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up front Tuesday 21 February 2023

6,542 GUNS

From Front rotating messages that
guns are not allowed.
By REBECCA SANTANA “There’s signage all over
Associated Press the airport. There is an-
ATLANTA (AP) — The wom- nouncements, holograms,
an flying out of Philadel- TVs. There’s quite a bit of
phia’s airport last year re- information that is sort of
membered to pack snacks, flashing before your eyes to
prescription medicine and just try to remind you as a
a cellphone in her hand- last ditch effort that if you
bag. But what was more do own a firearm, do you
important was what she know where it’s at?” Spin-
forgot to unpack: a loaded den said.
.380-caliber handgun in a Miami’s airport also worked
black holster. to get gunowners’ atten-
The weapon was one of the tion. The airport’s direc-
6,542 guns the Transporta- tor told Congress last year
tion Security Administration that after setting a gun in-
intercepted last year at terception record in 2021
airport checkpoints across they installed high-visibility
the country. The number — signage and worked with
roughly 18 per day — was airlines to warn passengers.
an all-time high for guns in- He said the number of fire-
tercepted at U.S. airports, Transportation Security Administration administrator (TSA) David P. Pekoske speaks during an arms intercepted declined
and is sparking concern at event to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Sept. 11, 2021, sharply.
a time when more Ameri- in Springfield, Va. Associated Press Pekoske said signage is only
cans are armed. part of the solution. Travel-
“What we see in our check- they believe to be a weap- offense. simply forgot. Howard says ers face a barrage of signs
points really reflects what on on the X-ray machine, Retired TSA official Keith she understands travel can or announcements already
we’re seeing in society, they usually stop the belt Jeffries said gun intercep- be stressful but that people and don’t always pay at-
and in society there are so the bag stays inside the tions can also slow other have to take care when tention. He also supports
more people carrying fire- machine and the passen- passengers in line. they’re getting ready for a gradually raising penalties
arms nowadays,” TSA ad- ger can’t get to it. Then “It’s disruptive no matter flight. Atlanta’s airport, one to grab people’s attention.
ministrator David Pekoske they call in local police. what,” Jeffries said. “It’s a of the world’s busiest with But Aidan Johnston, from
said. Repercussions vary de- dangerous, prohibited item roughly 85,000 people go- the gun advocacy group
With the exception of pending on local and state and, let’s face it, you should ing through checkpoints on Gun Owners of America,
pandemic-disrupted 2020, laws. The person may be know where your gun is at, a busy day, had the most said he’d like to see the fines
the number of weapons arrested and have the gun for crying out loud.” guns intercepted in 2022 lessened, saying they’re
intercepted at airport confiscated. But sometimes Experts and officials say — 448 — but that number not a deterrent. While he’d
checkpoints has climbed they’re allowed to give the rise in gun interceptions was actually lower than the like to see more education
every year since 2010. Ex- the gun to a companion simply reflects that more year before. Robert Spin- for new gun owners, he
perts don’t think this is an not flying with them and Americans are carrying den, the TSA’s top official also doesn’t think of this as
epidemic of would-be hi- continue on their way. Un- guns. in Atlanta, says the agency a “major heinous crime.”
jackers — nearly everyone loaded guns can also be The National Shooting and the airport made a big “These are not bad peo-
caught claims to have for- placed in checked bags Sports Foundation, an in- effort in 2021 to try to ad- ple that are in dire need
gotten they had a gun with assuming they follow prop- dustry trade group, tracks dress the large number of of punishment,” he said.
them — but they empha- er procedures. The woman FBI data about back- guns being intercepted at “These are people who
size the danger even one in Philadelphia saw her gun ground checks completed checkpoints. made a mistake.”
gun can pose in the wrong confiscated and was slat- for a firearm sale. The num- An incident in November Officials believe they’re
hands on a plane or at a ed to be fined. bers were a little over 7 mil- 2021 reinforced the need catching the vast majority,
checkpoint. Those federal fines are the lion in 2000 and about 16.4 for their efforts. A TSA officer but with 730 million pas-
Guns have been inter- TSA’s tool to punish those million last year. They went noticed a suspected gun in sengers screened last year
cepted literally from Bur- who bring a gun to a even higher during the a passenger’s bag. When even a miniscule percent-
bank, California, to Bangor, checkpoint. Last year TSA coronavirus pandemic. the officer opened the suit- age getting through is a
Maine. But it tends to hap- raised the maximum fine For the TSA officers search- case the man reached for concern.
pen more at bigger airports to $14,950 as a deterrent. ing for prohibited items, it the gun, and it went off. Last month, musician Cliff
in areas with laws more Passengers also lose their can be jarring. People ran for the exits, Waddell was traveling from
friendly to carrying a gun, PreCheck status — it allows In Atlanta, Janecia Howard and the airport was shut Nashville, Tennessee, to Ra-
Pekoske said. The top 10 them to bypass some types was monitoring the X-ray down for 2 1/2 hours, the leigh, North Carolina, when
list for gun interceptions in of screening — for five machine when she realized airport’s general manager he was stopped at the
2022 includes Dallas, Austin years. It used to be three she was looking at a gun in Balram Bheodari said dur- checkpoint. A TSA officer
and Houston in Texas; three years, but about a year a passenger’s laptop bag. ing a congressional hear- had seen a gun in his bag.
airports in Florida; Nashville, ago the agency increased She immediately flagged it ing last year. Waddell was so shocked he
Tennessee; Atlanta; Phoe- the time and changed the as a “high-threat” item and Officials put in new signage initially said it couldn’t be
nix; and Denver. rules. Passengers may also police were notified. to catch the attention of his because he’d just flown
Pekoske isn’t sure the “I for- miss their flight as well as Howard said it felt like her gun owners. A hologram the day before with the
got” excuse is always true lose their gun. If federal of- heart dropped, and she over a checkpoint shows same bag. It turned out the
or whether it’s a natural re- ficials can prove the person was worried the passenger the image of a revolving gun had been in his bag
action to getting caught. intended to bring the gun might try to get the gun. blue gun with a red circle but missed at the screen-
Regardless, he said, it’s a past the checkpoint into It turns out the passenger over the gun with a line ing. TSA acknowledged
problem that must stop. what’s called the airport’s was a very apologetic through it. Numerous 70- the miss, and Pekoske says
When TSA staffers see what sterile area, it’s a federal businessman who said he inch television screens flash they’re investigating.q