Travelers at Reagan National Airport continue to bring firearms to checkpoints

ARLINGTON, Va.--Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers working at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) continue to see travelers bringing their guns to the airport in their carry-on luggage and TSA wants to remind travelers of the proper and legal way to transport firearms for their flights.

TSA officers at DCA have prevented 30 guns from getting through the checkpoints so far this year, which ties the record for most firearms caught in a year with two months still remaining in 2023.  

Nationwide, TSA officers have stopped more than 5,000 firearms at airport checkpoints so far this year and the agency is on pace to surpass the record of 6,542, which was set last year. The TSA team at DCA is part of that upward trend.

“Our TSA officers are good at their jobs in helping to ensure that passengers get to their destinations safely and get home safely,” said John Busch, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “Each firearm caught has been discovered during the routine screening of carry-on items at the airport checkpoint."

“It is disappointing to see travelers continue to bring their guns to our checkpoints because in doing so they create a potentially dangerous situation through their own actions,” Busch added. “Responsible gun owners know where their guns are and they know not to bring them to a checkpoint. We have no issues with passengers who pack their firearms properly to be transported on their flight in their checked baggage, but bringing a loaded gun to a checkpoint is not the way to do it.”

When a TSA officer at DCA spots the image of a handgun on the x-ray monitor, TSA immediately alerts the Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority Police, which responds to the security checkpoint and resolves the matter. In addition to potential criminal arrests or citations, travelers face stiff federal civil penalties for bringing guns to the security checkpoint. TSA evaluates each gun incident on a case-by-case basis. 

“The most common excuse we hear is that someone claims they forgot they had their loaded gun with them,” said Busch. “If you own a firearm, you should know where it is at all times. It is part of being a responsible gun owner. Even if travelers have a concealed weapons permit, they are not allowed to board an airplane with the gun in carry-on luggage. The idea is that nobody should have access to a gun during a flight. However, you can transport it with checked baggage if you do so properly.”

Busch also expressed concern that many travelers claim that they are not aware that their loaded firearm is in their bag and that “every day TSA and airport staff encounter lost or left-behind carry-on bags. If this were one of them, there would be very little that could be done to prevent another person, even a curious child, from accessing that bag. Being unaware that you are transporting a loaded firearm has potential to be the first link in a potentially tragic chain of events.

Guns can be transported on a flight if they are unloaded, packed in a locked, hard-sided case and declared to the airline. The airline will be sure that the gun travels with checked baggage in the belly of the plane, never in the cabin of the plane. Additionally, replica firearms also are prohibited in carry-on baggage and also must be transported in checked luggage.

“Prior to traveling, individuals who want to transport their firearm should do some homework and check gun regulations at their destination to ensure they are in compliance with all local and state laws,” Busch advised. “We expect all travelers to start with an empty bag to ensure they know what is and is not inside. It’s also important to pack your own bag. I also strongly urge gun enthusiasts not to use their range bags as carry-ons when traveling. It’s a simple step that reduces the chance of a firearm or ammunition from entering our screening checkpoints.” TSA also recommends travelers check with their airline prior to their flight to ensure they comply with any airline-specific requirements for transporting firearms.

Federal civil penalties for bringing a handgun into a checkpoint can stretch into thousands of dollars, depending on mitigating circumstances. Among the factors TSA considers when determining the amount of the civil penalty include whether the firearm was loaded and whether there was accessible ammunition. Citations for carrying a weapon can reach $15,000. The complete list of civil penalties is posted online.

Individuals who violate rules regarding traveling with guns will have Trusted Traveler status and TSA PreCheck® expedited screening benefits revoked.   

TSA has additional traveler information specifically related to the transportation of firearms and ammunition posted on its website.  

TSA reminds passengers to always know 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, either or neither.

Travelers can use the “Can I Bring?” feature on the TSA website or on the free downloadable myTSA app. Travelers can also tweet to @AskTSA or send a text message (275-872) 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.

TSA firearms catches at airport checkpoints in the Baltimore/Washington region, 2016 to 2023.