. A law enforcement officer removes the firearm from the X-ray tunnel and makes contact with the traveler. The events after the local law enforcement officer arrives on scene with the firearm and the traveler is up to the discretion of the airport law enforcement agency.
Memphis International Airport set an all-time record with 71 firearms discovered at airport security checkpoints in 2023. Second in the state to Nashville International Airport’s (BNA) 188 detected firearms at security checkpoints, the fifth highest 2023 total nationwide.
Individuals who bring their gun to a security checkpoint face a federal financial civil penalty that 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 have an individual’s TSA PreCheck® eligibility revoked for a period of up to five years and the individual will receive enhanced screening during future travels.
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.