In February 2024, TSA officers at BOS stopped this loaded .380 caliber from getting onto an aircraft. (TSA Photo)
BOSTON – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at eight New England airports detected 48 firearms in 2024.
In 2024, TSA New England screened more than 33.4 million individuals, which indicates the agency intercepted 1.44 firearms per million passengers, besting 2023’s 1.7 per million passengers.
The decrease in the number of firearms detected at New England airports mirrored what happened around the country. Throughout 2024, TSA officers nationwide detected 6,678 firearms in carry-on bags or on passengers at checkpoints. In 2023, TSA detected a record 6,737 firearms at security checkpoints nationwide.
Nationally, 94% of firearms detected by TSA officers were loaded. In New England, the rate of loaded firearms detected was 89.6%.
“We take it very seriously when our officers stop a traveler with a gun during the screening process,” said Bob Allison, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Massachusetts. “Gun owners need to know where their firearms are at all times. “There are clear and simple rules for flying with firearms, and we want to make sure passengers understand them to avoid delays, fines, and potential legal consequences.”
He added gun owners should visit the TSA website for instructions on how to properly travel with a firearm.
TSA Security Checkpoint Firearm Detections at New England Airports (2022 to 2024):
(Note: TSA officers do not confiscate firearms)
| CODE | AIRPORT | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
| BOS | Boston Logan International | 24 | 18 | 31 |
| BDL | Bradley International | 9 | 8 | 5 |
| PVD | Rhode Island T.F. Green Intl. Airport | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| MHT | Manchester-Boston Regional | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| BGR | Bangor International | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| BTV | Patrick Leahy Burlington International | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| HVN | Tweed New Haven | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| PWM | Portland International Jetport | 2 | 9 | 3 |
| ORH | Worcester Regional | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| AUG | Augusta State | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| TOTAL | 48 | 52 | 47 |
TSA officers detected six more firearms than they did last year at Boston Logan security checkpoints. Boston Logan’s 24 firearm detections ranked 64th nationally in 2024, they ranked 78th in 2023. Bradley’s nine firearm detections and T.F. Green’s four detections both tied previous records. In Maine, TSA officers detected four firearms compared to last year’s nine detections. Portland Jetport saw the biggest decrease in New England going from nine in 2023 to two in 2024. The 9mm gun was the most detected caliber at New England airports.
2024 top five airports Nationally for firearm detections:
(ATL) Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International 440
(DFW) Dallas/Fort Worth International 390
(IAH) Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental 272
(PHX) Phoenix Sky Harbor International 247
(BNA) Nashville International 188
When a firearm is detected at a security checkpoint, TSOs immediately contact local law enforcement, who remove the passenger and the firearm from the checkpoint area. Depending on local laws, the law enforcement officer may arrest or cite the passenger. TSA does not confiscate firearms.
In addition to any action taken by law enforcement, TSA fines passengers who bring a firearm to a TSA checkpoint with a civil penalty up to approximately $15,000, revokes TSA PreCheck® eligibility for at least five years and may conduct enhanced screening to ensure there are no other threats present.
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.
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.
For more information on how to properly travel with a firearm, visit: The transporting firearms and ammunition page on TSA.gov. You can also view the complete list of penalties on TSA.gov.