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SAN LUIS OBISPO, California – Officers with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) detected the first firearm of the year in a female traveler’s carry-on bag Wednesday around 3:45 a.m. The firearm was a 9 mm Glock 19 handgun loaded with 16 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 the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Department 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 Denver International Airport.
The traveler was interviewed by law enforcement and was ultimately allowed to continue on her travels. The traveler received enhanced screening prior to being allowed through the security checkpoint.
“I am grateful for the TSA Officers who continue to stay focused on detecting potential security threats. Firearms brought by travelers in carry-on luggage continue to be an issue at airports across the country including SBP,” said TSA SBP Federal Security Director (FSD) Anita Minaei. “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.”
Below is a summary of TSA firearm discoveries at Santa Barbara Municipal Airport and SBP for the past six years:
Airport | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
SBA | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
SBP | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
National totals: | 4,432 | 3,257 | 5,972 | 6,542 | 6,737 | 6,678 |
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.
Below is a table summarizing the number of travelers screened for every firearm discovery at two Central California security checkpoints last year. Note that the figure for each airport and the cumulative total for the area is well-below the national average.
Number of travelers screened in 2024 | Number of travelers screened | |
SBA | 756,886 | 252,295 |
SBP | 416,295 | 416,295 |
Total | 1,173,181 | 293,295 |
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.