Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers across the state of Mississippi intercepted 49 firearms at airport security checkpoints in 2024. The largest number in Mississippi was at Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN) where our officers stopped 31 firearms at the security checkpoints.
“We commend our local officers and officers nationwide who every day carry out our mission to keep the traveling public safe,” said TSA Federal Security Director for the State of Mississippi Kim Jackson.
Nationwide TSA officers intercepted 6,678 firearms at airport checkpoints in 2024. In 2023, 6,737 firearms were intercepted at airport checkpoints. It was the first annual decrease in firearms detected at checkpoints other than in 2020 when COVID saw a sizable decrease in the number of passengers who flew that year. Of the firearms intercepted in 2024, approximately 94 percent were loaded. Firearms were stopped at 277 airport checkpoints nationwide in 2024.
“Passengers are reminded 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,” said Federal Security Director Jackson. “Travelers are responsible for being aware of what the firearm laws are on each side of their trip or they may be cited or heading to jail instead of to their vacation or business trip. Firearms may not be legal to transport even in checked baggage in some jurisdictions.”
Last year passengers across the state of Mississippi brought 49 firearms to TSA security checkpoints compared to 51 across the state in 2023. JAN saw a decrease with 31 in 2024 compared to 36 in 2023.
The specific totals at the other Mississippi airports were 11 stopped last year at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, compared to seven the previous year; two at Greenville Mid-Delta Regional Airport, compared to one in 2023; one at Hattiesburg Laurel Regional Airport, compared to zero the year before; three at Tupelo Regional Airport last year and two in 2023; zero at Golden Triangle Regional Airport compared to five the previous year; and one at Meridian Regional Airport compared to zero in 2023.
“Thanks to the vigilance of our TSA officers, each of these firearms was intercepted before they could make it into the cabin of an aircraft,” Jackson added.
Many of the passengers across the country who bring firearms to a federal security checkpoint are arrested or issued notices to appear in court. Regardless of whether the individual is arrested or cited by law enforcement, with whom TSA immediately 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, possibly permanently.
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