Gulfport, Miss. - A record number of passengers brought firearms into the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints across the state of Mississippi last year.
TSA officers intercepted 50 firearms across Mississippi in 2023, the highest number in state history. While the majority were intercepted at Jackson Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN), seven passengers brought firearms to the checkpoint at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (GPT). Over the years since 2013, TSA officers have stopped 278 firearms at security checkpoints across the state. Of that number 67 were stopped at GPT and 175 were stopped at JAN. Most were loaded and many had ammunition chambered. The number of firearms intercepted at Mississippi airports in 2023 was 35 at Jackson, seven at Gulfport-Biloxi, five at Golden Triangle Regional, two at Tupelo Regional and one at Mid Delta Regional.
If you are going to travel with your firearm it must be in your checked bag, unloaded and in a locked hard-sided case. You must declare it to the airline at check-in. Be sure you know exactly what the firearm laws are on each side of your trip or you may be heading to jail instead of to your vacation or business trip. Firearms may not be legal to transport even in checked baggage in some jurisdictions.
“Every traveler is responsible for knowing where their firearm is before entering TSA’s federal security checkpoint and that must not be on their person or in their carry-on,” said Kim Jackson, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the state of Mississippi. “This is both a security and a safety concern. With so many of the firearms loaded, an accidental discharge could have tragic results.”
TSA officers have stopped one firearm at GPT and four firearms at JAN already this year. The latest locally was on January 5th when a 40-year-old man brought a 9mm Glock to the GPT checkpoint.
Many of the passengers who brought firearms to a security checkpoint were arrested or issued notices to appear in court. Regardless of whether the individual is arrested or cited by our law enforcement partners, passengers face a civil penalty imposed by the TSA that can reach nearly $15,000. If the traveler is in the TSA PreCheck® program, those privileges will be lost for a period of time, possibly permanently.
Here are five tips for getting through the TSA checkpoint as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Tip 1: No firearms 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 firearm laws are on both sides of your trip.
Tip 2: Leave all prohibited items at home. To reduce the likelihood of a bag search at the checkpoint, search your own bag before leaving home. Unsure if it’s allowed: use the “What Can I Bring?” link on TSA.gov.
Tip 3: Prepare for the security checkpoint. Have a valid ID card readily available. If you are traveling with a carry-on bag follow the liquids, gels and aerosols 3-1-1 rule of 3.4 ounces or less for each item and the items should be placed in a one-quart-sized bag, one bag per passenger. To simplify your screening and even before entering the checkpoint it is best to put your phones and any other content of your pockets into your carry-on rather than into a bin in the checkpoint.
Tip 4: Help is available. Get live assistance by tweeting your questions to @AskTSA in English or Spanish or via Facebook Messenger. You can also call the TSA Contact Center at 866-289-9673.
Tip 5: Enroll now in TSA PreCheck. Travel with ease by enrolling in TSA PreCheck and avoid removing shoes, belts, liquids, laptops and light jackets. Most new enrollees receive a known traveler number within five days, and membership lasts for five years.