FRESNO, California - Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Fresno-Yosemite International Airport (FAT) detected the first firearm of the year in a male traveler’s carry-on bag Wednesday at 5:45 a.m. The firearm was a 9 mm Smith & Wesson M&P Shield handgun loaded with nine rounds of ammunition. The firearm was discovered during routine X-ray screening of carry-on property at the airport’s security checkpoint.
Upon seeing the image of a firearm on the X-ray screen, TSA notified officers with FAT’s Department of Public Safety who responded to the security checkpoint. A law enforcement officer removed the firearm from the X-ray tunnel and made contact with the traveler who was ticketed for travel to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.
The traveler was interviewed by law enforcement and was ultimately allowed to continue on his travels. The traveler received enhanced screening prior to being allowed through the security checkpoint.
“My hope is that highlighting the discovery of this firearm will be an incentive for gun owners to reacquaint themselves with the rules on traveling with a firearm on a commercial aircraft,” said TSA Federal Security Director Fred Lau who oversees security operations at FAT. “And, for those who don’t choose to follow the rules on traveling with a firearm, I am grateful for the TSA officers who work daily to screen all travelers and their carry-on property to ensure that no security threats make it into the cabin of an aircraft.”
In 2024, TSA officers at FAT discovered 14 firearms in carryon luggage. Nationwide last year, TSA officers found 6,678 firearms at 277 different airports.
Below is a summary of TSA firearm discoveries at FAT and nationally for the past six years:
| Airport | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| FAT | 11 | 7 | 14 | 8 | 14 | 14 |
| National totals: | 4,432 | 3,257 | 5,972 | 6,542 | 6,737 | 6,678 |
The five U.S. airports with the most TSA firearm discoveries are Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which topped the list with 440 firearm finds. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport came in second with 390 followed by Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport with 272; Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport with 247; and Nashville International Airport with 188. Denver International Airport; Orlando International Airport; Dallas Love Field; Tampa International Airport; and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport round out the Top 10.
In 2024, TSA screened approximately 904 million passengers and crew at airports nationwide. TSA officers across the country discovered firearms in carry-on luggage at a rate of 7.39 firearms per million passengers screened. Stated another way, TSA detected one firearm for every 135,370 travelers screened.
Here is summary of what occurred at FAT last year.
Number of travelers screened in 2024 | Number of travelers screened | |
| FAT | 1,495,946 | 106,853 |
In addition to law enforcement interaction and potential criminal citations for bringing a firearm in carry-on luggage, TSA can levy a civil penalty against the traveler. Among the factors TSA considers when determining the civil penalty amount include whether the firearm was loaded and whether there was accessible ammunition. Even if a traveler has a concealed weapons permit, firearms are not permitted in carry-on luggage.
Individuals who violate rules regarding traveling with firearms will have Trusted Traveler status and TSA PreCheck® expedited screening benefits revoked for a period of time. The duration of the disqualification will depend upon the seriousness of the offense and if there is a repeated history of violations.
Firearms can be transported on a commercial aircraft only if they are unloaded, packed in a locked, hard-sided case and placed in checked baggage. Secure the case with a non-TSA approved lock so that the owner of the firearm is the only one who has access to it. Any type of replica firearm is also prohibited in carry-on baggage and must be transported in checked luggage.
At the airport during the check-in process, a passenger needs to go to the airline ticket counter to declare the firearm, ammunition and any firearm parts. Prior to traveling, passengers are encouraged to check gun laws and regulations at their destination to ensure they are in compliance with local and state laws. TSA also recommends travelers check with their airline prior to their flight to ensure they comply with any airline-specific requirements.
TSA has additional traveler information specifically related to the transportation of firearms and ammunition. A full summary of TSA’s civil penalties for prohibited items is also available.
TSA reminds passengers to be aware of the contents of their carry-on bag prior to coming to the security checkpoint. TSA has multiple resources available to passengers to help them determine whether an item is permitted in carry-on baggage, checked baggage or not at all.
Travelers can use the“Can I Bring” feature on the TSA website or on the TSA mobile app, myTSA. Travelers can also Tweet or Message “@AskTSA” if they have a travel question or are unsure if an item is allowed through security in a carry-on bag. Just snap a picture or send a question and get real-time assistance daily from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. PST.